Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 509844 - Employee killed when gasoline cargo tank explodes

Accident Summary Nr: 509844 -- Report ID: 1032500 -- Event Date: 12/18/1995
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
107243107	12/19/1995	5171	0	Bowen Petroleum, Inc.

Abstract: On December 18, 1995, a MC 306 vehicle-mounted cargo tank used to haul gasoline was found to be leaking at the rear bulkhead. To ready the tank for welding repairs, Employee #1, the shop foreman, drained the last few gallons of fuel and ran hot water through the vessel. This did not purge or remove all flammable vapors. As Employee #1 struck an arc on the tank shell with an arc welding machine, the vapors ignited and the tank exploded. Employee #1 was killed when shrapnel and baffles removed part of his head with a puncture wound. The tank was not ventilated and it had not been purged with inert gas.

Keywords: REPAIR, VENTILATION, FLAMMABLE VAPORS, WORK RULES, EXPLOSION, PURGING, DECAPITATED, GASOLINE, TANK, ARC WELDING

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	107243107			Fatality	Puncture	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.