OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14304646
SEWARD, CITY OF
SEWARD, AK·
Event description
EMPLOYEE INHALED HIGH CONCENTRATION OF CHLORINE
Investigation abstract
AT ABOUT 9:30 PM ON OCTOBER 10, 1986, A WATER TREATMENT OPERATOR (EMPLOYEE #1) O D BY TURNING A VENTILATION FAN ON. HOWEVER, THE AIR EXCHANGE RATE WAS NOT SUFFIC IENT TO PREVENT THE BUILD UP OF CHLORINE GAS. PENED THE DOOR TO A CHLORINATOR ROOM DURING FLOOD CONDITIONS. AN ELECTRICAL SHOR T CIRCUIT CAUSED THE CHLORINATOR TO CONTINUE RUNNING AFTER THE WATER FLOW HAD ST OPPED. THE HIGH CONCENTRATION OF CHLORINE IN THE TREATMENT CIRCUIT LINE CORRODED A COPPER PIPE IN THE CHLORINATOR ROOM. THIS RESULTED IN WATER WITH A HIGHER THA N USUAL CONCENTRATION OF CHLORINE BEING SPRAYED AROUND THE ROOM FROM HOLES IN TH E PIPELINE. EMPLOYEE #1 THEREFORE INHALED A HIGHER CONCENTRATION OF CHLORINE THA N HE HAD EXPECTED. A CHLORINE FULL-FACE RESPIRATOR, LOCATED IN AN ADJACENT ROOM, WAS NOT USED. THE CHLORINE MONITOR IN THE CHLORINATOR ROOM EVENTUALLY FUNCTIONE
Victim
-
#1 Hospitalized Age 37 M
- Nature of injury
- 21
- Part of body
- 28
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 9
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 1
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 0640
- Task assigned
- 1
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