Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at Gevena College, 3200 COLLEGE AVENUE, BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA 15010
on — Thermal burns third degree or higher, affecting the Hand(s) and arm(s) n.e.c..
Final narrative
On September 2, 2024, at about 5:10 PM, an employee was warming an ethanol solution in a glass container with a heat gun. The glass container broke and the ethanol ignited, resulting in second-degree burns to the employee's torso and third-degree burns to his right hand and arm that required surgery.
Hospitalized Hand(s) and arm(s) n.e.c. Ethanol, methanol, monohydric alcohols
An employee was using a torch to loosen a bolt on a water trailer. Natural gas was present in the water and it ignited, causing a fire. The employee sustained third-degree burns to their upper leg.
An employee had been removing phosphorus pentasulfide while on a scaffold. He was using a non-sparking tool to dislodge the phosphoric material. The employee noticed a flash of flame. He descended the scaffold, but the flash ignited residual phosphorus pentasulfide that was on the outside of the employee's personal protective equipment (PPE). He sustained thermal burns to his right hand and right calf.
An employee was taking a butane gas sample as part of the hydrocarbon refining process. A component disconnected and the butane ignited, resulting in first- and second-degree burns to the employee's forearms and to their face, including their cheeks, chin, and neck.
An employee was troubleshooting a power washer in the field. Because there might have been water in its fuel, he brought it back to the shop and drained about a gallon of fuel from the tank into a plastic container. Some of the fuel spilled onto the floor and ignited. The employee was stomping out the fire when he lost his balance and tripped into a stool, which caused the plastic container to spill more fuel onto the fire. The employee's pants and shirt caught on fire, and he fell, abrading his knee while trying to get through the flames. As well as the knee abrasion, he suffered burns to the left leg and left lower quadrant of the torso. He was hospitalized.
An employee was fueling a gasoline-powered pressure washer with a safety fuel can. During the transfer the fuel ignited, causing a fire. The employee sustained burns to his nose, and his right hand and forearm.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 611310)
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