Explosion of pressure vessel, piping, or tire · Heat (thermal) burns, unspecified
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Industrial Tooling, Inc., 4316 S 16th St, FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS 72901
on — Heat (thermal) burns, unspecified, affecting the multiple body parts, n.e.c..
Final narrative
An employee was filling an oxygen cylinder from a large cylinder. Another employee pushed the booster pump and the cylinder exploded. Both employee were hospitalized for burns to the abdomen, arms, chest and face.
HospitalizedMultiple body parts, n.e.c.Oxygen tanks and cylinders
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 332119)
A forklift operator was switching out a propane tank on his forklift when the tank leaked and sprayed his right hand, resulting in hospitalization due to liquid propane burns. PPE (gloves) were not worn at the time of the incident.
On September 2, 2025, at approximately 10:15 AM, an employee was setting a rest die in a press when the die slipped off the parallels. One of the employee's fingertips became caught in the die, resulting in a fingertip amputation.
On August 19, 2025, an employee was changing tooling on a sizing machine. The employee's left ring fingertip was pinched between the tooling and the machine and was partially amputated.
An employee was loading pipe into a flare machine when a part clamp caught her right hand. The hand was lacerated and broken. A light curtain was in place at the time of the incident.
A maintenance employee was working on the roof of a small office inside the facility. The employee fell through the ceiling and landed on the floor inside the office. The employee sustained fractured ribs and a punctured lung and was hospitalized.
An employee was operating an ironworker (steel punching/shearing) machine. A piece of the tooling broke off and struck the employee's neck; a fragment was lodged in his neck. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery.
On October 25, 2025, an employee was stringing up a new reel of tire tread on a machine. The employee pulled a 6-inch tail and proceeded to spool up the liner. As the machine was jogged to begin the liner wrapping process, the liner caught the employee's glove and pulled their right arm into the liner, causing a fracture to the arm.
An employee was doing a cable change on top of an electric overhead traveling (EOT) crane. They were positioned between the cable drum and the drive shaft. While rotating the cable drum, the employee reached for the new cable that was to be installed. The grease fitting on the drive shaft caught their fall harness and pulled them underneath the drive shaft. The employee was pinned between the drive shaft and two pieces of angle steel, resulting in a fracture to their left hip.
On October 5, 2025, an employee was pulling a pressure washer hose when it it disconnected from the cooker. The employee was struck by jets of high-pressure water, resulting in lacerations to their left thigh requiring surgery. The employee was hospitalized.