Another incident where the lack of respect for static electricity and flammable atmospheres results in severe injuries. A Teflon bristle brush generates a lot of static electricity; coupled with the low flashpoint of Naptha (73F) and we have a serious hazard.
At 5:30 a.m. on February 24, 2020, an employee, 42, was scrubbing interior surfaces of a mix tank with 1-2 gallons of petroleum naphtha using a Teflon bristle brush when a suspected static discharge ignited the flammable solvent vapor within the tank. The employee was hospitalized to treat second-degree burns to his face and hands.