Explosion of pressure vessel, piping, or tire · Traumatic injuries and disorders, unspecified
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Sapp Bros. Inc., 660 S. Main St., WEST POINT, NEBRASKA 68788
on — Traumatic injuries and disorders, unspecified, affecting the nonclassifiable.
Final narrative
A leaking propane tank exploded within the shop injuring two workers.
HospitalizedNonclassifiablePropane tanks and cylinders
An employee slipped on snow and fell while delivering propane to a customer's residence. The employee sustained an injury to the knee requiring surgery.
An employee was using an air compressor on a multi-wheel tire when the flange and the tire burst, causing the wheel's lock ring to strike the employee in the face. He sustained a laceration and facial fractures.
An employee was changing the connection to a compressed nitrogen tank when the system failed and exploded. One employee suffered a concussion and was hospitalized. The other employee sustained soft tissue injuries that did not require hospitalization.
An employee was putting air in a tire that was mounted on a customer's vehicle when the tire exploded, resulting in a left arm fracture that required hospitalization.
On October 24, 2023, at 12:00 PM, an employee was visually checking a gauge on the "U" controller when a pressure tank exploded. The employee was hospitalized with multiple facial fractures and required surgery.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 454310)
An employee was connecting a hose to fill a propane cylinder. The flow of propane was activated when the filler nozzle was partially connected to the cylinder. The nozzle detached from the cylinder valve, causing expanding liquid propane to release through the nozzle. This caused the employee to lose his balance, spin, become entangled in the hose, and fall. He struck his head on the ground and suffered fractures to the temple and cheekbones, a laceration on the forehead, and a brain bleed. The employee was hospitalized.
An employee was filling a motor fuel cylinder from a bobtail. When he opened the handle on the fill nozzle it popped off the filler valve and pushed him back into a rack where he struck his head on a cylinder cage. He sustained a laceration to the back left side of his head. While working to wrestle the hose to the ground, he sustained burns from liquid propane on the right side of his chest and right arm, and sustained minor burns on the left side.
An employee had been refueling empty propane tanks at a site. He drove back to the bulk plant facility and began to feel ill. The employee sustained dehydration due to heat.
An employee was pumping liquid propane from a propane delivery truck to a storage tank. After the transfer was completed, the employee closed the valves and disconnected the transfer hose. During the transfer, the liquid propane auto-refrigerated the riser pipe of the storage tank and that delayed the vaporization of the propane. Upon reaching a higher temperature, liquified propane began rapidly expanding. Liquid propane then discharged from the pipe and contacted the employee, causing cold burns. The employee was hospitalized for second-degree burns to their torso and arms.
An employee was stacking concrete blocks for a concrete bunker. As a block was swinging into place, the employee's left leg was pinched between two blocks, resulting in injuries to his left heel and lower leg.
An employee was climbing a ladder to inspect a vent in a restaurant dining area. The ladder slid out on the floor and the employee fell approximately 12 feet onto the ladder and the floor. He was hospitalized with a dislocated shoulder and a back injury.
An employee was filtering a fryer with a fryer filter machine. After going around the corner and then returning to the fryers, the employee stepped into the filter machine. The hot oil burned the employee's right ankle, and the employee was hospitalized.
An employee was cleaning out corn from a grain bin. The sweep auger in the bin was activated and caught his trouser leg. His leg was pulled into the auger, which injured his calf and caused leg fractures and lacerations.