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 #14538656

RESPIRATORY,HEADACHE,VENTING,CLEANING,INHALATION,NAUSEA,DIZZINESS,CARBOXYHEMOGLOBIN,CARBON MONOXIDE

Event
RESPIRATORY,HEADACHE,VENTING,CLEANING,INHALATION,NAUSEA,DIZZINESS,CARBOXYHEMOGLOBIN,CARBON MONOXIDE
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
14538656
Report ID
452110

Event description

EMPLOYEES EXPOSED TO CARBON MONOXIDE

Investigation abstract

EMPLOYEES #1 THROUGH #6 WERE USING JACKHAMMERS, PICKS, SHOVELS AND A BOBCAT TO C ND CONTINUING UNTIL THEY QUIT AT 1:15, THEY BECAME ILL. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR SYMPTOMS COINCIDED WITH THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF 2 SISTER PITS. CARBOXYHEMOGL OBIN LEVELS IN THE EMPLOYEES' BLOOD RANGED FROM 21.6% TO 36.1%, AS MEASURED BY T HE LOCAL HOSPITAL. NO CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS OR MONITORING EQUIPMENT WAS UTILIZE D BY THE EMPLOYEES AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT. LEAR METAL AND SLAG BLOCKAGE FROM A "SOAKING PIT" OPERATION AT A STEEL PIPE MILL . WHILE THEY WERE CLEARING THE PIT, A "SISTER" PIT ALSO BECAME BLOCKED. A "COKE BREEZE" USED IN THE SOAKING PROCESS IN THE SISTER PIT IS SUSPECTED OF EMITTING G ASSES WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN VENTED AWAY FROM THE EMPLOYEES. INSTEAD, T HE MIXTURE OF GASSES, INCLUDING SOME CARBON MONOXIDE, WAS DRAWN INTO THE AREA OC CUPIED BY THE 6 EMPLOYEES. THEY EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF SHORTNESS OF BREATH, HEA DACHE, DIZZINESS AND NAUSEA, BEFORE LEAVING THE AREA TO SEEK MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. THE EMPLOYEES HAD WORKED ALL MORNING WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. BEGINNING AT 12:15 A

Victims (6)

  1. #1 Hospitalized Age 26 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    25
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0560
    Task assigned
    1

  2. #2 Hospitalized Age 29 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    25
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0560
    Task assigned
    1

  3. #3 Hospitalized Age 31 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    25
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0560
    Task assigned
    1

  4. #4 Hospitalized Age 43 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    25
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0560
    Task assigned
    2

  5. #5 Hospitalized Age 39 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    25
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0560
    Task assigned
    2

  6. #6 Hospitalized Age 29 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    25
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    17
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0560
    Task assigned
    2

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