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Safety Incidents OSHA Severe Injury Reports · 2015–2025

OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14215826

MAINTENANCE,INADEQUATE MAINT,HEADACHE,WORK RULES,NAUSEA,INDUSTRIAL TRUCK,TOXIC FUMES,CARBON MONOXIDE,INATTENTION,VOMIT

Event
MAINTENANCE,INADEQUATE MAINT,HEADACHE,WORK RULES,NAUSEA,INDUSTRIAL TRUCK,TOXIC FUMES,CARBON MONOXIDE,INATTENTION,VOMIT
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
14215826
Report ID
454510

Event description

NINE EMPLOYEES INJURED WHEN OVERCOME BY CARBON MONOXIDE

Investigation abstract

On December 19, 1989, quarterly maintenance on plant and machinery started at 7: s called at 10:30 a.m. Employees #1 through #9 were taken to various hospitals. All were diagnosed to be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. Carboxyhemogl obin levels ranged from 16 percent to 26.9 percent in the employees. With almost no ventilation in the work area, the poorly tuned forklift left running produce d carbon monoxide. 30 a.m. The incident occurred in the production area where a forklift was being used to lift employees to the rafters where they blew off dust and lint. Employe e #9 alternately drove the forklift and blew off dust until 9:30 a.m. The forkli ft was left running most of the time. Employee #3 was cleaning a dust top and Em ployee #2 was using a dust bag. All other employees were doing various cleaning tasks. During a work break taken at 9:30 a.m., employees complained of headaches and nausea. All employees started feeling weak, dizzy, and nauseated. Employee #1, who was pregnant, vomited three times during the work break. An ambulance wa

Victims (9)

  1. #1 Hospitalized Age 18 F

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0560
    Task assigned
    2

  2. #2 Non-hospitalized injury Age 42 F

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0560
    Task assigned
    2

  3. #3 Hospitalized Age 25 F

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    3
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0560
    Task assigned
    2

  4. #4 Non-hospitalized injury Age 25 F

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0560
    Task assigned
    2

  5. #5 Non-hospitalized injury Age 17 F

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0560
    Task assigned
    2

  6. #6 Hospitalized Age 25 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0560
    Task assigned
    2

  7. #7 Non-hospitalized injury Age 30 F

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0560
    Task assigned
    2

  8. #8 Non-hospitalized injury Age 25 F

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0560
    Task assigned
    2

  9. #9 Hospitalized Age 24 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0560
    Task assigned
    2

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