105,313Records 71,083Employers 85,290Hospitalizations 27,770Amputations 2015-01-01 2025-10-31
Safety Incidents OSHA Severe Injury Reports · 2015–2025

OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14538573

RESPIRATORY,COMPRESSED GAS,INHALATION,CHLORINE,VALVE,GAS LEAK,UNTRAINED,RESPIRATOR

Event
RESPIRATORY,COMPRESSED GAS,INHALATION,CHLORINE,VALVE,GAS LEAK,UNTRAINED,RESPIRATOR
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
14538573
Report ID
452110

Event description

EMPLOYEES EXPOSED TO LEAKING CHLORINE GAS

Investigation abstract

AN OUTDOOR SHED, USED TO HOUSE 2 CHLORINE CYLINDERS, WAS LOCATED IN AN ALLEY BET KEPT OVERNIGHT AND WERE RELEASED THE NEXT DAY. WEEN TWO PORTIONS OF A FACTORY. EMPLOYEE #1,INADEQUATELY TRAINED TO HANDLE COMPR ESSED GASES, WAS CHARGING A CHLORINE CYLINDER WHEN HE ACCIDENTLY STRUCK THE GAS FLOW METER. GAS BEGAN ESCAPING FROM THE METER/VALVE CONNECTION. HE LEFT THE SHED TO OBTAIN A RESPIRATOR, THEN RETURNED AND TRIED TO SHUT OFF THE CYLINDER VALVE. HE WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. FINALLY TWO OTHER MEN TOOK THE CYLINDER FROM THE SHED AN D SHUT THE VALVE. NINETEEN EMPLOYEES WERE TAKEN TO AREA HOSPITALS. MOST OF THESE EMPLOYEES HAD BEEN EITHER HELPING WITH THE PLANT EVACUATION, WORKING WITH THE L EAKING CYLINDER, OR HAD PRE-EXISTING RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS. SEVEN EMPLOYEES WERE

Victims (7)

  1. #1 Hospitalized Age 48 M

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    448
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    2

  2. #2 Hospitalized Age 28 M

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    453
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    2

  3. #3 Hospitalized Age 35 M

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    518
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    1

  4. #4 Hospitalized Age 27 M

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    686
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    2

  5. #5 Hospitalized Age 42 M

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    686
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    2

  6. #6 Hospitalized Age 41 M

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    688
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    2

  7. #7 Hospitalized Age 55 M

    Nature of injury
    21
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    686
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    2

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