“Switch Loading” injures worker

The definition of “switch loading:

Switch loading is the hazardous practice of loading a low-vapor-pressure product (such as diesel or heating oil) into a tank compartment that previously contained a high-vapor-pressure, flammable product (such as gasoline) without first cleaning it. This creates a high risk of static electricity generation and explosion, as residual vapors can render the new cargo highly flammable.

At 6:15 p.m. on October 30, 2020, an employee, 38, working for a natural gas distributor, was using a hand hose to transfer diesel fuel from one tank trailer to another using a cell previously filled with gasoline. During the transfer, the employee was standing on top of the tanker checking the port when the gas ignited, creating a flash. The employee fell 12 feet off the tanker to the concrete pavement below when the flash occurred.

The employee had not followed the company procedure requiring bonding to prevent a static charge ignition source. The employee sustained 2nd and 3rd-degree burns to his face, neck, arms, chest, and upper torso. The employee was hospitalized with 35% to 40% of his body burned and lung distress. The employee was admitted for two (2) months to undergo skin grafting and required continued therapy and medical treatment for his right arm.

Source: https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=1506289.015