The case of an 18 year old male laborer who died as a result of an explosion that occurred while he was making repairs on a tanker truck compartment was examined. The victim was employed by a truck and trailer repair shop that had no written safety policy or safety program. The victim was to repair a crack in an interior compartment wall of a tanker truck. The compartment to be fixed, number 3, was steam cleaned while the other three compartments of the truck were left sealed. The compartment atmosphere was not tested for toxicity or explosibility prior to entrance. The victim entered the compartment and used an electric grinder to prepare the crack for welding. An explosion occurred in compartment 2. The top sections of the double wall separating compartments 2 and 3 were blown off and wrapped around the victim's head, crushing his skull. The manifest indicated that compartments 1 and 2 had previously been filled with gasoline. All four compartment drains were open which may have allowed explosive vapors to accumulate in the drain lines. If the atmosphere in the compartment had been tested prior to the beginning of work, it may have alerted the victim that a problem existed. Had all four compartments been steam cleaned and drained, the possibility of explosion would have been reduced.


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    Title :

    Fatal Accident Circumstances and Epidemiology (FACE) Report: Laborer Dies in Explosion, July 14, 1988


    Publication date :

    1988


    Size :

    8 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English