Inspection Detail

Inspection: 105472294 - Van Waters & Rogers Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Sc Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation

Inspection Nr: 105472294

Report ID: 0454510

Date Opened: 03/10/1988

Site Address:
Van Waters & Rogers Inc
Hwy 295, Camp Croft Industrial Park
Spartanburg, SC 29302

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 2169, Spartanburg, SC 29304

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:5169

NAICS: 0

Inspection Type: Unprog Rel

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 03/31/1988

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 07/10/1989

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Inspection	105472302

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	1					1
Current Violations	1					1
Initial Penalty	$490	$0	$0	$0	$0	$490
Current Penalty	$163	$0	$0	$0	$0	$163
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citaton Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	FTA Penalty	Contest	Latest Event	Note
1.	01001	Serious	19100252 D03 I	05/13/1988	05/19/1988	$163	$490	$0	06/08/1988	F - Formal Settlement

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 674937

Event: 03/08/1988

TWO WELDERS INJURED IN AMMONIA TANK EXPLOSION

EMPLOYEES #1 & #2 WERE ASSIGNED TO WELD A CRACK IN AN AQUA AMMONIA TANK AT VAN WATERS AND ROGERS BULK STORAGE AREA. THE CRACK WAS APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES LONG AND ABOUT 14 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND ON A 22 FOOT HIGH TANK. THE TANK HAD A 20,000 GALLON CAPACITY. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE TANK CONTAINED ABOUT 250 GALLONS OF AQUA AMMONIA ALONG WITH 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER. THE LEVEL OF THE TANK'S CONTENTS CAME TO ABOUT 1 FOOT BELOW THE CRACK WHICH THE EMPLOYEES WERE TO WELD. EMPLOYEES #1 & #2 GROUND DOWN THE WELD. EMPLOYEE #2, USING A MIG WELDER, RAN APPROXIMATELY 6 BEADS. THE CRACK OPENED. EMPLOYEE #2 THEN USED A CUTTING TORCH TO HEAT THE AREA AROUND THE CRACK. EMPLOYEES #1 & #2 HEARD A HISSING SOUND AND ATTEMPTED TO GET AWAY. THE TANK EXPLODED. THEY RECEIVED BURNS TO THE EYES AND SKIN. EMPLOYEE #2 WAS HOSPITALIZED; EMPLOYEE #1 WAS NOT.

Keywords: AMMONIA, FLAMMABLE VAPORS, WORK RULES, EXPLOSION, TANK, BURN, EYE, WELDER, WELDING, SKIN

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	105472294					Occupation Not Listed

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