OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14299424

EXPLOSION,PSYCH ILLNESS

1986-02-03T00:00:00

Event: EXPLOSION,PSYCH ILLNESS
Linked inspection: No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number: 14299424
Report ID: 352450

Event description

EMPLOYEE ANXIETY AND STRESS LED TO ILLNESS SYMPTOMS

Investigation abstract

IT APPEARS THAT THE ILLNESS EXPERIENCED BY THE EMPLOYEES IN THIS CASE WAS A COLL ECTIVE STRESS REACTION. THE COMBINATION OF A BOILER EXPLOSION ON JANUARY 29, 198 6, THE MISLEADING FOLLOW-UP BLOOD TESTS TAKEN BETWEEN FEBRUARY 4, 1986, AND FEBR UARY 18, 1986, ANOTHER TOXIC EPISODE OF FEBRUARY 3, 1986, AND THE FACT THAT MANA GEMENT DID NOT FULLY COMMUNICATE THE FACTS TO EMPLOYEES, LED TO THE ONSET OF PLA NT-WIDE ANXIETY. THIS ANXIETY PRECIPITATED THE ACUTE ILLNESSES. THIS OPINION IS SHARED BY NIOSH, WHICH MADE AN INVESTIGATION OF THE INCIDENT. NIOSH'S REPORT HAS BEEN MADE A PART OF THIS FILE. EMPLOYEES #1-#16 WERE TREATED AND RELEASED, EXCE PT FOR EMPLOYEE #13, WHO HAD A HEART ATTACK AFTER GOING TO THE HOSPITAL.

Victims (16)

#1 Hospitalized Age 33 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
14

Source
43

Occupation code
777

Human factor
8

Environmental factor
18

Task assigned
1
#10 Hospitalized Age 27 F

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
14

Source
43

Occupation code
777

Human factor
8

Environmental factor
18

Task assigned
1
#11 Hospitalized Age 27 F

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
14

Source
43

Occupation code
777

Human factor
8

Environmental factor
18

Task assigned
1
#12 Hospitalized Age 29 F

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
14

Source
43

Occupation code
777

Human factor
8

Environmental factor
18

Task assigned
1
#13 Hospitalized Age 59 F

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
14

Source
43

Occupation code
777

Human factor
8

Environmental factor
18

Task assigned
1
#14 Hospitalized Age 45 F

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
14

Source
43

Occupation code
777

Human factor
8

Environmental factor
18

Task assigned
1
#15 Hospitalized Age 26 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
14

Source
43

Occupation code
856

Human factor
8

Environmental factor
18

Task assigned
1
#16 Hospitalized Age 46 F

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
14

Source
43

Occupation code
777

Human factor
8

Environmental factor
18

Task assigned
1
#2 Hospitalized Age 30 F

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
14

Source
43

Occupation code
777

Human factor
8

Environmental factor
18

Task assigned
1
#3 Hospitalized Age 23 F

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
14

Source
43

Occupation code
777

Human factor
8

Environmental factor
18

Task assigned
1
#4 Hospitalized Age 27 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
14

Source
43

Occupation code
777

Human factor
8

Environmental factor
18

Task assigned
1
#5 Hospitalized Age 39 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
14

Source
43

Occupation code
777

Human factor
8

Environmental factor
18

Task assigned
1
#6 Hospitalized Age 24 F

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
14

Source
43

Occupation code
777

Human factor
8

Environmental factor
18

Task assigned
1
#7 Hospitalized Age 42 F

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
14

Source
43

Occupation code
777

Human factor
8

Environmental factor
18

Task assigned
1
#8 Hospitalized Age 46 F

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
14

Source
43

Occupation code
777

Human factor
8

Environmental factor
18

Task assigned
1
#9 Hospitalized Age 47 F

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
14

Source
43

Occupation code
777

Human factor
8

Environmental factor
18

Task assigned
1

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