TranslateAccident Report Detail
Accident: 170841316 - Employee'S Face Lacerated In Power Plant Explosion
Accident: 170841316 -- Report ID: 0950615 -- Event Date: 03/07/2000 | |||||||
| Inspection | Open Date | SIC | Establishment Name | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 125593913 | 03/07/2000 | 8999 | Universal Environmental, Inc. | ||||
| Employee #1, working at a steam-powered electricity generating plant, was using a vacuum system to extract metal discs from a Stretford chemical reaction chamber, a device used to clean steam and reduce sulfur dioxide emissions. Employee #1 and two coworkers were on a 50 ft high catwalk when an explosion occurred in the reactor chamber. The explosion expelled metal discs from the chamber at high velocity; Employee #1 sustained deep lacerations when he was struck in the face. The explosion was likely caused by the ignition of dust and fine metal particles in the overpressurized reaction chamber by a static electric spark. The flame continued down the vacuum line to a collection chamber, and from there into the vacuum truck. The system was not grounded. A second possibility may have been an endothermic reaction occurred involving oxygen, the moisture from the rain, sulfur residues, and rust particles. | |||||||
Keywords:
static electricity, work rules, explosion, laceration, chemical reaction, high pressure, struck by, combustible dust, flying object, face
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| Employee # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree | Nature | Occupation | |
| 1 | 125593913 | Non Hospitalized injury | Cut/Laceration | Not specified mechanics and repairers | |||