Month: December 2016

E. I. DuPont De Nemours Co. Fatal Hotwork Explosion

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Accident Description
Two contractors were performing welding atop a 10,000 gallon slurry tank when hot sparks ignited flammable vapors inside the tank, causing an explosion that killed one contractor and seriously injured another.

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Investigation Status
The CSB Board Members unanimously approved the final report 3-0 at a public meeting in Buffalo, NY, on April 19, 2012.

RECOMMENDATIONS

E. I. duPont de Nemours and Company

Donaldson Enterprises, Inc. Fatal Fireworks Disassembly Explosion and Fire

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Accident Description
On April 8, an explosion occurred in a fireworks storage facility near Honolulu, Hawaii. According to media reports, the incident occurred in a bunker used to store confiscated fireworks at Donaldson Enterprises, Inc.

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Investigation Status
The CSB’s final report was approved by a 3-0 vote at a public meeting in Washington, DC on January 17, 2013.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
Department of Treasury – Office of Procurement Executive (OPE)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council
National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Treasury Executive Office for Asset Forfeiture (TEOF)
VSE Corporation

NDK Crystal Inc. Explosion with Offsite Fatality

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Accident Description
A large explosion at the NDK America Inc. plant launched debris 300 yards fatally injuring a member of the public. Two individuals were reported to have sustained minor injuries and were treated onsite. The facility is a manufacturer of quartz crystals in Belvidere, Illinois, approximately 60 miles northwest of Chicago.

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Investigation Status
The CSB’s investigation report was approved by a 3-0 vote at a public meeting on November 14, 2013, in Rockford, IL.

RECOMMENDATIONS

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal, Boiler & Pressure Vessel Safety Division
National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors
NDK Crystal, Inc.

Key Lessons for Preventing Incidents from Flammable Chemicals in Educational Demonstrations

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Accident Description
Three accidents involving methanol which injured children during lab demonstrations are examined by the CSB. All the incidents involved demonstrations of flames – usually with a color additive – using methanol as the flammable liquid. In all three cases there was a flash back to the methanol bulk containers, and fire engulfed members of the viewing audience who were not protected by any physical barriers.

“After the Rainbow” is a CSB video safety message focusing on preventing accidents in high school chemistry labs

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Investigation Status
The CSB’s safety bulletin was released at a news conference in Denver, CO on October 30, 2014.

AL Solutions Fatal Dust Explosion

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Accident Description
An explosion ripped through the New Cumberland A.L. Solutions titanium plant in West Virginia on December 9, 2010, fatally injuring three workers. The workers were processing titanium powder, which is highly flammable, at the time of the explosion.

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Investigation Status
The CSB’s final report was approved 2-0 at a public meeting in Charleston, WV.

RECOMMENDATIONS

AL Solutions, Inc.
AL Solutions, Inc. facility in Burgettstown, PA