Third or fourth degree heat (thermal) burns

An employee was performing maintenance on a vertical two-phase separator. The employee was reconfiguring the sight glass and using various wrenches to loosen the existing fittings and tighten the new fittings. The fitting that connected the vessel to the sight glass piping broke behind the closed valve. The swage (fitting that broke) caused the pressurized hydrocarbons to release into the air, which found an ignition source and started a fire. The employee received second and third degree burns to the hands, legs, and arms and was hospitalized.