OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14423842
OXYGEN DEFICIENCY,UNCONSCIOUSNESS,AIR LINE RESPIRATOR,ASPHYXIATED,VENTILATION,CONFINED SPACE,WORK RULES,INHALATION,WELDING,ARGON
Event description
Employee dies of asphyxia from argon exposure
Investigation abstract
At 10:00 p.m. on April 1, 1990, Employee #1 returned from lunch to his welding o e at the time of the accident; other employees, including the superintendent, we re in aisles 21 to 25. peration at tub #1 in the clean room (aisle 17). He was welding into a zirconium metal tub that had a 6-in.-high rim. He was using a zirconium welding rod along with argon gas (at an unknown flow rate) as a protective atmosphere. Employee # 1 apparently tilted the tub at a 45-degree angle to weld a nozzle. He was found unconscious in the angled tub at 12:15 a.m. He died of asphyxia. At a 45-degree angle, the tub was considered a confined space. An oxygen-deficient atmosphere h ad been created by the argon accumulating in the lower portion of the tub. No ve ntilation or supplied-air respirator had been used. Employee #1 was working alon
Victim
-
#1 Fatality Age 31 M
- Nature of injury
- 2
- Part of body
- 4
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 19
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 18
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- X100
- Task assigned
- 1
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