Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 731208 - TWO EMPLOYEES INJURED WHEN DIGESTER TANK EXPLODED

Accident Summary Nr: 731208 -- Report ID: 0551800 -- Event Date: 05/31/1988
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
103995734	06/01/1988	1629	0	Albany Town Of

Abstract: EMPLOYEE #1, A WELDER, WAS USING A GAS WELDING TORCH TO CUT MOUNTING HOLES FOR BOLTS IN A STEEL PLATE LOCATED ATOP AN IMHOFF DIGESTER TANK. THE TANK WAS USED TO PROCESS SEWAGE FROM THE TOWN OF ALBANY, INDIANA. EMPLOYEE #2, A LABORER, WAS ASSISTING. EMPLOYEES #1 AND #2 WERE KNOCKED BACK AWAY FROM THE WELDING AREA WHEN A SPARK FROM THE CUTTING OPERATION FELL AND IGNITED METHANE GAS IN THE DIGESTER TANK. THE TANK BLEW UP, KNOCKING EMPLOYEE #2 TO THE GROUND. EMPLOYEES #1 AND #2 WERE ADMITTED TO THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT OF BALL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN MUNCIE, INDIANA.

Keywords: FLAMMABLE VAPORS, WORK RULES, WELDER, NATURAL GAS, TORCH, FALL, SPARK, SEWAGE, TANK, CUTTING AND BURNING

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	103995734			Hospitalized injury	Concussion	Construction laborers
2	103995734			Hospitalized injury	Fracture	Welders and cutters

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.