OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #793596
UNSECURED,HYDROFLUORIC ACID,INHALATION,HOSE,CHEMICAL REACTION,CHEMICAL BURN,SPILL,CHEMICAL VAPOR,TOXIC FUMES,CHEMICAL
Event description
Three employees injured by hydrofluoric acid fumes
Investigation abstract
Employee #3 was observing Employee #1 use a pneumatic pump to fill an open surfa for chemical burns to his face and all three were treated for inhalation of hyd rofluoric acid. ce tank with 70 percent hydrofluoric acid solution from a 55 gallon barrel. An o utflow hose tied to the edge of the tank came loose, whipping around and splashi ng hydrofluoric acid onto Employee #1's face. He was wearing a full face respira tor that prevented the acid from hitting his eyes. Employee #3 and Employee #2 a ssisted Employee #1 in washing the chemical off under an emergency shower. Hydro fluoric acid that spilled on the floor reacted with the shower water to form an acid cloud of which all the employees inhaled unknown amounts. Eventually Employ ees #1, #2, and #3 were transported to a hospital, where Employee #1 was treated
Victims (4)
-
#1 Hospitalized Age 20 M
- Nature of injury
- 4
- Part of body
- 9
- Event type
- 10
- Source
- 9
- Occupation code
- 725
- Human factor
- 6
- Environmental factor
- 8
- Hazardous substance
- 1460
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#2 Hospitalized Age 33 M
- Nature of injury
- 17
- Part of body
- 4
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 9
- Occupation code
- 725
- Human factor
- 6
- Environmental factor
- 9
- Hazardous substance
- 1460
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#3 Hospitalized Age 38 M
- Nature of injury
- 17
- Part of body
- 4
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 9
- Occupation code
- 725
- Human factor
- 6
- Environmental factor
- 9
- Hazardous substance
- 1460
- 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
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