OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14252530
ERWIN MILLS, INC.
ERWIN, NC·
Event description
Employees suffer exposure to chlorine gas
Investigation abstract
At approximately 2:00 p.m. on August 29, 1988, the water treatment plant operato and treatment. The WTPO was not injured. Employee #2 was a volunteer fireman who responded to the emergency response request. He entered the water treatment pla nt without a fully-operational SCBA. He was brought to the same hospital sufferi ng eye and lung irritation, but was not admitted. r (WTPO) smelled a chlorine leak. He shut off the two chlorine cylinders in use and called Employee #1, his supervisor. After meeting with the WTPO in the water treatment plant lab/office at approximately 2:15 p.m., Employee #1 walked into the pump room. As he turned the corner heading toward the chlorine room, he was confronted by a green chlorine cloud that was coming in through the back door fr om the chlorine cylinder storage area. Employee #1 and the WTPO quickly turned a round and exited the building through the lab. Employee #1 experienced eye and l ung irritation and was admitted to Good Hope Hospital for overnight observation
Victims (2)
-
#1 Hospitalized Age 48 M
- Nature of injury
- 4
- Part of body
- 28
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 19
- Occupation code
- 699
- Human factor
- 1
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 0640
- Task assigned
- 2
-
#2 Non-hospitalized injury Age 25 M
- Nature of injury
- 4
- Part of body
- 28
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 19
- Occupation code
- 417
- Human factor
- 1
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 0640
- Task assigned
- 1
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