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Accident Report Detail

Accident: 170393318 - Burn - Explosion In Coal Handling Area

Accident: 170393318 -- Report ID: 0551800 -- Event Date: 04/21/1994
InspectionOpen DateSICEstablishment Name
10856395804/21/19944911Psi Energy - Gibson Generating Station
Between 2:00 PM on April 20 and 6:00 AM April 21, 1994, a smoldering coal fire in a turbine generator hopper was being monitored. Fire hoses were pumping water down 19-inch-wide floor openings, which were normally covered, into the hopper, which was in a bunker room on the south side of a coal tripper. On the morning of April 21, the fire escalated. Two yard supervisors (employees #1 and #2) were at the bunker room door handling fire hoses. Four yard workers (employees #4, #5, #6, and #7) were using the fire hoses to pump water into the hopper. At 9:00 AM, just as a township fire fighter (employee #3) walked through the east door of the ninth floor bunker room, an explosion occurred. The two yard supervisors suffered burns and smoke inhalation. They were admitted to a local hospital for their injuries. Employee #1 was released on April 22, and employee #2 was released on April 25. Employees #3 through #22 suffered injuries including smoke inhalation, lacerations, and bruises to their faces, legs, and arms. (Employees #8 through #22 were responding to the explosion.) They were treated with first aid on the scene by the electric utility company's emergency response team. They were then transported to two local hospitals, where they were treated and released.
Keywords: burn, firefighter, fire, coal, explosion, smoke, elec utility work, coal hopper, smoke inhalation
Employee # Inspection Age Sex Degree Nature Occupation
1 108563958 Non Hospitalized injury Other Power plant operators
2 108563958 Non Hospitalized injury Other Power plant operators
3 108563958 Non Hospitalized injury Cut/Laceration Occupation not reported
4 108563958 Hospitalized injury Burn/Scald(Heat) Supervisors, mechanics and repairers
5 108563958 Non Hospitalized injury Other Occupation not reported
6 108563958 Non Hospitalized injury Other Power plant operators
7 108563958 Non Hospitalized injury Other Occupation not reported
8 108563958 Non Hospitalized injury Cut/Laceration Power plant operators
9 108563958 Non Hospitalized injury Bruise/Contus/Abras Power plant operators
10 108563958 Non Hospitalized injury Other Occupation not reported
11 108563958 Non Hospitalized injury Other Power plant operators
12 108563958 Non Hospitalized injury Other Firefighting occupations
13 108563958 Non Hospitalized injury Other Occupation not reported
14 108563958 Non Hospitalized injury Bruise/Contus/Abras Occupation not reported
15 108563958 Non Hospitalized injury Cut/Laceration Occupation not reported
16 108563958 Non Hospitalized injury Other Supervisors, mechanics and repairers
17 108563958 Hospitalized injury Burn/Scald(Heat) Supervisors, mechanics and repairers
18 108563958 Non Hospitalized injury Other Power plant operators
19 108563958 Non Hospitalized injury Other Occupation not reported
20 108563958 Non Hospitalized injury Other Occupation not reported
21 108563958 Non Hospitalized injury Cut/Laceration Occupation not reported
22 108563958 Non Hospitalized injury Other Fire inspection and fire prevention occupations

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