Inspection Detail

Inspection: 120073010 - Crypt Keeper Pictures

Inspection Information - Office: Van Nuys District Office

Investigation Summary

Employee #1 was a special effects pyrotechnician in the movie industry, working on a miniature pyrotechnical job for Cryptkeeper Pictures in the 10-ton special effects truck on the movie set. He was preparing a dummy that was to be blown-up during the movie. Employee #2 was in the special effects truck putting away a roll of tape that Employee #1 had needed to prepare the dummy. Employee #1 was going to use 1/4 lb of dry benzoyl peroxide as an explosive. The benzoyl peroxide was packaged in a paper pouch with a non-conductive plastic liner, and was stored in an ice chest. Employee #1 took out the pouch and put it in a plastic bag. He then repaired a carved-out area on the dummy that had been made for explosives, but that had been broken. He used a glue called Zap-a-Gap, or Hot Stuff, to repair the breaks in the carved-out area, then placed the pouch inside and taped it in. Employee #1 had just turned around when the benzoyl peroxide exploded. He suffered second- and third-degree burns, primarily on his back and left arm. Employee #2 was about 6 to 8 ft away from the explosion, and suffered a light burn, similar to sunburn, on the back of his right hand and both sides of the face. Employee #1 later stated that the heat generated by the glue hardening may have caused the benzoyl peroxide to ignite and explode.

Keywords: BURN, HEAT, EXPLOSIVES, REPAIR, BACK, EXPLOSION, CHEMICAL REACTION, ARM, COMBUSTIBLE DUST, CHEMICAL