Fitter/welder is crushed between two pressure vessels and dies in California.
Source
NIOSH 2000 Mar; :1-4
Abstract
A 42-year old male fitter/welder (decedent) died when he was crushed between a stationary pressure vessel (a type of unfired, cylindrical tank) and a pressure vessel that had tipped up. The decedent was on top of the pressure vessel that tipped while he was welding a seam on a manway (personnel hatch). The pressure vessel he was on was lying lengthwise cradled in devices called positioners. This pressure vessel suddenly tipped up. He was thrown off and crushed between the tipping pressure vessel and an adjacent pressure vessel. The pressure vessel that tipped had one of the two heads (a type of end cap) welded into place. It was heavy on that end and the positioner was placed so that any additional weight on that end would easily cause it to tip. The decedent was not safeguarded by fall protection. The CA/FACE investigator determined that, in order to prevent future occurrences, employers should as part of their Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP): 1. ensure employees place the positioners so that pressure vessels will not tip under minor, additional loads. 2. ensure employees use fall protection or an alternate means of access to work when working at heights. 3. develop a method for welding on shorter pressure vessels that reduces the possibility of tipping.
Keywords
Region-9; Accident-analysis; Accident-prevention; Accidents; Injuries; Injury-prevention; Traumatic-injuries; Work-operations; Work-analysis; Work-areas; Work-performance; Work-practices; Safety-education; Safety-equipment; Safety-measures; Safety-monitoring; Protective-measures; Protective-equipment; Safety-programs; Personal-protection; Personal-protective-equipment; Welders; Welding
Document Type
Field Studies; Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation
Funding Type
Cooperative Agreement
NTIS Accession No.
PB2007-111633
Identifying No.
FACE-99CA010; Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U60-CCU-907284
Source Name
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Performing Organization
Public Health Institute
