Record Number: 812 CIS Descriptors: BURNS ARC WELDING AND CUTTING EXPLOSION HAZARDS FLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY CONSTRUCTION WORK FATALITY REPORT REPORT CHARACTERISTICS: DONOR: Office of the Chief Coroner JURISDICTION: Ontario REPORT TITLE: Verdict of Coroner's Jury INDIVIDUAL PRESIDING: Dr. K.C. King, Coroner PLACE OF INQUIRY: Cambridge DATE OF INQUIRY : 1979-06-26 INFORMATION ABOUT DECEASED: NAME: Stewart Foster OCCUPATION: Welder INDUSTRIAL SECTOR: Construction industry ACCIDENT INFORMATION: DATE OF FATALITY : 1979-04-16 PLACE OF FATALITY: Hamilton General Hospital BRIEF CAUSE OF DEATH: Pulmonary oedema and bronchopneumonia. BRIEF MANNER OF DEATH: Second and third degree burns to 75% of the body. ACCIDENT DESCRIPTION: Preliminary investigation of this accident revealed that the late Stewart Foster was employed by Cambridge Paving Company Ltd. at 234 Elgin Street North, Cambridge. He was welding in a Quansit hut type of building which was used as a garage. Underneath the bench where he was working was a large quantity of paint and two five gallon cans, one marked CIL reducer and one marked CIL thinner. These two cans were sitting on the floor in front of the paint cans directly underneath the vise used to hold the metal which the victim was welding. One of these exploded, covering the deceased with the contents which immediately burst into flames. He was taken to hospital and died 19 days later. RECOMMENDATIONS ISSUING FROM INQUIRY: 1. All ignitable liquids should only be sold or retailed in an approved safety can. 2. Signs posted throughout working areas stressing hazards of flammable materials. 3. All flammable materials should be kept in restricted areas. 4. Approved safety programs should be set up to make employees aware of all industrial hazards. 5. IAPA should have commercials showing the dangers of improper uses and storage of flammable materials.