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 #709972

RESPIRATORY,MAINTENANCE,AMMONIA,WORK RULES,TOXIC ATMOSPHERE,INHALATION,PIPE

Event
RESPIRATORY,MAINTENANCE,AMMONIA,WORK RULES,TOXIC ATMOSPHERE,INHALATION,PIPE
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
709972
Report ID
854910

Event description

EMPLOYEES EXPOSED TO AMMONIA GAS

Investigation abstract

PLANT MAINTENANCE WORKERS OPENED A 3 INCH VALVE IN AN AMMONIA REFIGERATION SYSTE OR THREE TIMES A YEAR, AS NEEDED. M PIPE TO DRAIN THE REMAINING AMMONIA. EQUIPMENT WAS TO BE ADDED TO THE SYSTEM. THE SYSTEM INCLUDES MORE THAN 500 FEET OF PIPE AT BETWEEN 25 AND 30 PSI OF PRESS URE. AFTER PUMPING THE AMMONIA OFF, A TEMPERATURE INVERSION OCCURRED, CAUSING TH E FORMATION OF AN AMMONIA CLOUD. THE CLOUD DRIFTED DOWN OVER THE PLANT GUARD BUI LDING AND INTO THE PARKING LOT. TWO GUARDS, A TRUCK DRIVER, AND A PRODUCTION FAC ILITY EMPLOYEE WHO HAPPENED TO BE IN THE AREA WERE ENVELOPED BY THE CLOUD AND TA KEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THEY WERE RELEASED LATER THE SAME DAY. AN INVESTIGATION REV EALED THAT STANDARD PROCEDURE HAD BEEN USED AND THAT THE TASK WAS PERFORMED TWO

Victims (4)

  1. #1 Non-hospitalized injury Age 32 M

    Nature of injury
    1
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0170
    Task assigned
    1

  2. #2 Non-hospitalized injury Age 20 M

    Nature of injury
    1
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0170
    Task assigned
    1

  3. #3 Non-hospitalized injury Age 34 M

    Nature of injury
    1
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0170
    Task assigned
    1

  4. #4 Non-hospitalized injury Age 33 M

    Nature of injury
    1
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0170
    Task assigned
    1

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