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 #14476188

BUTTERFLY VALVE,FALL,AMMONIA,INHALATION,VALVE,LEG,FRACTURE,RESPIRATORY TRACT,ARM

Event
BUTTERFLY VALVE,FALL,AMMONIA,INHALATION,VALVE,LEG,FRACTURE,RESPIRATORY TRACT,ARM
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
14476188
Report ID
522000

Event description

AMMONIA ESCAPE FROM PRESSURIZED VESSEL

Investigation abstract

A REFRIGERATION SYSTEM WAS BEING INSTALLED IN A NEW WING OF THE UNITED DAIRY FOR OF AMMONIA. THE WORKERS WERE PERFORMING ELECTRICAL WORK & OTHER DUTIES IN THE SA ME SECTION OF THE BUILDING. MERS PLANT IN NORWOOD, OHIO. A LEAK CHECK WAS BEING PERFORMED BY EMPLOYEE #1 ON A "LOW PRESSURE TANK" WHICH WAS FILLED WITH A MIXTURE OF AMMONIA AND AIR UNDER A PRESSURE OF 150 PSI. HE SQUIRTED A SOAP BUBBLE SOLUTION ONTO A BUTTERFLY VALVE. THIS VALVE SUDDENLY POPPED COMPLETELY OPEN. THE FORCE OF THE OUTRUSHING NOXIOUS GASES SLAMMED EMPLOYEE #1 AGAINST THE BACK OF THE ELEVATED BASKET IN WHICH HE W AS WORKING. HE CONSEQUENTLY FELL APPROMIMATELY 15 FEET ONTO A CONCRETE FLOOR, SU FFERING A BROKEN ARM, BROKEN LEG, AND OTHER INJURIES. THE OTHER 6 HOSPITALIZED E MPLOYEES SUFFERED BURNING SENSATIONS IN THE RESPIRATORY TRACT DUE TO INHALATION

Victims (8)

  1. #1 Hospitalized Age 25 M

    Nature of injury
    12
    Part of body
    19
    Event type
    5
    Source
    6
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    10
    Environmental factor
    15
    Hazardous substance
    0170
    Task assigned
    1

  2. #2 Hospitalized Age 25 M

    Nature of injury
    4
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    6
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    14
    Environmental factor
    15
    Hazardous substance
    0170
    Task assigned
    1

  3. #3 Hospitalized Age 25 M

    Nature of injury
    4
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    6
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    14
    Environmental factor
    15
    Hazardous substance
    0170
    Task assigned
    1

  4. #4 Hospitalized Age 25 M

    Nature of injury
    4
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    6
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    14
    Environmental factor
    15
    Hazardous substance
    0170
    Task assigned
    1

  5. #5 Hospitalized Age 25 M

    Nature of injury
    4
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    6
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    14
    Environmental factor
    15
    Hazardous substance
    0170
    Task assigned
    1

  6. #6 Hospitalized Age 25 M

    Nature of injury
    4
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    6
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    14
    Environmental factor
    15
    Hazardous substance
    0170
    Task assigned
    1

  7. #7 Hospitalized Age 25 M

    Nature of injury
    4
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    6
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    14
    Environmental factor
    15
    Hazardous substance
    0170
    Task assigned
    1

  8. #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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