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| Record Number: |
2361 |
| CIS Descriptors: |
FOOD
INDUSTRY
EXPLOSIONS
CONTAMINATION
FRICTION
SPARKS
BURSTING
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REPORT
CHARACTERISTICS:
DONOR: Office of the Chief
Coroner
JURISDICTION: Ontario
REPORT TITLE: Verdict of
Coroner's Jury
INDIVIDUAL PRESIDING: Dr. R. M. Drake,
Coroner
PLACE OF INQUIRY: Windsor
DATE OF INQUIRY :
1990-08-17
INFORMATION ABOUT DECEASED:
NAME: Dennis
Wilbur
OCCUPATION: Unavailable
INDUSTRIAL SECTOR: Food
Industry
ACCIDENT INFORMATION:
DATE OF ACCIDENT :
1990-05-29
PLACE OF ACCIDENT: Everfresh Juice Co.,
Windsor
BRIEF CAUSE OF DEATH: Multiple injuries.
BRIEF
MANNER OF DEATH: Accidental explosion.
ACCIDENT
DESCRIPTION:
Deceased was attempting to remove the top of a 55
gallon drum of juice
concentrate (aseptically sealed in
Argentina). The drum was one of 3
drums (dated 1985) which were
and had been on the premises. These
drums had been overlooked
when a whole batch of identical drums had
been returned
approximately 2 years previously. They had been found
unfit for
use because the contents were contaminated with "paint"
chips
(probably drum liner chips). The offending drum was the
second one to
have been opened that day and had already been
punctured at the time of
the explosion. The lid was being
removed by a grinder (creating
sparks) as the use of a torch
had resulted in minor "explosions" inside
the first drum.
Shortly after starting the removal of the lid the
explosion
occurred and the drum took off into the air striking the
worker
in the face and arms. He was instantly killed. The drums
were
bulged at the ends to such a degree that the regular "can
opener" could
not be used.
RECOMMENDATIONS ISSUING FROM
INQUIRY:
1. All aseptic drums of raw material must be
clearly labelled by the
manufacturer as follows:
a)
seal, date and expiry date (if applicable)
b) warning label
(keep away from heat, sparks or flame etc.)
2. The I.A.P.A.
(Industrial Accident Prevention Association) should inform
all
companies using said material of the possible ramifications
of
opening a contaminated drum.
3. W.H.M.I.S. (Workplace
Hazardous Material Information Systems) should be
made aware of
this hazard and add it to their instruction program and
product
list.
4. Any company using this product should follow set
guidelines as to
handling and storage. These guidelines should
be set by the
appropriate government agency.
COMMENTS ON
RECOMMENDATIONS BY CORONER:
1. Part A: As there is no
theoretical expiry date on aseptically sealed
drums only the
seal date would seem appropriate.
Part B: Would apply
specifically to drums with bulging end(s).
Recommendation
#1 stems from, I believe, an incomplete understanding by
the
jury of the aseptic process.
2&3 Are an attempt to
alert the industry of the hazards of opening
contaminated
drums. In this case that the cause of the problem was
build-up
of hydrogen gas as a result of a chemical reaction between
the
juice concentrate (acidic) and bare metal. Also, that the
danger of
explosion still exists, if a spark or flame is
present, even after the
seal has been broken.
4. I
believe is self-explanatory and such guidelines have been
instituted
at this company and should be available to the whole
industry.
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©2004 Canadian Centre for Occupational
Health & Safety 