Burns due to flammable solvents ignited with floor buffers.
Three patients, employed by janitorial service agencies, were burned severely while buffing floors. A solvent to remove floor lacquer was used in one case, and a solvent to remove glue that held carpet to the floor was used in the other two cases. The solvent used in each case is flammable and was ignited when a floor buffer was used near it. The floor buffers are specifically labeled as unsafe to operate near flammable liquids. The patients' injuries were severe. All three patients survived. This represents a rather unusual and unsafe industrial practice that should be avoided.
Still
J M
JM
Augusta Regional Medical Center, GA, USA.
Orlet
H K
HK
Law
E J
EJ
Pickens
H C
HC
D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000209:etiology*; D004560:Electricity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012997:Solvents
D012997:Solvents