Inspection Detail

Inspection: 808301.015 - Environmental Enterprises, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Cincinnati Area Office

Investigation Summary

At 3:00 a.m. on December 28, 2012, an employee and a coworker were in the process of removing the metal frame from an oxygen generator's filters contaminated with sodium chlorate. This was the first time the employee and coworker had been instructed to perform this duty. They had been instructed to remove the metal end caps and structural metal mesh components of the filter elements with a hatchet and a pry bar tool. They had not been successful at accomplishing this task with those tools and had requested and received permission to utilize a portable electric reciprocating saw. The coworker noted that during the cutting process, one of the filters he was cutting on began to smolder. They stopped to look at the filter and noticed a small bright orange flash, followed by a larger blast originating from the filter directly into the torso of the employee. This blast knocked the coworker to the ground and away from the event. Another larger blast followed, which caused the employee to receive fatal burns to approximately 85% of his body.

Keywords: Chemical, Explosion