Accident Report Detail
Accident: 14326946 - 4 Employees Burned When Coal Tar Vapors Ignited
Accident: 14326946 -- Report ID: 0317500 -- Event Date: 02/08/1988 | |||||||
Inspection | Open Date | SIC | Establishment Name | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
738583 | 02/08/1988 | 3479 | Durabond Company | ||||
EMPLOYEES #1-4 WERE WORKING AROUND A COAL TAR PITCH TANK THAT CONTAINED COAL TAR PITCH HEATED TO ABOUT 450 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT. THE MATERIAL PRODUCES EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE VAPORS AT THAT TEMPERATURE. THE TANK HAS A LARGE COVER ON IT WITH A DOOR TO ADD COAL TAR PITCH. THE COVER IS NOT BOLTED OR OTHERWISE SECURED TO THE TANK. A 2 INCH STEEL PIPE IS PUMPED FULL OF COAL TAR PITCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK. THE PIPE RUNS 65 FEET IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AND RETURNS TO A CONNECTING PART ON THE COVER. EMPLOYEES #1-4 WERE CHANGING THE SECTION OF PIPE THAT GOES INTO THE COVER. THE INLET WAS OPEN. EMPLOYEE #1 INADVERTENTLY PASSED A TORCH ACROSS THE INLET. THE VAPORS IGNITED. THEY WERE ALL STANDING NEXT TO THE TANK AND WERE BURNED BY FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM BETWEEN THE TANK AND ITS COVER. | |||||||
Keywords:
burn, coal tar pitch, flammable vapors, work rules, fire, torch, tank
| |||||||
Employee # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree | Nature | Occupation | |
1 | 738583 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported | |||
2 | 738583 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported | |||
3 | 738583 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported | |||
4 | 738583 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported |