SANBORN FLUID POWER

Employee using cutting torch killed in drum explosion

Employee #1 had been instructed by his supervisor to cut off the tops of used 55 gallon drums. The supervisor had been cutting off drum tops earlier in the day using an acetylene torch. The site was approximately 50 ft south of the building . The drum, which had contained Trim Sol or Trim Reg by Master Chemical Corp., p ossibly had paint mixed in it as a result of a paint sprayer purging operation. This was a common practice. The drum exploded as Employee #1 cut through its top . The bottom was blown out of the drum, causing the barrel to fly up, strike, an d kill Employee #1. Employee #1 was apparently blown 21 ft. The wooden pallet un der the drum was ignited as result of the explosion. Paint residue from the drum , which matched contents on the drum bottom, was splattered in the immediate are a.