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 #571067

LUNG,BLEACH,CLEANING,DRUM,INHALATION,GAS,PHOSPHORIC ACID,CHLORINE,RESPIRATORY TRACT

Event
LUNG,BLEACH,CLEANING,DRUM,INHALATION,GAS,PHOSPHORIC ACID,CHLORINE,RESPIRATORY TRACT
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
571067
Report ID
524500

Event description

CHLORINE GAS RELEASED WHEN BLEACH AND ACID WERE MIXED

Investigation abstract

EMPLOYEES #1-8 WERE ENGAGED IN WASHING AND FOLDING LAUNDRY IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM O ADEQUATE LABELING OF THE DRUMS, WHICH WERE ALL THE SAME COLOR. F DECATUR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, DECATUR, ILLINOIS. EMPLOYEE #3 WAS POURING THE REMA INING CONTENTS OF A DRUM CONTAINING CHLORINE BLEACH INTO ANOTHER DRUM. EMPLOYEE #3 THOUGHT THE DRUMS CONTAINED THE SAME BLEACH SOLUTION. HOWEVER, THE DRUM THAT EMPLOYEE #3 POURED INTO WAS A DRUM CONTAINING A SOLUTION OF PHOSPHORIC ACID. ALL THE OTHER EMPLOYEES WERE LOCATED IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM AT THE TIME EMPLOYEE #3 MI XED THE CHLORINE BLEACH WITH THE ACIDIC SOLUTION. CHLORINE GAS WAS PRECIPITATED IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM AS A RESULT OF THIS MIXTURE. EMPLOYEES #1-8 EXPERIENCED IRRI TATION TO THEIR UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT AND LUNGS. THE INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY IN

Victims (8)

  1. #1 Non-hospitalized injury Age 60 F

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    8
    Environmental factor
    9
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    1

  2. #2 Non-hospitalized injury Age 27 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    8
    Environmental factor
    9
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    1

  3. #3 Non-hospitalized injury Age 38 F

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    8
    Environmental factor
    9
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    1

  4. #4 Non-hospitalized injury Age 27 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    8
    Environmental factor
    9
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    1

  5. #5 Non-hospitalized injury Age 27 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    8
    Environmental factor
    9
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    1

  6. #6 Non-hospitalized injury Age 54 F

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    8
    Environmental factor
    9
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    1

  7. #7 Non-hospitalized injury Age 51 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    8
    Environmental factor
    9
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    1

  8. #8 Non-hospitalized injury Age 48 F

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    8
    Environmental factor
    9
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    1

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