Incident Title   Explosion Injures Paint Factory Worker       Location Date of Incident   Tocca, GA, United States 12/17/2001- 11:00 AM   CSB Incident Number NRC Report Number Board Ref. Number   2001-5346 None Reported None Reported   Current Status Date of Report Update   No CSB Action 12/18/2001 - 3:40 PM   Incident Types Location Types   - Explosion Fixed Facility   Evacuations Injuries Fatalities   None Reported 1 None   Chemicals Involved   - Paint   Description or Latest Development   ----- Information Added: Tuesday, December 18, 2001 - 3:48 PM ----- A mixing vat at a Toccoa paint factory exploded Monday (12/17/2001), seriously burning one employee. The operator of the mixing vat, Billy Smith, 33, was in critical condition Monday night with burns to his chest and face. Initial reports by firefighters and factory workers indicate the explosion at Piedmont Paints and Primers was caused by a static electric charge buildup. Firefighters were called to the plant just after 11 a.m. Because employees had used their own extinguishing equipment, the fire was under control within a few minutes. The paint factory manufactures varnishes and lacquers, and employs about 30 people.   Sources ( * indicates the original source) Source Details   Media - Associated Press * 12-18-01 0718EST