A worker was preparing to mix chemicals in a large in-floor vat in order to make lacquer. After removing the bungs from a steel barrel of toluene, the worker lowered the barrel onto its side and placed it on the lip of the in-floor mixing vat. As the toluene was being poured into the vat, a static discharge was produced that caused the toluene vapour to ignite. This in turn caused the toluene liquid to explode, fatally burning the worker.