Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 200850600 - One employee killed, one injured when diesel fuel ignites

Accident Summary Nr: 200850600 -- Report ID: 0215000 -- Event Date: 03/08/1998
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
300616950	03/27/1998	1799	0	David Lake

Abstract: Employees #1 and #2 were cutting sections of steel deck to allow access to the bulkheads that were to be replaced in the dry-docked vessel, Cape Lambert. They were working in the 31 1/2 in. by 35 1/2 in. by 43 in. confined space of the ship's double-bottom tank. They were making cuts from underneath when Employee #1 cut into the steel directly below a 150-ton diesel storage tank. The diesel fuel poured out and was ignited by the torch, creating a very smoky fire. It was extinguished by the fire watch, but Employee #1 died of asphyxia from smoke inhalation. Employee #2 was hospitalized.

Keywords: DIESEL FUEL TANK, FIRE, CONSTRUCTION, INHALATION, SHIP, SMOKE, CHEMICAL VAPOR, TOXIC FUMES, SMOKE INHALATION, CUTTING AND BURNING

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Contractor's yard/facility		Maintenance or repair		$1,000,000 to $5,000,000			X

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	300616950			Hospitalized injury	Poisoning(Systemic)	Welders and cutters	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Emplacing reinforcing steel Fatality Cause: Asphyxiation/inhalation of toxic vapor
2	300616950			Fatality	Asphyxia	Welders and cutters	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Emplacing reinforcing steel Fatality Cause: Asphyxiation/inhalation of toxic vapor

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