Accident: 200460087 - Two Injured When Cell Battery Explodes

Employees #1 and #2 were engaged in the regular jobs when a Double D cell battery detonated, and overpressurized a cell nearby. They were transported to the hospital, where they were treated for lacerations and for skin contact with carbon black (a component of the cells), lithium chips, and thionyl chloride. Three coworkers were also taken to the hospital complaining of ringing in their ears.

battery, explosion, chemical, laceration, skin, chemical burn, high pressure, caustic

Accident: 170381602 - Eyes Burned When Car Battery Explodes

On April 19, 1996, Employee #1, of Royal Motors, was charging an automobile battery and removed the battery caps to add acid. As he was pouring it in, the battery exploded and Employee #1 suffered acid burns to his eyes. Coworkers washed his face and eyes with a water hose; when the paramedics arrived, they doused his eyes with an isotonic saline solution for 15 minutes. Employee #1 was then transported to San Francisco General Hospital, where he was treated and released later that day. Employee #1 had failed to disengage the positive and negative electrodes before adding the acid. The acid vapor and the solution itself created an arc which caused the battery to explode.

battery, chemical reaction, automotive repair, eye, chemical burn, explosion, work rules, caustic, ppe

Accident: 666081 - Face Burned When Gas In Regulator Ignites

Employee #1, a maintenance employee, was installing a new fuel regulator. When he had finished, the unit failed to start so he removed a set screw to determine if fuel was getting past the regulator. Employee #1 then quick-started the key for the starter to the unit. The regulator still did not start, but the starter remained engaged, even when the key was in the OFF position. Employee #1 removed his finger from the set screw hole, unknowingly releasing some propane. He assumed the gas was turned off. Employee #1 proceeded to the opposite side of the unit to remove the negative battery cable. The battery arced and ignited the propane residue. Employee #1 was hospitalized with burns to his face.

fire, burn, face, maintenance, battery, propane

Accident: 170167316 - Burned When Sprayed By Flaming Gasoline

Employee #1 had removed an old fuel pump and had placed the tank on his workbench, intending to install a new one. Gasoline was stored nearby in an open container. He was using a battery charger to test the new fuel pump when sparks from the charger ignited fumes from the gasoline. The burning gas sprayed all over the front of his clothing. He suffered second- and third-degree burns on his arms, face, hands, and chest.

burn, gasoline, non-approved gas can, flammable vapors, arm, hand, spark, battery charger, chest, work rules

Accident: 170081657 - Struck And Killed By Falling Battery

At approximately 12:00 noon on February 22, 1996, Employee #1 was working on the fourth floor in the finishing department, where a 6 ton battery was suspended overhead. Apparently, the battery became dislodged on its east side and slipped off the hook. Employee #1 was crushed between the battery and a tub and was killed.

crushed, work rules, battery, struck by, unsecured, falling object

Accident: 170830681 - Injured In Battery Explosion

Employee #1 was assigned by his operations manager to start up the crane carrier on an old crane that was being sold. The battery that was in the crane carrier was dead and needed to be jump started. Employee #1 hooked the cables of a Quick Start 12-volt heavy duty battery charger up to the terminals of the battery in the engine compartment. He descended from the crane carrier and started up the battery charger. He then went back to the engine compartment and took the hot ground wires from the starter on the carrier motor and struck them together so he could start the motor. The 12-volt battery exploded and covered his face and eyes with sulfuric acid. He was not wearing the provided eye protection. He received caustic burns and was hospitalized.

work rules, battery charger, eye, explosion, sulfuric acid, battery, chemical burn, face, caustic, jump start

Accident: 170708846 - Injured Jump Starting Tractor Battery

At approximately 9:00 a.m. on May 9, 1995, Employee #1 and a coworker, of Shannon Farms and Custom Harvesting, were trying to jump start a Versatile 555 tractor, which has two 12-volt batteries that are 19 in. by 7 in. by 9 in. each. Employee #1 and the coworker had jump started tractors many times before, using two pickup trucks and jumping one battery to the starter and the other truck battery to the top battery. Because the tractor would not jump start, they tried to disconnect the bottom battery leads, thinking that the bottom battery was draining too much from the system to start the tractor. The jumper cables were not disconnected as Employee #1 started to remove the leads and, just as he did this, the bottom battery blew up. Employee #1 was taken to the hospital, where he stayed for two hours for treatment of minor burns to his eye and hands. No eye and face protection was being used. The employer was cited for failing to disconnect the jumper cables before working on the battery and for not using eye and face protection when working on the batteries.

agriculture, jump start, tractor, battery, work rules, explosion, chemical burn, eye, hand