Dangerous Flange Spreader Injures Refinery Worker
Pipefitters were working on a large flange in tank farm of an oil refinery. The pipefitters had been working long hours before the accident occurred, and had been instructed to remove a slip-blind. They had tried using wedges, but this method had failed on the large flange. After the wedges failed, they brought a hydraulic flange spreader from the refinery tool room. The pipefitters installed the hydraulic flange spreader on the flange and began pumping the hydraulic unit to spread the flange apart. When the flange spread, the wedges came out. After the wedges were out the hydraulic flange spreader slipped. It shot out of the flange, striking a worker and causing serious injury.
Warning – wedges and hammers injure workers more than other methods. And, as can be seen from the article, dangerous flange spreaders also injure workers. Any flange spreader that is not secured to the flange will pop out, and injuries will likely occur. How often do industrial hand injuries occur and how severe are those injuries? Look at the charts below.
Flange Spreading is hazardous, especially if you don’t have the best tools. Look at this chart from the U.K. The U.S. has 10 times as many injuries.
These are industrial hand injuries with serious implications for the workers and companies involved. Look at this chart and see the industries effected by in the statistics
