Explosion at Pine Crest School injures three construction workers

OSHA is investigating an explosion that occurred at Pine Crest School on September 3 in Fort Lauderdale. The pipe welding accident that caused the explosion sent three construction workers, who are employed by Hyvac Inc, to the hospital. The workers were welding a pressure gauge onto a steel pipe when a 10-inch PVC pipe cracked and caused the explosion. The explosion was located in the chiller room, which is currently under construction, and will provide the air conditioning to the school. No students or school faculty were involved or injured in the accident.One worker reportedly had injuries to his hand, and the other two workers sustained injuries to the lower parts of their bodies.

Hyvac Inc. is the construction manager for Pine Crest’s $8.4 million center energy plant project. OSHA cited Hyvac in April for two serious violations at the school, for the same project, when a steel plate tipped over and injured four workers. The workers were trying to move the 2,040-pound plate with a dolly that wasn't designed to carry so much weight.Osha cited the company $2,127 in fines.

Sources:
Campbell, Alexia, and Rachel Hatzipanagos. "Explosion injures three construction workers at Pine Crest School." South Florida Sun Sentinel. 3 Sept. 2009. Web. 11 Sept. 2009.
Nicole. "Florida construction accident lawyer news: Three welders injured in explosion!" JusticeNewsFlash.com. 9 Sept. 2009. Web. 11 Sept. 2009.