Mechanic Killed Pouring Gasoline on Fire
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Oregon FACE Toolbox Talks
This series of four toolbox talks was created by Oregon Health and Science University based on Oregon FACE fatality reports.
Documents
- Oregon FACE Toolbox Talk: Load of Lumber Shifts
- Oregon FACE Toolbox Talk: Falls Down Elevator Shaft
- Oregon FACE Toolbox Talk: Roofing Materials
- Oregon FACE Toolbox Talk: Fall from Scaffold
- Toolbox Talk: Construction Worker Dies When He Leans Out of the Protective Cage of a Skid Steer Forklift and is Crushed
- Mechanic Killed Pouring Gasoline on Fire
- Auto Salvage Worker Killed by Unsecured Car on Transporter
Summary Statement
This Oregon FACE toolbox talk is about a 37-year-old field mechanic who died when he tried to stoke a warming fire with gasoline. The recommendations:
1. Never use gasoline or saw fuel near an open flame.
2. Make sure to use the correct materials to safely start and stoke a fire. For example, use a drip-torch with a mixture of diesel fuel and gasoline (ratio 3:1 or 4:1).
3. Make sure that employees understand that when pouring gasoline on an existing fire, a flame can travel up the stream into the container and
explode.
4. Train employees on the hazards and safe procedures for starting and stoking fires.
March 2015
Toolbox Talk Guide
Instructions
1. Display the graphic above to your crew, and read the following:
Our safety talk today is about a 37-year-old field mechanic who died when he tried to stoke a warming fire with gasoline. The victim and a coworker were at a logging site to work on a log-loading machine. The weather was cold and rainy. The coworker started a warming fire with diesel fuel and chainsaw gasoline. He left for about 15 minutes and came back to find the victim lying 35 feet from the warming fire engulfed in flames. There was another fire about 20 feet from the warming fire that was later found to be a burning 5-gallon plastic gasoline container. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene from severe thermal injuries.
So here are some ways we can prevent something like this from happening where we work:
- Never use gasoline or saw fuel near an open flame.
- Make sure to use the correct materials to safely start and stoke a fire. For example, use a drip-torch with a mixture of diesel fuel and gasoline (ratio 3:1 or 4:1).
- Management and I must make sure that employees understand that when pouring gasoline on an existing fire, a flame can travel up the stream into the container and explode.
- Management and I must train employees on the hazards and safe procedures for starting and stoking fires.
2. Ask: “Does anyone have more ideas or comments to share?” Pause for discussion. Then see if there are ways to take action.
END WITH ACTION PLAN (ideas for what to ask or say).- “What other precautions do we need to take when handling gasoline?”
- “What would you do if you are outdoors and it gets cold and rainy?”
- Discuss a similar situation and what employees can do.
- Express your commitment to providing materials needed for the work environment.
- Commit to follow-up at the next safety talk.
