Accident: 14392757 - Killed When Tool Bin Overturns

At approximately 11:00 a.m. on December 16, 1996, Employee #1 was working with a crew preparing to hoist a heavy tool bin onto a rack for use in blasting. The rig measured about 7 ft 10 in. wide by 20 ft long by 1 1/2 in. thick and weighed between 5,000 and 6,000 lb. The tool bin had pipe braces on the flat side and a 2 ft long extension at one end. It was resting on its braces with its steel extension lip on the ground, which was wet and sandy due to recent heavy rains. An employee jumped up on one end of the tool bin to attach a lifting clamp and then jumped back down. Employee #1 was standing next to the bin talking with a coworker when the bin fell over in their direction. Employee #1 was pinned against the ground and killed. The coworker was brushed by the falling structure, but was not seriously injured. The wet ground and the weight of the bin structure may have contributed to the accident.

overturn, struck by, pinned, blasting, unstable position, unstable soil, unsecured, work rules

Accident: 170743884 - Killed In Fall From Tree

On November 10, 1996, Employee #1 was working in a remote area, blasting out the tops of trees to create bird habitat. He had free-climbed 58 ft to place a charge in a trunk when he accidentally fell backward, landing close to the tree trunk. The employer, working 200 ft away, heard the noise when Employee #1 struck the ground, but did not render assistance. The employer did not call for medical assistance until four hours later. When EMS arrived, Employee #1 was pronounced dead.

fall protection, work rules, fall, tree, blasting

Accident: 202064028 - Killed When Storage Magazine Explodes

Employee #1 worked for a company that was under contract with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to remove a 500 kV power line and three towers at a Mississippi River crossing in southwest Memphis, TN. The company used a variety of explosive devices, such as shape charges, primer cord, and blasting caps, to cut the lines and take down the towers. The crew was finishing its work and returning all unused explosives to the storage magazines. Except for the blasting caps, which were carried loose in an employee's hand, the explosives were placed inside a canvas bag and were loaded into a pickup truck with other working tools, including a propane torch. When the crew arrived at the storage magazine, the keys for the locks were not onsite. The supervisor removed the propane torch from the truck, and Employee #1 began cutting the locks off the magazine. He removed the first lock without incident. As he was cutting off the second lock, an explosion occurred and he was blown approximately 40 ft. Employee #1 sustained multiple injuries, especially to the head and face, that resulted in his death. Two coworkers were within 50 ft of the magazine and barely escaped death or serious injury by a flying plate steel side panel. The contractor was not licensed to perform blasting operations within the state of Tennessee.

construction, blasting, propane torch, explosion, head, work rules, torch, explosives, storage area

Accident: 201510039 - Injured When Struck By Falling Rock

At approximately 8:25 a.m. on May 4, 1996, Employee #1 was loading explosives into a lifter hole when a small piece of sandstone fell and struck his shoulder. The situation was not judged to be hazardous, and he returned to work. At approximately 8:30 a.m., a 100 lb piece of sand rock fell and struck the front part of his head, knocking him to the ground. Employee #1 sustained serious injuries, for which he was hospitalized.

unstable surface, work surface, blasting, falling object, struck by, head, work rules

Accident: 170591507 - Killed In Black Powder Explosion

Employee #1 was drilling plug holes on a mined granite block that measured 5 ft wide by 6 ft long by 3 3/4 ft high. The plug holes were 3/4 in. diameter, 5 in. deep. Employee #1 had drilled two plug holes. The third plug hole, which was drilled perpendicularly about 3 in. from the second, was directly in line with a blasthole. The pneumatic drill apparently hit the unexploded black powder in the blasthole, causing an explosion. Employee #1's liver was lacerated and he was killed.

drill, drill operator, explosives, explosion, work rules, blasting, liver, laceration, rock

Accident: 170569867 - Killed When Struck By Rock In Blasting Operation

Employee #1, a state certified blaster with 16 years experience, was working alone blasting in an open field to loosen limestone for construction of a roadway. Employee #1 had made a blast with no problems two days later. Employee #1 drilled and loaded the holes with ammonia nitrate, sounded the siren, gave a verbal signal, took cover behind a 4 ft high by 4 ft wide by 6 ft 1 in. magazine approximately 150 ft from the blast area, and fired the shot. A single piece of rock weighing 20 to 30 lb grazed the magazine and struck him on the head. Employee #1, who was wearing a hard hat and acting within the scope of his normal duties, was found unconscious and pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner.

construction, blasting, struck by, flying object, rock, head, unconsciousness

Accident: 14546238 - Electric Shock - Contact With Overhead Line Thru Metal Wire

Some employees were blasting under an overhead power line. When a charge was set off, the blasting cap wires and lead wire were thrown up and contacted the power line. One of the employees, who was apparently in contact with the wires, was electrocuted.

electrical, electrocuted, blasting, metal wire, overhead power line, e c