OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14214993

RESPIRATORY,UNCONSCIOUSNESS,VENTILATION,INHALATION,DIZZINESS,STYRENE,TOXIC FUMES

1985-11-13T00:00:00

Event: RESPIRATORY,UNCONSCIOUSNESS,VENTILATION,INHALATION,DIZZINESS,STYRENE,TOXIC FUMES
Linked inspection: No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number: 14214993
Report ID: 454510

Event description

EMPLOYEES EXPOSED TO GLUE FUMES; SUFFERED BREATHING DISTRESS

Investigation abstract

THE FOUR EMPLOYEES WERE SPRAYING AN EXPERIMENTAL WATER BASED ADHESIVE TO THE BAC K OF AUTOMOBILE CARPETS. THE CARPETS WERE HUNG UNDER AN OVERHEAD HOOD. THE ADHES IVE WAS A STYRENE/BUTADIENE LATEX (RUBBER), CONTAINING 4% PETROLEUM DISTILLATES AND 10% DIOCTYLPHTHALATE. THE NEW ADHESIVE WAS DESIGNED TO REPLACE AN OLDER ONE CONTAINING 1,1,1-TRICHLOROETHANE. AFTER SPRAYING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES THE EMPLOY EES EXPERIENCED DIZZINESS AND BREATHING DIFFICULTIES. TWO OF THEM LOST CONSCIOUS NESS. IMPROPERLY DESIGNED EXHAUST VENTILATION WAS THE PRIMARY CAUSAL FACTOR.

Victims (4)

#1 Non-hospitalized injury Age 60 F

Nature of injury
17

Part of body
29

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
753

Human factor
16

Environmental factor
7

Task assigned
2
#2 Non-hospitalized injury Age 53 F

Nature of injury
17

Part of body
19

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
753

Human factor
16

Environmental factor
7

Task assigned
2
#3 Non-hospitalized injury Age 37 F

Nature of injury
17

Part of body
19

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
753

Human factor
16

Environmental factor
7

Task assigned
2
#4 Non-hospitalized injury Age 53 F

Nature of injury
17

Part of body
19

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
753

Human factor
16

Environmental factor
7

Task assigned
2

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