OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14545008
LEAK,FIRE,EXPLOSION,VALVE,TANK,CHEMICAL
Event description
THREE KILLED,ONE INJURED BY CHEMICAL PLANT FIRE/ EXPLOSION
Investigation abstract
At approximately 1:00 p.m. on July 3, 1989, Employee #1 and Employee #2 were att empting to repair a leak around a ball valve. The ball valve was located in a ci rculating monomer holding tank. During the repair process, a fire broke out. The heat from the fire combined with air caused the process to polymerize and explo de. The fire burned the 3rd floor, killing Employee #1 and Employee #2 working o n the line. Employee #3, an operator in the area, was also killed. Employee #4 w orking in the area was injured.
Victims (4)
-
#1 Fatality Age 49 M
- Nature of injury
- 5
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 1
- Source
- 9
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 10
- Environmental factor
- 15
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#2 Fatality Age 46 M
- Nature of injury
- 5
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 1
- Source
- 9
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 10
- Environmental factor
- 15
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#3 Fatality Age 36 M
- Nature of injury
- 5
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 1
- Source
- 9
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 10
- Environmental factor
- 15
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#4 Hospitalized Age 38 M
- Nature of injury
- 6
- Part of body
- 13
- Event type
- 1
- Source
- 9
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 10
- Environmental factor
- 15
- Task assigned
- 1
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