Accident: 119948511 - Mechanic Injured When Split Rim Assembly Explodes

At approximately 9:45 a.m. on July 25, 2000, Employee #1, a heavy equipment mechanic, was working in the maintenance yard of the Bloomington Lumber Company. A split rim wheel assembly exploded during tire inflation and he sustained a fractured right arm and wrist. Employee #1 was transported to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, where he was hospitalized for 36 hours.

mechanic, flying object, fracture, arm, inflating, restraining device, explosion, work rules, struck by, multipiece rim wheel

Accident: 101950384 - Burned In Natural Gas Explosion

Employee #1, a bakery worker, was attempting to re-light a gas oven when there was a gas explosion. She was hospitalized with extensive burns.

fire, vapor, explosion, burn, oven, methane, flammable vapors

Accident: 170361497 - Arm Burned In Natural Gas Explosion

At approximately 12 noon on June 26, 2000, Employee #1 was helping a contractor install a condenser and coil into an existing wall furnace and air conditioning system in a home. The contractor removed the duct work at the top of the furnace while Employee #1 moved it away from the wall. As they were performing their duties, natural gas leaked into the room and exploded. Employee #1 sustained first- and second-degree burns on his left wrist and forearm. The main gas valve had not been shut off prior to removing the furnace from the wall.

installing, methane, gas leak, explosion, furnace, burn, forearm, natural gas, work rules, flammable vapors

Accident: 14318786 - Six Employees Injured In Explosion Of Plastic Fines

At approximately 1:00 p.m. on June 12, 2000, Employees #1 through #6 were transferring a mixture of plastic fines and lubricants.; the additives were explosive when in a suspended state, as per the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). This transfer was performed by dumping the mixture from the mixer into a series of screw conveyors and then dropping the mixture from the top conveyor into a large metal silo. The transfer was approximately 75 percent complete when there was a small explosion in the #3 silo. The explosion shook the entire building and suspended large quantities of dust into the air. This dust then ignited and produced a large but quick dust explosion. The explosion blew out the walls and 50 percent of the roof. All of the six silos were damaged. Employees #1 through #6 sustained injuries ranging from first-, second-, and third-degree burns to shock, and Employees #1 through #3 were hospitalized overnight. The building was not designed as a Class 2, Division 1 location. None of the covers were dust tight, and there were no fire dams (chokes) to prevent the fire and explosion from spreading to other parts of the facility.

explosion, plastic mfg, silo, chemical reaction, burn, combustible dust, work rules, fire, explosive mixing

Accident: 170388532 - Injured In Explosion At Aluminum Melting Furnace

Employee #1 was instructed by his supervisor to use a Bobcat loader to add 900 lb of silicon into the #2 aluminum melting furnace. Employee #1 had dumped in two buckets when an explosion occurred that ignited his clothing and the Bobcat. Employee #1 sustained injuries, for which he was hospitalized. The explosion was triggered by standing water that had pooled on the floor in the silicon area due to major leaks in the roof.

front end loader, fire, aluminum processing, inadequate maint, chemical reaction, explosion, melting furnace, water, chemical, work rules