Domino Effect: From Small Fire to Serious Burns

This story is a perfect case-study for so many safety practices:
1) The need for hot work permits, 2) Safe welding practices, 3) Fire safety, 4) Preventative maintenance, 5) Lock Out Tag Out programs, 6) Common sense (saving property at the cost of personal safety) to name a few.

This is how accidents happen. While reading this sad story, watch the domino effect happen right before your eyes; from a small fire to an employee with serious burns all over his body.

It's safe to assume that this employee didn't come to work that day, expecting to leave with burns over most of his body. This one didn't have to happen...

Worker’s clothing catches fire, causing serious burns

A small fire broke out under a pallet stacker while a worker was welding on the stacker.

The fire burned hoses in the stacker’s hydraulic system, resulting in loss of pressure in the system.

The loss of pressure caused the stacker deck to fall and the falling deck caused hydraulic oil to spray from the system.

The oil sprayed onto the fire and ignited. As the worker attempted to save the welding equipment from the fire, his clothing ignited. Ultimately the worker sustained serious burns to much of his body.

I'm thinking that this poor soul and his co-workers that bore witness to this now believe that in fact, It Can Happen To Me.

The accident investigation found the causes of the accident were:
1. The pallet stacker was not locked out

2. A Hot Work Permit was pencil whipped, and not properly initiated
3. A suitable fire extinguisher was not available where the welding was being done
4. Fuel for the initial fire was likely refuse, spills, and waste materials that had been allowed to accumulate under the pallet stacker
5. The worker was not wearing flame-resistant clothing

Safe work practices:
Workers (and employers) must:
1. Properly complete a Hot Work Permit where and when necessary, ensuring that a f/e is available if a fire breaks out.

2. Ensure machinery or equipment is properly shut down and locked out for maintenance
3. Ensure that refuse, spills, and waste material do not accumulate at the workplace
4. Ensure that workers wear flame-resistant clothing when welding