Thread on Fatality due to combustion of Cotton PCs

[Judd Sills <sillsj@GAT.COM>]

I have received a partial update on the ORNL fatality
of a welder who was dressed out in cotton protective
clothing.  The source of ignition of the PCs may 
have had little to do with the welding operation, as
the worker was burned shortly after cutting welds
that had secured some cylinders in place to allow
lifting/removal.  It is said that "workmen had assembled
outside the cell preparing to go to lunch (no work in 
progress).  The fatality asked the others to wait a
minute while he went back to check his equipment.  They
reportedly heard his scream and found him fully involved
with fire.  Cause of the fire is unknown at this time..."

This would certainly suggest that the circumstances were
possibly unusual, and may have little relationship to the
typical circumstances of welding operations in a contaminated
area as we are used to concerning ourselves with.  Hopefully,
the continuing investigation will shed light on the causes
of this very unfortunate event, and offer recommendations
as to what precautions would be appropriate for us to incorporate
for similar work.

Best regards
Judd M. Sills, CHP           |   Office: (619)455-2049
General Atomics, Room 01-166C|      Fax: (619)455-3181
3550 General Atomics Court   |   E-Mail:  sillsj@gat.com
San Diego, CA  92121         |