Santa Clara County Construction Worker in Manhole During Steam Explosion

[kellyhound]

Santa Clara County officials released a video they say shows a worker being blasted from a manhole by a steam explosion a year ago at the Valley Medical Center earthquake retrofit project where they accuse the contractor of safety lapses and costly delays.

This video is actual footage taken at the Turner Construction site at a Santa Clara Valley Medical Center on Sept. 3, 2014.

The video shows workers activating the steam system for the North Utility Loop which provides steam and chilled water to the facilities at Valley Medical Center.

During the course of the process for starting the steam system, the audio clearly demonstrates a loud popping sound, followed by verbal concerns expressed by crews on site.

Then, after over a minute of the audible popping noises, as a crew member attempts to escape the underground vault, the pipe explodes discharging boiling hot steam.

The man was badly injured and never returned to his job officials said.

[dan-b]

Wonder what his injuries were, he seemed okay after the initial shock.

[AceGoober]

After the second pop I would have gotten my ass out of there pronto. I'd guess the relief valve wasn't functioning properly or was over-loaded with pressure.

[Susan]

Fucking hell, poor sod. I bet his skin peeled off the day after. Steam burns are the most devious, they come later.

[Ksiegmund]

Joel you are a fucking dumbass. "whaaat?" Looks down..POP.
What a Tool man

[Robert440]

Originally Posted by AceGoober

After the second pop I would have gotten my ass out of there pronto. I'd guess the relief valve wasn't functioning properly or was over-loaded with pressure.

They overloaded the relief valve to start the system!

This causes some water to stay behind in the system to cause extra steam. It's called a fluid hammer!