Inspection Detail

Inspection: 111640629 - Interstate, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Minnesota Department Of Labor And Industry

Inspection Nr: 111640629

Report ID: 0552700

Date Opened: 08/04/1992

Site Address:
Interstate, Inc.
I94 & Cord 1
Fergus Falls, MN 56537

Mailing Address:
Box 636, Fergus Falls, MN 56537

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:7699

NAICS: 0

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 08/05/1992

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 07/27/1993

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	360241178

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	3					3
Current Violations	3					3
Initial Penalty	$5,415	$0	$0	$0	$0	$5,415
Current Penalty	$2,978	$0	$0	$0	$0	$2,978
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citation Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	FTA Penalty	Contest	Latest Event
1.	01001	Serious	19100252 A03 II	09/10/1992	02/22/1994	$2,438	$4,875	$0	09/30/1992	F - Formal Settlement
2.	01002	Serious	19100254 D01	09/10/1992	02/22/1994	$270	$270	$0	09/30/1992	F - Formal Settlement
3.	01003	Serious	5206070001	09/10/1992	11/16/1992	$270	$270	$0		-

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 813956

Event: 07/31/1992

EMPLOYEE KILLED BY EXPLOSION DURING WELDING

AT ABOUT 4 P.M. ON JULY 31, 1992, EMPLOYEE #1, A WELDER, WAS INSTALLING A NEW CENTER SHAFT SUPPORT WELDMENT INTO THE END OF A DRUM-TYPE ROLLER USED IN A MODEL 596 OWATTANA HAY BALER. THE ROLLER'S OLD WELDMENT HAD BEEN REMOVED WITH A CUTTING TORCH AND THE ROLLER HAD BEEN PREPARED FOR THE NEW PART BY GRINDING. AT SOME POINT, EMPLOYEE #1 USED A SPRAY GREASE FROM A PRESSURIZED CAN TO COAT THE INSIDE OF THE ROLLER WHERE THE WELDMENT HAD TO SLIP IN. THE PRODUCT CONTAINED 46 PERCENT CHLORINATED SOLVENTS AND PETROLEUM DISTILLATES, GREASE, AND PROPANE/ISOBUTANE/N-BUTANE PROPELLENT. A COWORKER ASSISTED EMPLOYEE #1 IN THE INSERTION OF THE WELDMENT INTO THE END OF THE ROLLER AND THEN LEFT THE SCENE. EMPLOYEE #1 STOOD THE ROLLER ON END, CLIMBED A WORKSTAND, AND BEGAN WELDING WITH A WIRE FEED WELDER. HE MADE ONE SPOT WELD FOR POSITIONING, THEN STOPPED AND ASKED A FELLOW WORKER IF HE HAD SEEN THE "POOF" THAT HAD JUST OCCURRED. EMPLOYEE #1 THEN PROCEEDED AND WAS MAKING THREE MORE SPOT WELDS WHEN THE VAPORS INSIDE THE ROLLER EXPLODED, CAUSING THE WELDMENT TO BE PROPELLED VIOLENTLY UPWARD. THE WELDMENT STRUCK EMPLOYEE #1 IN THE FACE AND HEAD AND CONTINUED UPWARD UNTIL IT STRUCK THE 16-FOOT CEILING AND FELL TO THE FLOOR. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS THROWN BACKWARD TO THE FLOOR.

Keywords: SPOT WELDING, VAPOR, FLAMMABLE VAPORS, WELDER, EXPLOSION, BALER, STRUCK BY, FLYING OBJECT

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	111640629			Fatality	Fracture	Machinery maintenance occupations

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