Apprentice Distiller Fatally Burned by Overpressurized Pot Still

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Kentucky Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program (KY FACE) ; University of Kentucky. College of Public Health. Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center
• Description:
  Friday, April 24, 2015, a 40-year-old distiller and a 27-year-old distiller apprentice (victim) were producing a batch of moonshine when the Revenoor 300 gallon pot still unexpectedly ruptured. The distiller said he heard a noise like a car backfiring and he and the victim were knocked to the ground covered in 200 degrees Fahrenheit mash (mixture of grain and water used in distilling). The distillery owner heard a loud pop from his home, ran to the distillery and found both employees outside and injured. After turning off the propane, the owner brought both employees to his home where his wife called emergency fire and medical services. The two employees were conscious and airlifted to the nearest trauma burn center. The victim died 17 days later on May 11, 2015, from complications due to infection resulting from the burns. To prevent future occurrences of similar incidents, the following recommendations have been made: Recommendation No. 1: Batch distillation system manufacturers should ensure that an appropriate rated temperature and relief pressure valve be installed on manufactured pot stills. Recommendation No. 2: Pre-job hazard analysis should include regular inspection of the distilling column for buildup. Recommendation No. 3: Distilleries should consider installation of fire foam protection systems and installation of emergency showers. Recommendation No. 4: Legislative bodies should consider passage and implementation of state regulations that require routine inspection of stills by a competent person in distillery businesses.
• Subjects:
  Accident Prevention Accidents Accidents, Occupational Alcoholic Beverages Burns Emergencies Explosions Fires Occupational Health Propane Safety Safety Management Staff Development Temperature

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• Keywords:
  Accident-analysis Accident-potential Accident-prevention Alcoholic Beverages Author Keywords: Fire Distilleries Emergency Equipment Equipment Design Equipment Maintenance Equipment Reliability Explosion Venting Fire Hazards Fire Protection Fire Retardants Heating Equipment Injuries Injury-prevention Legislation Mash Moonshine OSHA Region 4 Regulations Safety-education Safety-measures Safety-practices Safety-programs Safety Valves Stills Temperature Control Training Traumatic-injuries

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• FACE - NIOSH and State:
  FACE ; Machine (All) ; Machine - Manufacturing
• Series:
  Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Reports (FACE)
• Subseries:
  State
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHSFACE15KY019
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Field Study
• Place as Subject:
  Kentucky ; OSHA Region 4
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-11
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20048032
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB2016-103285
• Citation:
  Morgantown, WV: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, FACE 15KY019, 2015 Dec ; :1-11
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Performing Organization:
  University of Kentucky
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  31-33 - Manufacturing - (NAICS)
• Start Date:
  2005/07/01
• End Date:
  2026/06/30
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c16e4b7b6bcaf049ac7f5d4f9019eecd35e97997e8d8a1f7bb3992ed9a398aaa1f1ace1000debf24d6c6048ca038c5253062a7b405cf8225bcc5bd1b06221802
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/165028/cdc_165028_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.29 MB ]