Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 202588380 - Construction Worker Blinded When Test Plug Burst

Accident Summary Nr: 202588380 -- Report ID: 0950614 -- Event Date: 05/04/2013
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
315321869	05/09/2013	1711	238220	Juan Ramon Vasquez Dba Jrv Construction

Abstract: On May 4, 2013, Employee #1, a 40-year-old male construction worker with Juan Ramon Vasquez Dba Jrv Construction was blinded by a test plug that burst while conducting a leak test on a new 4 in. diameter sewer line which was made of cast iron. Employee #1 said that he inserted a 2 in. diameter by 2 ft long test plug into the new cast iron sewer pipe. Employee #1 inflated the test plug with air using a compressor with a defective gauge. Later Employee #1 put water into the sewer line but a leak was still apparent. Employee #1 decided to add more air into the test plug. A few moments later with the face of Employee #1 close to the pipe, the plug exploded. The upper portion of the test plug flew back to his face and seriously injured both his eyes. The lower portion of the plug went in the sewer line. Employee #1 was transported to Highland Hospital where he was treated and discharged on May 22, 2013 with both eyes blinded.

Keywords: EYE, LEAK, CONSTRUCTION, TEST EQUIPMENT, PRESSURE PIPING, VALVE, PRESSURE RELEASE

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Commercial building		Alteration or rehabilitation		$50,000 to $250,000	2	15

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	315321869			Hospitalized injury	Other	Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Installing culverts and incidental drainage Fatality Cause: Struck by falling object/projectile

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