An inspector from Northwest Natural gas company determined Monday that glass-blowing equipment in the EMU craft center is functioning properly and that user error is responsible for an accident that burned two people Monday afternoon, University spokesman Phil Weiler said.
Craft Center glass technician Tim Jarvis was training student employee Kelsey Bruzda on how to light a machine called a “glory hole,” when the accident happened, Diane Hoffman, Craft Center coordinator said.
The device is a large circular furnace with a hole in front that users stick molten glass in and out of. Gas is fed into the furnace through valves and it is lit through a small hole on the side.
Bruzda was standing to the side of the furnace to light it and excess gas caused the flame to flare out through the front, burning Jarvis’ arm and singeing Bruzda.
Jarvis was taken to the hospital with first and second-degree burns and returned to work the next day. Bruzda did not go to the hospital but went to the University Health Center with “something akin to sunburn,” Hoffman said.
The Craft Center called Northwest Natural gas company to inspect the equipment. The inspector determined that there were no leaks in the gas line or the furnace itself.
“There was excess gas flowing in that they weren’t aware of and it flared up, just like it would if you were lighting a barbecue and there was too much gas coming out,” Hoffman said.
She said that the positions Jarvis and Bruzda were standing in contributed to the accident. Normally, the person lighting the furnace would be standing to the side of the machine, but because of limited room, Jarvis was standing in front of the furnace when the flame burned his arm.
“It’s a matter of factors that just lined up at the same time,” Hoffman said.
Environmental Health and Safety is expected to come investigate the Craft Center today and the glass-blowing operations should resume in a few days, Hoffman said. The Craft Center is looking into health and safety recommendations to enforce stricter rules about safety gear.
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