Accident: 201030665 - Burned In Flash Fire

At approximately 9:00 a.m. on June 5, 1997, Employee #1 was cutting concrete at a construction site. He reached into the storage cabinet of truck #12 to turn off the water pump for the concrete saw. As he turned the ON/OFF power switch, a spark ignited the flammable vapors within the cabinet generated by the storage of open, 5-gallon gas cans. A flash fire ensued, and Employee #1 sustained third-degree burns to his right arm, chest, and face. Paramedics transported him to the Torrance Memorial Burn Center.

construction, fire, gasoline, flammable liquid, gas can, face, burn, work rules, spark, flammable vapors

Accident: 200960284 - Burned When Gasoline Spills And Ignites

Employee #1, the parts manager, and a coworker were trying to start a car in the employer's garage. when the car backfired, igniting a plastic lid containing gasoline that Employee #1 was holding. Employee #1 had poured gas into the carburetor from a plastic aerosol spray paint can. He told the coworker to start the car, and then stepped away from the engine. The car backfired, startling Employee #1, and the gas either spilled and ignited or ignited and then spilled onto him. Employee #1 sustained second- and third-degree burns over 18 percent of his body, mostly on the left side. Neither employee had been assigned to start the car, but they had taken it upon themselves. Employee #1 should not have been holding the gasoline container while the coworker started the car.

construction, fire, work rules, automotive repair, flammable liquid, gasoline, burn, automobile, spill, gas can

Accident: 170167316 - Burned When Sprayed By Flaming Gasoline

Employee #1 had removed an old fuel pump and had placed the tank on his workbench, intending to install a new one. Gasoline was stored nearby in an open container. He was using a battery charger to test the new fuel pump when sparks from the charger ignited fumes from the gasoline. The burning gas sprayed all over the front of his clothing. He suffered second- and third-degree burns on his arms, face, hands, and chest.

burn, gasoline, non-approved gas can, flammable vapors, arm, hand, spark, battery charger, chest, work rules

Accident: 170723563 - Burned By Gasoline Fire While Refueling Machine

On Wednesday, May 5, 1993, Employee #1 and several coworkers were sandblasting and painting several water filtration tanks. Employee #1 was working alone outside the tanks, servicing the air compressor and sandblasting machine. He was refueling an air compressor using a 5-gallon can. The weather conditions were hot with 15 to 20 mph winds. Employee #1 was being very careful not to spill any gasoline as he poured it free-hand into the gas tank's fill spout. There was no bonding between the can and fuel tank, or any contact between the can and the fill spout. After pouring 3 to 4 gallons of gasoline very smoothly into the fuel tank, Employee #1 heard a sizzling sound and moved back, thinking something was wrong. In the next instant, the gasoline caught fire and the wind was blowing it out of the filling spout onto Employee #1's arm and chest, resulting in 3rd-degree burns. The water plant employees came to Employee #1's aid and provided first aid until he was transported by ambulance to UC Medical Center, Sacramento, CA. It is speculated that static sparks started the fire, caused by the lack of bonding.

construction, fire, burn, pouring, static electricity, gasoline, gas can, spark, high wind, high temperature

Accident: 170698963 - Burned When Gasoline Ignites

At about 9:45 a.m. on April 16, 1993, Employee #1, a water service specialist at the Los Angeles City Department of Water and Power in Northridge, CA, was refueling a sump pump engine with a portable gas can when he accidentally ignited the gasoline while he poured it into the tank. Employee #1 was transported to Sherman Oaks Burn Medical Center in Sherman Oaks, where he was treated for gasoline burns and confined.

burn, gasoline, gas can, flammable liquid, engine, tank, pouring