Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids · Heat (thermal) burns, unspecified
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Emory University, 1762 Clifton Road, ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30322
on — Heat (thermal) burns, unspecified, affecting the multiple body parts, n.e.c..
Final narrative
A graduate assistant teacher was preparing to run a column chromatograph7 purification wearing a flame retardant lab coat and safety glasses, as well as gloves, long pants and closed toed shoes. A second graduate assistant teacher was sitting at his desk in the same lab at the time. The first teacher struck the bottom of a 4L glass bottle of hexanes on the edge of the bench, while attempting to put the bottle down. The bottom of the bottle sheared off on contact with the bench and the contents spilled onto the ground. Some of the hexane spilled onto the teacher's lab coat, long pants (left leg) and shoe (left foot). After an initial assessment of the spill, the teacher collected absorbent towels and paper towels to begin to contain and clean up the spill. He was assisted by the second teacher who heard the breakage while sitting at his desk. Shortly after the teachers began to contain the spill, it ignited explosively causing a flash fire. Both teachers were burned and admitted to the hospital.
HospitalizedMultiple body parts, n.e.c.Solvents, degreasers, n.e.c.
An employee was cutting meat in the cafeteria with a meat slicer when the meat slipped and fell. He reached to catch the meat and his thumb contacted the slicer blade, amputating the tip of his thumb.
A maintenance employee was pulling antenna cables while standing on a 6-foot A-frame ladder when he slipped and fell to the ground below, sustaining a head injury.
An employee was cleaning a cordless drill. As they applied brake fluid to the drill and pulled the trigger, the fluid ignited. The employee suffered burns to the face, hands, and arms.
An employee was spraying glue to the floor of an enclosed cargo trailer. The fumes made contact with the heater causing a flash fire. The employee suffered burns to their face and right hand.
An employee was replacing a valve in the gas line to the fryer. The shutoff valve malfunctioned resulting in a gas leak that then ignited. The employee sustained burns requiring hospitalization.
An employee was removing boxes of filters from a skid when he tripped on a manual pallet jack. The employee fell and struck his back on the base of the pallet jack, resulting in hospitalization with fractured ribs.
An employee was walking through a parking garage. She tripped over a curb and fell forward onto her right knee, then her left knee, both hands, and her face. She suffered an injury to the left knee that required surgery, as well as scrapes on the chin and both palms and soreness in the left wrist.
An employee was using a hose to clear storm drains after a sewer backup. The employee fell backward and his head struck the curb, resulting in an Injury on the right side of his head, generalized bruising, and pain in his left ankle, right hip, left shoulder, and neck. The employee was hospitalized.
An employee was working on an exhaust fan on the roof when he tripped on a wire and fell to the ground. The employee sustained scrapes on his elbow, and a fractured right knee with a torn ACL. The employee was hospitalized.
An employee was replacing the back bracket on a deep fryer when her screwdriver slipped, causing her to fall forward into hot oil. She suffered burns on both arms up to the elbows (including the hands and fingers), as well as on the face and neck. She was hospitalized.
An employee was helping to lift the grating from a floor draining system when the grating slipped and landed on his hand, resulting in the amputation of his right middle finger at the first joint.
During a workshop meeting in a hotel, an employee heard a drilling noise, so he walked outside to see what it was. An explosion occurred (possible gas line) and his face, ear, and hair were burned. He also fell and sustained a pelvic fracture.
An employee was using a tool to remove a rag from a roll on the tube mill. The roll pulled the tool and the employee's right hand into the roll, resulting in a partial amputation of the little finger and a fracture to the index finger.