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 #869032

HYDROCHLORIC ACID,BLEACH,WORK RULES,INHALATION,CHLORINE,CHEMICAL REACTION,PROCESS SAFETY,TOXIC FUMES,EVACUATION

Event
HYDROCHLORIC ACID,BLEACH,WORK RULES,INHALATION,CHLORINE,CHEMICAL REACTION,PROCESS SAFETY,TOXIC FUMES,EVACUATION
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
869032
Report ID
522000

Event description

Nine employees inhale chlorine gas

Investigation abstract

Employees #3, #6, and #9 improperly mixed a 12 1/2 percent bleach solution and a hydrochloric acid solution during a boilout procedure, which began in the beate r room attached to a paper machine. The resulting chlorine gas affected Employee s #1 through #9, either at their work stations or while passing through the beat er room. Factors contributing to the accident include a lack of distinctive labe ling for the tote bins containing acids and caustics; lack of written procedures for chemical additions; and poor evacuation procedures.

Victims (9)

  1. #1 Non-hospitalized injury Age 60 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    18
    Environmental factor
    9
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    1

  2. #2 Non-hospitalized injury Age 55 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    18
    Environmental factor
    9
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    1

  3. #3 Non-hospitalized injury Age 25 F

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    18
    Environmental factor
    9
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    1

  4. #4 Hospitalized Age 50 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    18
    Environmental factor
    9
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    1

  5. #5 Non-hospitalized injury Age 54 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    18
    Environmental factor
    9
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    1

  6. #6 Hospitalized Age 47 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    18
    Environmental factor
    9
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    1

  7. #7 Non-hospitalized injury Age 29 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    18
    Environmental factor
    9
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    1

  8. #8 Non-hospitalized injury Age 31 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    18
    Environmental factor
    9
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    1

  9. #9 Non-hospitalized injury Age 20 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    9
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    18
    Environmental factor
    9
    Hazardous substance
    0640
    Task assigned
    2

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