104,543Records 70,659Employers 84,666Hospitalizations 27,563Amputations 2015-01-01 2025-09-30
Safety Incidents OSHA Severe Injury Reports · 2015–2025

OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14371660

MAINTENANCE,VAPOR,NAUSEA,DIZZINESS,SPILL,TANK,TRICHLORETHYLENE

Event
MAINTENANCE,VAPOR,NAUSEA,DIZZINESS,SPILL,TANK,TRICHLORETHYLENE
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
14371660
Report ID
522000

Event description

INHALATION OF TRICHLOETHYLENE VAPORS

Investigation abstract

ON JANUARY 24, 1985, AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30 AM, A MAINTENANCE MAN ADDED TOO MUCH AFTERNOON OF THE 24TH OFF. THE DEVELOPER WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SIGHT GLASS FOR LIQUID LEVEL MEASUREMENT. THE MAINTENANCE MAN COULD NOT SEE THE LEVEL. HE DID N OT USE A FLASH LIGHT OR OTHER ILLUMINATION. HE ALSO APPARENTLY MISUNDERSTOOD THE INSTRUCTIONS HE HAD BEEN GIVEN FOR ADDING DEVELOPER. TRICHLOROETHYLENE TO THE TANK OF A KEDRA DEVELOPER MACHINE. THE TANK OVERFLOWED AND LEAKED APPROXIMATELY ONE GALLON OR LESS OF THE LIQUID ON THE TABLE AND FLOOR OF THE DEVELOPER ROOM. BEFORE THE SPILL COULD BE CLEANED UP VAPORS OF THE MATER IAL DRIFTED NORTH 15 FEET INTO THE OSCILLATOR PRODUCTION AREA, WHERE SIX EMPLOYE ES WERE MADE ILL (NAUSEAS AND DIZZY). THE AREA WAS EVACUATED FOR ABOUT 1.5 HOURS , UNTIL THE VAPORS WERE CLEARED OUT. THE AFFECTED EMPLOYEES WERE SENT TO THE WES T MITCHELL AVENUE CLINIC, WHERE THEY WERE EXAMINED AND GIVEN A PRESCRIPTION ANTI -NAUSEA DRUG. ALL EMPLOYEES RETURNED TO WORK THE NEXT DAY AFTER BEING GIVEN THE

Victims (6)

  1. #1 Hospitalized Age 35 F

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    6
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2490
    Task assigned
    1

  2. #2 Hospitalized Age 21 F

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    6
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2490
    Task assigned
    1

  3. #3 Hospitalized Age 38 F

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    6
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2490
    Task assigned
    1

  4. #4 Hospitalized Age 24 F

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    6
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2490
    Task assigned
    1

  5. #5 Hospitalized Age 40 F

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    6
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2490
    Task assigned
    1

  6. #6 Hospitalized Age 42 F

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    6
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2490
    Task assigned
    1

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