Inspection Detail

Inspection: 18556399 - Guilford Packaging & Fiber Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Nc Department Of Labor - Raleigh

Investigation Summary

At approximately 5:10 a.m. on June 10, 1992, Employee #1, employed by Mohasco Upholstered Furniture Corp., an out-of-state furniture manufacturer, was preparing to haul a load of 98 rolls of 47 in. wide 550 ft long polyethylene foam from High Point, NC, to a destination in Mississippi. The foam was loaded onto a trailer that had inside dimensions of 45 ft long by 8 ft wide by 9 ft high. The trailer was locked, sealed, and dropped off in the east section of the rear loading dock parking area. Approximately 13 hours after the trailer was loaded, Employee #1 opened the trailer to check the load. Because it was dark, Employee #1 lit a cigarette lighter, and the trailer exploded. Apparently the polyethylene foam was off-gassing butane, which is used as a blowing agent during the manufacturing process. The butane accumulated near the trailer floor and was ignited when Employee #1 lit the lighter. Employee #1 sustained first- and second-degree burns on 20 percent of his body and subsequently died.

Keywords: BURN, BUTANE, FLAMMABLE VAPORS, FIRE, EXPLOSION, TRAILER