OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14426894
CENTAUR CLEANERS
LAFAYETTE, CO·
Event description
EMPLOYEE INHALED PERCHLOROETHYLENE USED IN DRY CLEANING
Investigation abstract
EMPLOYEE #1 WAS ALONE WORKING IN A DRY CLEANING ESTABLISHMENT. HE WAS INVOLVED I PLOYEE #1 SUFFERED LUNG DAMAGE, THIRD DEGREE BURNS ON HIS BODY AND WAS BRAIN DEA D. HE DIED IN INTENSIVE CARE AFTER LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS WERE DISCONNECTED. N THE BOIL-DOWN PROCESS, WHICH RECYCLES THE PERCHLOROETHYLENE SO THAT IT CAN BE REUSED. IT IS THEORIZED THAT, DUE TO A MALFUNCTION IN THE MANIFOLD UNIT OR CONDE NSER UNIT, THE PROCESS "TOOK OFF" BEFORE EMPLOYEE #1 COULD REACT. THE PRESSURE B UILT UP AND CAUSED HOT PERCHLORETHYLENE TO BE FORCED OUT OF THE UNIT THROUGH THE RELIEF VALVE AND AROUND THE SEALS. THE HOT PERCHLOROETHYLENE COMPLETELY COVERED EMPLOYEE #1, WHO WAS NOT WEARING ANY PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT. EMPLOYEE #1 RAN TOWARD THE BATHROOM BUT WAS OVERCOME BEFORE HE COULD GET THERE. HE WAS DISC OVERED BY ANOTHER EMPLOYEE, NEWLY ARRIVED AT WORK, IN ABOUT 1 INCH OF LIQUID. EM
Victim
-
#1 Fatality Age 51 M
- Nature of injury
- 17
- Part of body
- 29
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 9
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 20
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 2020
- Task assigned
- 1
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