Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 201952900 - Employee injured when plumbing pipe system exploded

Accident Summary Nr: 201952900 -- Report ID: 0522000 -- Event Date: 05/18/2001
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
304530751	05/21/2001	1711	0	Midwestern Plumbing Service, Inc.

Abstract: The plumbing pipe system consisted of schedule 40 PVC plastic pipe which ran under the ground for installation within a multi-family housing unit. The system had been in place and sealed for 24 to 48 hours prior to the explosion. An employee, with a cigarette in his mouth, removed a cap from the piping while Employee #1 crouched down at a different location to install copper piping. The fumes from the PVC glue and cleaner were ignited by the cigarette and ignited throughout the piping system, causing the end of the system to explode, injuring Employee #1 who received lacerations and burns to the face, neck, scalp, and inner thighs. Employee #1 was transported to the hospital trauma unit via AirCare and was treated and released.

Keywords: BURN, SEWER, GLUE, THIGH, EXPLOSION, LACERATION, NECK, PIPE, FACE, POLYVINYL CHLORIDE

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Multi-family dwelling		New project or new addition		$1,000,000 to $5,000,000	1

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	304530751			Non Hospitalized injury	Cut/Laceration	Construction laborers	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Installing underground plumbing conduit Fatality Cause: Fire/explosion

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