OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #978593
EYE,RESPIRATORY,THROAT,VENTILATION,OVEN,WORK RULES,INHALATION,METHYL CHLOROFORM,TOXIC FUMES,CHEMICAL
Event description
Five employees hospitalized after exposure to toxic fumes
Investigation abstract
At 7:15 a.m., a molecular sieve desiccant containing 80 percent methyl chlorofor sh or flame occurred; the oven was then unplugged and turned off. The building w as evacuated at 8:30 a.m. after several employees complained of respiratory, eye , and throat irritation. No chlorine, hydrogen chloride, or phosgene could be de tected in the oven at that time. As a precautionary measure, 35 employees (32 of the 165 main assembly room workers and 3 of the 7 receiving inspection room wor kers) were transported to the hospital for observation and evaluation. Based on their symptoms or previous medical conditions, five employees were hospitalized for observation. The lack of proper air-drying procedures before oven drying was among the factors causing the accident. m, 7 percent alcohol trichlorotrifluoroethane, 6 percent inhibitors (nitromethan e and 1,4-dioxane), and 1,1-dichloroethane, was placed inside an American Scient ific Products oven (Model No. DX-38) for drying. The 120-volt oven, operating at 220 to 230 degrees Fahrenheit, was located outside Building #809. At 7:30 a.m., employees within the building noticed a strange odor and called the safety offi ce. At 8:06 a.m., the safety office determined that the oven was the source of t he odor. Fumes had apparently been drawn into the main assembly and receiving in spection rooms while the oven was unattended. The oven door was opened and a fla
Victims (5)
-
#1 Hospitalized Age 52 F
- Nature of injury
- 21
- Part of body
- 28
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 9
- Occupation code
- 213
- Human factor
- 11
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 1720
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#2 Hospitalized Age 49 F
- Nature of injury
- 21
- Part of body
- 28
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 9
- Occupation code
- 213
- Human factor
- 11
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 1720
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#3 Hospitalized Age 33 F
- Nature of injury
- 21
- Part of body
- 28
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 9
- Occupation code
- 213
- Human factor
- 11
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 1720
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#4 Hospitalized Age 28 F
- Nature of injury
- 21
- Part of body
- 28
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 9
- Occupation code
- 213
- Human factor
- 11
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 1720
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#5 Hospitalized Age 38 F
- Nature of injury
- 21
- Part of body
- 28
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 9
- Occupation code
- 213
- Human factor
- 11
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 1720
- Task assigned
- 1
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