Contact with hot objects or substances · Third or fourth degree heat (thermal) burns
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at CENTRAL STATES ROOFING CO., 1450 Academy Park Loop, COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO 80910
on — Third or fourth degree heat (thermal) burns, affecting the forearm(s).
Final narrative
A crew was applying hot asphalt to a built-up roof. They were tearing off the old roof and applying layers of asphalt and roofing materials to build the roof up at several layers. Asphalt is heated on the ground and built up through a pipe, put into a pie boy and a low-profile mop cart (400 to 500 degrees F), and applied to the roof with a mop that spreads hot asphalt at the right thickness. Because the asphalt cools quickly, the crew had to lay it out in a grid on rolls of felt. The injured employee was dry-setting some felt while others were mopping. He was walking backwards and bent over, rolling out the felt. As he walked back to the cart, someone called out to him. He then fell over the tires and back onto the hot cart, rolled to the side to try and avoid the hot asphalt, but tipped over the cart. His inside forearm and outside forearm came into contact with hot asphalt, suffering third degree burns.
HospitalizedForearm(s)Roofing asphalt, roofing tar
More severe injuries at CENTRAL STATES ROOFING CO.
An employee was applying hot asphalt to material layers. As the employee moved toward a parapet wall to cut a roll of felt, the employee slipped and fell forward. The employee's hand then entered the mop cart that contained the hot asphalt, causing third degree burns to the right hand and wrist.
An employee connected a steam line to a hose to clean equipment when the fitting broke loose. They were struck by steam in the left inner thigh, resulting in burns that required hospitalization.
An employee was making tea when she noticed tea grinds were collecting on the side and water was no longer dripping through the funnel. The employee was checking the funnel when boiling water and tea grinds spilled onto the left side of her body. The employee sustained burns to her neck, back, and arm.
An employee had turned off the ball valve on a waterpipe system and was removing the plug when the coupling system attached to the strainer came apart. Hot water sprayed on his arm and back, resulting in first- and second-degree burns that required surgery.
An employee was using a shovel to remove waste vermiculite from molten zinc. The metal had been placed in a bin and partially hardened. The employee broke through the partially hardened metal; still-molten metal flowed to the employee's steel-toed right boot and entered through the cloth boot tongue. The employee suffered a third-degree burn to the right foot and was hospitalized.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 238160)
An employee was delivering materials. He was doing his pre-delivery inspection on the roof of the jobsite (a warehouse) when he fell through a plexiglass skylight. He landed on his feet on the concrete floor 14 feet below. The employee sustained fractures to his spine, left ulnar/radius, and right heel. The employee required surgery.
An employee was standing on a multi-purpose ladder installing head flashing over a window. Their feet were approximately 6 feet off the ground and three rungs from the top. The employee lost their grip on the drill they were using and the ladder tipped over. The employee fell from the ladder to the ground, resulting in a fractured left wrist, bruised chest, and lacerations to their face and lip.
An employee fell through a hole in the ceiling and suffered injuries to his side and right arm. When he fell, a piece of concrete fell with him and struck his arm. He was hospitalized.
An employee was laying glue on the corner of a three-story commercial flat roof to apply new thermoplastic polyolefin roofing material. He lost his balance and fell at least 35 feet to the concrete ground below. The employee sustained fractures.
An employee was delivering materials. He was doing his pre-delivery inspection on the roof of the jobsite (a warehouse) when he fell through a plexiglass skylight. He landed on his feet on the concrete floor 14 feet below. The employee sustained fractures to his spine, left ulnar/radius, and right heel. The employee required surgery.
An employee was removing packaging from a roll of printing substrate. The blade of their utility knife got stuck. The employee used both hands to free the knife and the blade partially amputated their left little fingertip.
A concrete batch plant operator was assisting with clearing spoil piles using a skid steer. The skid steer backed into a stationary screen plant. The employee's left little finger was crushed between the controls of the skid steer and the screen plant, resulting in a fracture and laceration. The employee's finger was surgically amputated.
An employee was standing on an extension ladder, using a torquing tool to remove bolts that secured blades to a rotor. When the torquing tool activated, its reaction arm came around and pinched the employee's right middle finger against a lifting eye. His fingertip was amputated.