Accident: 170570824 - Face Burned In Diesel Fuel Tank Explosion

Employee #1, a delivery worker, was unloading 7,800 gallons of #2 diesel fuel into a 100,000 gallon aboveground tank when the tank exploded. He sustained minor burns to his face. The top of the tank blew up in the air approximately 4 ft and came down in its original position, as it was designed to do.

delivery work, diesel fuel tank, face, tank, fire, explosion, burn, fuel oil, storage tank

Accident: 170380356 - Employee'S Face And Hands Burned In Flash Fire

Employee #1, who worked for an agricultural nursery of vineyard products, was assigned to soak a burn pile of agricultural debris with diesel fuel. The pile was ignited by an unknown source, and a flash fire occurred. Employee #1 suffered second-degree burns on his hands and face. Apparently, the diesel fuel had unintentionally mixed with gasoline, creating an unstable mixture, because the fuels were stored in tanks with a common wall.

gasoline, fire, agriculture, hand, face, burn, diesel fuel tank, chemical reaction

Accident: 171055502 - Killed When Struck By Baffle In Tank Explosion

Employee #1 was repairing a leak in a four-compartment tanker trailer. The first compartment, which had contained diesel fuel, was emptied, steam cleaned, cooled, and then ventilated. While ventilating the atmosphere inside, the first compartment was tested and confirmed by the workers present to be safe for entry. Employee #1 entered the tank and was starting the repair work when an explosion occurred that broke loose the front baffle of the void at the rear of the first compartment. The baffle struck Employee #1, killing him.

tank, diesel fuel tank, explosion, struck by, flying object, repair, work rules, vapor, tank truck, trailer truck

Accident: 171055437 - Injured In Diesel Tank Explosion

Employee #1 was preparing to weld a bracket to a small diesel tank in a pickup bed. His leads contacted the tank and cut a hole through it, resulting in an explosion. Employee #1 sustained injuries that required hospitalization. At the time of the accident, the tank contained less than a gallon of diesel fuel.

welding, diesel fuel tank, explosion, work rules, pickup truck, struck against, welder, flammable liquid, flammable vapors

Accident: 170020085 - Burned In Diesel Fuel Tank Explosion, Later Dies

Employee #1 was working at a remote job site in Mooers, NY, when he noticed a leak in the diesel fuel tank of a Total chip harvester, model 30 RXL, serial #1948. He proceeded to repair it without first cleaning the fuel from the tank. After applying the first bead of weld to the seam of the tank, Employee #1 put in a new rod and touched the seam. The fuel tank exploded. Diesel fuel spilled on the ground and over Employee #1, and then ignited. He suffered second- and third-degree burns over 65 percent of his body. Employee #1 died 15 days later of cardiac arrest from fungal sepsis, an infection resulting from his burns.

explosion, logging, fire, harvester, repair, burn, work rules, leak, welding, diesel fuel tank

Accident: 201150232 - Burned When Fuel Vapors Ignite

At approximately 11:30 p.m. on June 4, 1996, Employee #1 was checking the fuel level of the Barber Greene street paving machine that he was operating. He dismounted from the operator's position and unlocked the secured diesel tank filler cap. Because they were required to pave at night, the visibility was poor and Employee #1 used his cigarette lighter to provide better lighting. The fuel vapors ignited and he sustained burns that required hospitalization.

construction, diesel fuel tank, poor visibility, vapor, fire, burn, work rules, flammable vapors, lighting, flammable liquid

Accident: 170587067 - Burned While Cutting Diesel Fuel Tank

Employee #1, a mechanic supervisor, was using an air arc cutting device to remove a ladder attachment from the side of a diesel fuel tank on a 927 loader. The torch penetrated the tank and the employee was sprayed with diesel fuel, which ignited. He suffered third-degree burns to his left arm and hands.

diesel fuel tank, burn, hand, arm, fire, construction, cutting and burning, mechanic, work rules, flammable liquid

Accident: 170122220 - Burned In Diesel Fuel Tank Explosion

Employee #1 was using a torch to cut scrap metal when he accidentally cut into a homemade diesel fuel tank. The tank exploded. Employee #1 was hospitalized for burns to his back and arms.

torch, inattention, gasoline, diesel fuel tank, explosion, burn, back, arm, work rules, cutting and burning