Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 201363421 - Employee Is Killed in Naphtha Flash Fire

Accident Summary Nr: 201363421 -- Report ID: 0419400 -- Event Date: 07/29/2009
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
311421010	07/30/2009	3351	331421	Mueller Copper Tube Co., Inc.

Abstract: On July 29, 2009, Mueller Copper Tube Co., Inc., was using an air pump to transport naphtha from a 300 gallon tote to a holding tank when the pump became inoperative. Employee #1, a maintenance employee, replaced the defective air pump with a 115 volt electric pump. The electric pump began leaking naphtha, which spilled onto the tote and the floor. A flash fire occurred either when Employee #1 switched off the electric pump or the assistant machine operator unplugged the electric pump. Employee #1 was killed. Employee #2 was hospitalized for burn treatment. Two other employees who were burned were treated and released from the hospital. The electric pump was not approved for the hazardous atmosphere.

Keywords: BURN, FIRE, NAPHTHA

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	311421010	Non Hospitalized injury	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Occupation not reported
2	311421010	Non Hospitalized injury	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Occupation not reported
3	311421010	Fatality	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Occupation not reported
4	311421010	Hospitalized injury	Burn/Scald(Heat)	Occupation not reported

Thank You for Visiting Our Website

You are exiting the Department of Labor's Web server.

The Department of Labor does not endorse, takes no responsibility for, and exercises no control over the linked organization or its views, or contents, nor does it vouch for the accuracy or accessibility of the information contained on the destination server. The Department of Labor also cannot authorize the use of copyrighted materials contained in linked Web sites. Users must request such authorization from the sponsor of the linked Web site. Thank you for visiting our site. Please click the button below to continue.