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2007 August Slush
(DA) Marlboro Cigarette Raft and a Flood
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Forgetting Something?
Porch Swing Pipebomb
conveying the message
(DA) Expanding Foam & Blowtorch Fatality
Why do you need a steering wheel?
Balls R Us
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Bedford High School student died wh
Watch out for that tree?
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Death by band-aid.
peepong tom electrocuted
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Darwin Awards
2007 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
Should I include it in the archive?
Vote to tell me what *you* think!

Expanding Foam & Blowtorch Fatality

2007 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

ACCEPTED INTO THE ARCHIVE
ORIGINAL SUBMISSION:

The update indicating it was self inflicted and appologising to Bostik was issued on July 16th.

"THE FOLLOWING SAFETY ALERT HAS BEEN PREPARED BY COSTAIN

EXPANDING FOAM AEROSOL FATALITY

A fatality recently occurred when an operative was using a 500ml aerosol can of Evo-Stik expanding foam in a new house. It was one of a batch of 3 boxes of 12 each purchased for the task and had just been delivered to site. The operative picked up one of the cans and gave it a shake as recommended on the can.

A pressure explosion occurred when the can burst/ exploded at the top seam. The top flew off and hit both the ceiling and a wall leaving surface marks. The bottom section of the can flew out of the operatives’ hand and hit him on the chest over the heart. The impact was so severe that the bottom section crumpled and wrinkled to some six inches. Although the severity of the impact neither penetrated his outer clothing or skin, it ruptured his heart causing bleeding to the inside of the heart sack, resulting in his death within several minutes. He was a fit man in his late 20's."

There followed a widespread warning issued across British Industry to be wary of Evo-Stick. However the originators of the warning had to make an appology to the manufacturers, Bostik, when it was discovered that the individual had used a blowtorch on the can!!!

What is not clear is why this individual decided to apply a blowtorch to a pressurised can. Although it is possible colleagues were reluctant to give full details out of sympathy for the mans relatives.

An update was released to undustry as follows..

'"Further to the information I received yesterday at the National Meeting, concerning the Incident involving an Evo-stick Aerosol Can than exploded, may I please take the opportunity to provide an update concerning this matter.

I have contacted the Scottish Civil Engineering Contractors group, who issued the Safety Alert, and they have informed me that the unfortunate individual who died as a result of the aerosol tin exploding, had in fact used a Blow Torch on the tin which resulted in the tin exploding.

The Civil Engineering Contractors Group will issue further details over the next few days to clarify the situation."

- - -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/6442153.stm

Monday, 12 March 2007, 13:53 GMT

Man killed in workplace accident
Northern Constabulary in Lerwick

Police said the emergency services could not save Mr Thomson The death of a young man in an accident on a Shetland building site is being investigated.

James Thomson, 26, of Brae, was working in Levenwick on Saturday morning when a canister of insulating foam is believed to have exploded. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is to investigate and a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.

The Delting Up Helly Aa festival - due to be held on Friday - has been cancelled as a mark of respect.

A Northern Constabulary spokesman said emergency services were called to help at about 1000 GMT on Saturday but were unable to save Mr Thomson.

Submitted on 08/29/2007

Submitted by: Grant
Reference: 25th June Costain Construction Warning . Update on 16th July from British Aerosol Manufacturers

Copyright © 2007 DarwinAwards.com

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Chip said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Thanks for sending this fascinating story, Bruce! "Operative" does indeed merit a Darwin Award for his judicious use of a blowtorch on an aerosol can! Please do forward additional details when then are published (if they are published as promised) and I will forward those to Darwin as well.


James said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I can't believe this happened, but it happened! Of ALL the warnings I remember seeing on ANY aerosol can since I was a KID, it was the "don't incinerate" warning! Maybe it was a cold English summer morning when this happened, and our diligent mook thought he might expedite the flow of liquid foam by heating it. NOT! This is a breach of the most elementary laws of common sense, and for that I vote full DA!


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