TranslateAccident Report Detail
Accident: 200535854 - Worker Is Burned In Grain Dust Explosion
Accident: 200535854 -- Report ID: 0751910 -- Event Date: 05/20/2013 | |||||||
| Inspection | Open Date | SIC | Establishment Name | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 317147973 | 05/21/2013 | 1796 | Global Ag Incorporated | ||||
| On May 20, 2013, Employee #1, of Global Ag Incorporated, an agricultural grain storage building equipment contractor, was performing demolition operations with employees of a millwright contractor and a crane company. They were removing obsolete grain handling equipment in preparation for the installation of new, higher capacity equipment. The equipment being removed was on top of a concrete silo owned by Global Ag. The millwright contractor's employees, including Coworkers #1 and #2, were removing all equipment related to the leg elevator and distributor. Coworker #1 was operating a manual chain hoist to lower portions of equipment (flow retarder, cushion and/or baffle) just above where the already removed distributor would have been. Coworker #2 was in the process of cutting the four thread bolts that held the equipment together. The second bolt needed to be cut but could not be reached from the catwalk on which Coworker #2 stood. Coworker #2 had left his fall protection equipment in the trailer. Therefore, Employee #2 used his fall arrest system and tied off on the super structure. He was standing approximately 9 feet above the walking/working surface, that is, the top of the silo. The equipment they were removing had one open hole in the top and one open hole in the bottom. It was a very windy day. Employee #1 used an oxy-acetylene torch to cut the second bolt. Combustible dust exploded and created a flash fire, which caused Employee #1 to fall. Employee #1's 6-foot Protecta brand shock absorbing lanyard partially activated and broke his fall. Coworker #1 called for emergency services and then helped Employee #1 remove his harness, enter an aerial lift, and return to the ground. Employee #1 was transported by emergency response personnel to the nearest hospital and then flown to a hospital burn unit in Iowa City. He was hospitalized and treated for burns to his arms, face, head, and neck. | |||||||
Keywords:
burn, dismantling, grain, construction, explosion, fall, fall protection, combustible dust, grain dust, silo
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| End Use | Proj Type | Proj Cost | Stories | NonBldgHt | Fatality | ||
| Other building | Alteration or rehabilitation | Under $50,000 | |||||
| Employee # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree | Nature | Occupation | Construction |
| 1 | 317147973 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Occupation not reported | FallDist: FallHt: Cause: Demolition FatCause: Fire/explosion |
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