Incident date: 2023-03-02
NAICS industry code: 238220

An employee was removing a pipe cap from a header on a riser station as part of an installation of a new fire and sprinkler system. The employee was utilizing a sprocket to remove a bolt on the pipe cap, which was 8 inches in diameter, 1/2 inch to 5/8 inch thick, and weighed 12.7 pounds. Because the valve had not cracked, the pipe cap was under pressure of approximately 80-115 psi. The pipe cap struck the employee and rendered them unconscious. The employee suffered brain bleeding and fractures to the skull, face, and nose that required hospitalization.

Hazard classification:
code_event: title: Struck by discharged object or substance
code_source: title: Container caps, lids, covers
code_nature: title: Skull fracture and intracranial injury
code_body: title: Brain
severity: moderate