OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #739920

ALARM,TOXIC FUMES,HYDROGEN CHLORIDE,EQUIPMENT FAILURE

1989-06-29T00:00:00

Event: ALARM,TOXIC FUMES,HYDROGEN CHLORIDE,EQUIPMENT FAILURE
Linked inspection: No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number: 739920
Report ID: 452110

Event description

Employees exposed to hydrogen chloride release

Investigation abstract

On June 29, 1989, a mechanical failure in a processor at Dow Corning caused the on the cable tray throughout the entire 2 to 4 minutes of exposure. He was take n by ambulance to the hospital; 47 other exposed employees followed in cars shor tly thereafter. Employees #1 through #48 were treated and released. Very few exp erienced any adverse health effects. With the exception of one employee, all wer e fully recovered by the next shift. That employee recovered in 2 days. compressor to divert to a scrubber. Due to insufficient water pressure in the sc rubber, approximately 70 lb of hydrogen chloride was released over a 5 minute pe riod. The chemical formed a cloud which was carried by the wind (which was blowi ng 10 mph from the east) to the Namex construction site approximately 800 yards away. (Namex is a part of Dow Corning). No alarm was sounded. The only warning s ign was the cloud. Employees who saw the cloud alerted others and headed for the gates. Employees working on the structures or with their backs to the cloud had no warning until the odor from the cloud reached them. One employee was trapped

Victims (49)

#1 Non-hospitalized injury Age 53 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
597

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#10 Non-hospitalized injury Age 38 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
597

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#11 Non-hospitalized injury Age 30 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
597

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#12 Non-hospitalized injury Age 35 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
597

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#13 Non-hospitalized injury Age 30 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
597

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#14 Non-hospitalized injury Age 36 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
597

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#15 Non-hospitalized injury Age 33 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
597

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#16 Non-hospitalized injury Age 34 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
597

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#17 Non-hospitalized injury Age 36 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
597

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#18 Non-hospitalized injury Age 32 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
597

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#19 Non-hospitalized injury Age 38 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
597

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#2 Non-hospitalized injury Age 40 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
597

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#20 Non-hospitalized injury Age 34 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
597

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#21 Non-hospitalized injury Age 32 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
575

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#22 Non-hospitalized injury Age 29 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
579

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#23 Non-hospitalized injury Age 28 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
579

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#24 Non-hospitalized injury Age 21 F

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
599

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#25 Non-hospitalized injury Age 32 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
579

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#26 Non-hospitalized injury Age 30 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
579

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#27 Non-hospitalized injury Age 33 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
579

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#28 Non-hospitalized injury Age 36 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
579

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#29 Non-hospitalized injury Age 34 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
579

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#3 Non-hospitalized injury Age 28 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
597

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#30 Non-hospitalized injury Age 29 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
579

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#31 Non-hospitalized injury Age 25 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
579

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#32 Non-hospitalized injury Age 29 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
579

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#33 Non-hospitalized injury Age 25 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
588

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#34 Non-hospitalized injury Age 35 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
588

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#35 Non-hospitalized injury Age 35 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
588

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#36 Non-hospitalized injury Age 30 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
588

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#37 Non-hospitalized injury Age 63 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
588

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#38 Non-hospitalized injury Age 27 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
588

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#39 Non-hospitalized injury Age 20 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
588

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#4 Non-hospitalized injury Age 35 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
597

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#40 Non-hospitalized injury Age 26 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
588

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#41 Non-hospitalized injury Age 23 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
588

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#42 Non-hospitalized injury Age 27 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
588

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#43 Non-hospitalized injury Age 32 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
588

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#44 Non-hospitalized injury Age 26 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
588

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#45 Non-hospitalized injury Age 34 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
588

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#46 Non-hospitalized injury Age 26 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
588

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#47 Non-hospitalized injury Age 36 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
588

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#48 Non-hospitalized injury Age 29 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
588

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#5 Non-hospitalized injury Age 57 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
597

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#6 Non-hospitalized injury Age 39 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
597

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#7 Non-hospitalized injury Age 37 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
597

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#8 Non-hospitalized injury Age 34 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
597

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#9 Non-hospitalized injury Age 39 M

Nature of injury
21

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
597

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1430

Task assigned
1
#981 Degree 0 Age 0

Nature of injury
0

Part of body
0

Event type
0

Source
0

Occupation code
0

Human factor
0

Environmental factor
0

Task assigned
0

Codes shown verbatim from OSHA's accident-investigation database. A human-readable decoder is coming in a future release once the accident_lookup2 dictionary is loaded.