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 #14387260

INHALATION,TOXIC FUMES,SULFURIC ACID,EYE,THROAT,VENTILATION,HEADACHE,COUGH

Event
INHALATION,TOXIC FUMES,SULFURIC ACID,EYE,THROAT,VENTILATION,HEADACHE,COUGH
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
14387260
Report ID
524200

Event description

INHALATION OF SULFURIC ACID FUMES

Investigation abstract

A SHEET METAL CONTRACTOR WAS PERFORMING MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR WORK ON A VENTILA TION SYSTEM. THE SCAFFOLD BEING USED BY THE CONTRACTOR'S EMPLOYEES COLLAPSED. NO EMPLOYEES WERE PRESENT AT THE TIME OF THE COLLAPSE, BUT THE FALLING SCAFFOLD ST RUCK A KNIFE SWITCH, TURNING OFF POWER TO A FAN MOTOR. THIS TURNED OFF THE SCRUB BER WHICH COLLECTS FUMES FROM A SULFURIC ACID ETCH BATH USED FOR CLEANING PARTS. SULFURIC ACID FUMES WERE THEREFORE NOT EXHAUSTED FROM THE BUILDING, BUT COLLECT ED IN THE EMPLOYEE WORK AREAS. NINE OF THE EMPLOYEES WERE TREATED FOR EXPOSUERE TO SULFURIC ACID FUMES AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM. SYMPTONS INCLUDED THR OAT IRRITATION, COUGHING, HEADACHE, DIFFICULTY IN BREATHING AND EYE IRRITATION.

Victims (10)

  1. #1 Hospitalized Age 32 F

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2310
    Task assigned
    1

  2. #2 Hospitalized Age 34 F

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2310
    Task assigned
    1

  3. #3 Hospitalized Age 35 F

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2310
    Task assigned
    1

  4. #4 Hospitalized Age 40 F

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2310
    Task assigned
    1

  5. #5 Hospitalized Age 39 F

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2310
    Task assigned
    1

  6. #6 Hospitalized Age 36 F

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2310
    Task assigned
    1

  7. #7 Hospitalized Age 32 F

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2310
    Task assigned
    1

  8. #8 Hospitalized Age 44 F

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2310
    Task assigned
    1

  9. #9 Hospitalized Age 46 F

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    2310
    Task assigned
    1

  10. #981 Degree 0 Age 0

    Nature of injury
    0
    Part of body
    0
    Event type
    0
    Source
    0
    Occupation code
    0
    Human factor
    0
    Environmental factor
    0
    Task assigned
    0

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