Lack of Ventilation Factored in Death

An inquisition into the death of a Kitchener, Ontario, man has determined that insufficient ventilation may have been a major factor in the explosion that killed him. Ontario's CTV reported that Ron Pilon, 59, was using highly flammable wood floor sealer during a residential refinishing job in July 2008. With all of the home's windows closed, something ignited fumes that had accumulated. Pilon was badly burned in the resulting fire and later died of his injuries. The investigation was conducted by Ontario's Ministry of Labor, which develops and implements the province's labor legislation. During the investigation, a woman who had been hired to paint the home testified that she repeatedly stepped outside because of the fumes from Pilon's sealer.

A person crossing a room and building enough static charge to shock a metal doorknob, flipping a light switch, or the brushes from a freezer or refrigerator motor are all possible sources of ignition in a situation like this, Jeff Minten, an Ontario fire marshall investigator, told CTV. Minten recommended turning off a home's electricity before beginning such work, and using non-flammable materials.

CTV's full story can be read here.