Inspection Detail

Inspection: 18338921 - S.P. Petroleum Transporters, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Atlanta East Area Office

Investigation Summary

A tank-removal contractor was hired to remove an underground gasoline tank that was approximately 20 years old. Another contractor had uncovered the tank and vacuumed it out. The owner of the tank-removal company and his employee cut the top of the 30-kiloliter tank and peeled it back with a backhoe. The second contractor washed and again vacuumed the tank, then left the site. The tank-removal contractor and his employee took a 30-minute lunch break and returned. The employee entered the tank with a stepladder, an electric saw, and a droplight to remove something inside the tank. When either the contractor or his employee firmly plugged in the droplight cord, an explosion occurred, burning the employee over 80 percent of his body. He died approximately 2 weeks later. A submersible pump tube had had gasoline trapped inside it and had apparently leaked flammable vapors into the tank.

Keywords: ELECTRIC ARC, ELECTRICAL, FLAMMABLE VAPORS, EXPLOSION, BURN, ELECTRIC CORD, ELECTRIC SAW, ELECTRIC LIGHT--PORT, GASOLINE, E GI V