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### Inspection Detail

**Case Status: CLOSED**

#### **Inspection: 1482385.015 - Brookfield Iron & Metal Llc**

**Inspection Information - Office: Calumet City**

 

**Inspection Nr**

**Report ID**

**Date Opened**

----

**Site Address**: 			   Brookfield Iron & Metal Llc			   171 E. 12th StreetChicago Heights, IL 60411

**Mailing Address**: 			   171 E. 12th Street, Chicago Heights, IL 60411

**Union Status**: NonUnion

**SIC**:

**NAICS**: 423930/Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesalers

----

**Inspection Type**: Fat/Cat

**Scope**: Partial

**Advanced Notice**: Y

**Ownership**: Private

**Safety/Health**: Safety

**Close Conference**: 07/08/2020

**Emphasis**:

**Case Closed**: 02/22/2021

----

**Case Status: CLOSED**

#### **Investigation Summary**

**Investigation Nr**

**Event**

At 11:15 a.m. on July 8, 2020, two employees were working for a merchant wholesaler of recyclable materials. Employee #1 transported approximately nine compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinders from the firm's scrapyard into the garage with a forklift to dismantle and dispose of the cylinders. The cylinders' valves were still attached. Employee #1 positioned the cylinders side-by-side on the ground. Employee #1 then used a gas-operated Stihl TS420 cut-off saw to cut triangles into the CNG cylinders. He did not purge the CNG cylinders first. Among the cylinder he cut without incident was a Luxfer aluminum CNG cylinder overwrapped with carbon fiber. It had serial number ADX6151. When employee #1 attempted to cut into the fourth CNG cylinder, the cut-off saw produced frictional heat and sparks while cutting. There were residual amounts of compressed natural gas remaining in the cylinder. It exploded. Employee #1 suffered multiple injuries. He was killed. Employee #2 was walking through the area when the explosion occurred. He experienced hearing loss in his left ear. The hearing loss was temporary. He was not hospitalized.

**Keywords:**compressed gas, cutting, cylinder, explosion, flammable vapors, hearing loss, metal saw, natural gas, ppe, purging, saw, spark
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