Intentionally set explosion · Thermal burns third degree or higher
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at AMTEC Corporation, 47600 180th Street, CLEAR LAKE, SOUTH DAKOTA 57226
on — Thermal burns third degree or higher, affecting the Hand(s), finger(s) unspecified.
Final narrative
An employee was preparing pyrotechnic materials utilizing screen/sieve equipment that is operated in a unoccupied bay that is interlocked. After sieving/screening was completed, the employee entered the bay to manually transfer the pyrotechnic material and noticed materials were stuck to the sieve/screen. The materials detonated during the transfer. The employee sustained first-degree burns to the face and third-degree burns to the hands.
An employee was performing assembly operation steps on an electric detonator that included cleaning possible powder residue from a weld joint and placing a solder ring at the weld joint for a future operation. While performing a step in the operation, a single detonator exploded in the employee's hand. The employee's left thumb and index fingers were struck by blast pressure and shrapnel resulting in partial fingertip amputations on both fingers.
An employee was cleaning explosive production materials from a universal loader with isopropyl alcohol when energetic material ignited, burning and lacerating his hand. PPE was worn at the time.
An employee was adding production material to a machine by hand and watching the canning process. One of the products was loaded upside down causing it to detonate. This set off a chain reaction of nearby products, causing a flash fire. The employee suffered severe burns across 80% of his back, 60% of his chest, and 90% of his left arm. He was hospitalized.
Three employees were plugging an oil and gas well when one of the onsite explosives detonated prematurely, injuring one employee. The employee sustained multiple lacerations and fractures to the waist and legs.
Employees were setting up for an event to showcase fireworks for a municipality. The injured employee was setting up the tubing for the mortar shells when a mortar shell ignited. An employee sustained burns to their face, arms, and abdomen.
An employee was working on a burner unit and turning the controls for a fan motor on an incinerator unit when incendiary test material ignited, causing second-degree burns to his head, back, and left arm requiring hospitalization.
An employee was making a fine adjustment after a tooling change on a pyrotechnic pellet press when the machine interface was actuated. The bottom piston on the press crushed his left hand, resulting in fractures to his index, middle, and ring fingers with tendon damage to the middle finger. The employee was hospitalized and required surgery.
An employee was testing a 40mm single-shot tactical launcher with the launcher mounted on her right shoulder and the barrel stabilized with her left hand. After the trigger was pulled, the 40mm barrel tore apart radially and she sustained injuries to her left extremity including the bicep, forearm, index finger, middle finger, and thumb.
An employee was loading parts into a press machine when the pneumatic/electrical 2" steel door closed on his hand, crushing it. The employee sustained the amputation of the whole hand and was hospitalized.
An employee was moving a tensile strength test device with a dolly. The device fell from the dolly onto the employee's right leg, causing a compound fracture.
An employee was walking past a crossover conveyor when a ramp came down and hit them in the back. The employee sustained a broken back vertebra, as well as a concussion, and was hospitalized.
An employee was using a hook tool to pull a pallet onto the lift gate of a tractor trailer. The hook detached from the underside of the pallet, causing the employee to fall backward off the lift gate. The employee landed on the concrete parking lot about 5 feet below, suffering fractures to the skull and two thoracic vertebrae.
An employee was walking on a truss table when he lost his balance and fell approximately 3 feet to the floor. The employee sustained a dislocated and fractured left ankle.