Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1280191.015 - Dillman Equipment, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Madison Area Office

Investigation Summary

At 1:00 p.m. on November 27, 2017, two employees were abrasive blasting at a facility that manufactures asphalt paving equipment. The blasting operation took place inside a blasting room that was approximately 32 feet wide and 124 feet long. The employees were abrading a drum frame, which was approximately nine feet wide and 76 feet long, and consisted of structural steel and equipment that would later support a drum mixer. The drum frame was supported on one end by an axel set which was similar to a set of axles that would support a semi-trailer. The axle set consisted of the axles, tires and steel beams that were attached to the drum frame for transportation around the facility. The steel beams were approximately 10 inches wide with multiple openings or holes between them ranging from approximately two feet to four feet. The abrasive blast media was coal slag and the employees wore supplied air respirators and a blasting suits. It was Employee #1's first day on the job, and Employee #2 was providing on the job training to Employee #1. The employees started working together at approximately 12:30 p.m. and after some practice and observation, both employees were working within a few feet of each other to blast the same piece of equipment. At approximately 1:00 p.m., Employee #2 noticed that Employee #1 was lying on top of the axle set and had been badly injured. The coal slag blasting media had accumulated on the walking surfaces, making them slippery. The fine particulates created during the abrasive blasting operation likely created poor visibility. The poor visibility combined with the narrow working surfaces, multiple holes in the surface and slippery conditions likely caused Employee #1 to lose his balance and accidentally direct the blast nozzle that was operating in excess of 100 psi, at himself, causing a laceration of the inner left groin area that damaged the femoral vein and artery. Employee #1 was transported to the hospital and died on November 30, 2017 due to complications from extensive blood loss.

Keywords: Artery, High Pressure, Laceration, PPE, Poor Visibility, Sandblasting, Slippery Surface, Struck By