Benedict Refrigeration Service, Inc dba Benedict Sales and Service
Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids - Burns and other injuries, n.e.c. - MERRILL, Wisconsin
| Employer | Benedict Refrigeration Service, Inc dba Benedict Sales and Service |
| Address | 702 N Center Ave. |
| City, State ZIP | MERRILL, Wisconsin 54452 |
| Report ID | 2022119625 |
| Event Date | November 2, 2022 |
| Outcome | Hospitalized |
| Nature of Injury | Burns and other injuries, n.e.c. |
| Body Part | Multiple body parts, n.e.c. |
| Event Type | Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids |
| Source of Injury | Fluorotrichloromethane |
| Secondary Source | Welding, cutting, and blow torches |
| Industry (NAICS) | 238220 |
| Inspection # | 1632860 |
| GPS Coordinates | 45.18634, -89.68367 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
An employee was using a torch to remove an existing filter drier from a condensing unit before installing a new one. The old filter drier exploded and the employee sustained injuries and burns to the face, jaw, eye, arms, and shoulders that required hospitalization.
Incident Summary
On November 2, 2022, a worker at Benedict Refrigeration Service, Inc dba Benedict Sales and Service in MERRILL, Wisconsin suffered burns and other injuries, n.e.c. to the multiple body parts, n.e.c.. The incident was classified as ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids, with fluorotrichloromethane identified as the source of injury. The worker was hospitalized.
Context
OSHA has recorded 502 severe injury reports involving "Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids" incidents in our database. Browse all Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids injuries.
See all reports for Benedict Refrigeration Service, Inc dba Benedict Sales and Service.
Similar Incidents
Other severe injury reports involving Ignition of vapors, gases, or liquids events:
| Date | Employer | Location | Nature | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 28, 2023 | Hollowell Industries, Inc. | WEST HELENA, Arkansas | First degree heat (thermal) burns | Hosp. |
| Oct 19, 2022 | Union Concrete and Construction, Corp. | BUFFALO, New York | Second degree heat (thermal) burns | Hosp. |
| May 12, 2022 | Land View, Inc. | RUPERT, Idaho | Fractures | Hosp. |
| Sep 12, 2022 | USA DeBusk LLC | WESTLAKE, Louisiana | Second degree heat (thermal) burns | Hosp. |
| Oct 3, 2020 | Dean Hagler Ltd | LAMESA, Texas | Heat (thermal) burns, unspecified | Hosp. |
| Jul 10, 2020 | Madison Gas and Electric Company | MIDDLETON, Wisconsin | Heat (thermal) burns, unspecified | Hosp. |
| Jun 27, 2019 | National Church Residences | ATLANTA, Georgia | Second degree heat (thermal) burns | Hosp. |
| Apr 25, 2015 | Cudd Pressure Control, Inc. | ELK CITY, Oklahoma | Heat (thermal) burns, unspecified | Hosp. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Workers injured on the job have the right to medical treatment covered by workers' compensation, wage replacement benefits during recovery, and protection against retaliation for reporting the injury. You have the right to file a complaint with OSHA if you believe your workplace is unsafe, and OSHA cannot reveal your identity to your employer without your consent. You also have the right to see your OSHA 300 injury log. If your employer denies a workers' comp claim, you can appeal through your state's workers' compensation board. An occupational health attorney can advise on complex cases involving denied claims or third-party liability.
After an employer reports a severe injury, OSHA decides whether to conduct an on-site inspection. Fatalities and amputations typically trigger automatic inspections. For hospitalizations and eye loss events, OSHA may conduct a phone/fax investigation or an on-site inspection based on the circumstances. During an inspection, OSHA compliance officers assess the accident scene, interview witnesses, review safety records, and identify violations. Citations and penalties may be issued. OSHA also works with the employer to abate hazardous conditions. All inspection results are published in OSHA's public inspection database at osha.gov.
You can file an OSHA complaint online at osha.gov/workers/file-complaint, by calling 1-800-321-OSHA (1-800-321-6742), or by visiting your local OSHA area office. Complaints can be filed anonymously. OSHA prioritizes formal written complaints from workers. If you believe an imminent danger exists, call OSHA immediately, they are required to investigate immediately when there is reasonable grounds to believe imminent danger exists. Workers are protected from retaliation for filing complaints under Section 11(c) of the OSH Act; if you experience retaliation, file a separate complaint within 30 days of the adverse action.
About This OSHA Report
This is a severe injury report filed with OSHA. Employers are required to report all work-related fatalities and severe injuries within 8 to 24 hours. Browse more reports by employer, state, or industry below.