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 #993469

BURN,THROAT,LUNG,HYDROFLUORIC ACID,LANDFILL,SKIN,FACE

Event
BURN,THROAT,LUNG,HYDROFLUORIC ACID,LANDFILL,SKIN,FACE
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
993469
Report ID
253630

Event description

RELEASE OF HYDROFLUORIC ACID CLOUD

Investigation abstract

A COMMERCIAL REFUSE HAULER EMPTIED A LOAD OF REFUSE AT THE LANDFILL FACE. WITHIN E EXPERIENCED BURNING IN HIS EYES AND A SORE THROAT. EMPLOYEE #5 WAS OPERATING A N EARTH MOVER, 30 YARDS DISTANT. HE SUFFERED FROM SORE LUNGS. EMPLOYEE #6 WORKED FOR THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT, ABOUT 100 FEET DISTANT. HE EXPERIENCED SORE LUNGS, A SORE NOSE AND SORE EYES. THIS LOAD WAS A 25 GALLON CARBOY OF HYDROFLUORIC ACID. THIS CONTAINER WAS RUN O VER BY A LARGE TRASH COMPACTOR. THE VESSEL RUPTURED, SPRAYING THE ACID INTO THE AIR. A CLOUD OF HYDROFLUORIC ACID WAS FORMED. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS OPERATING A BULLDO ZER (#630) APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET AWAY. HE COMPLAINED OF BURNED EYES, THROAT, AN D FACIAL SKIN BURNS. THE OPERATOR OF A COMPACTOR (APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET AWAY) EX PERIENCED A SORE THROAT, BURNING SKIN AND BURNING IN HIS LUNGS. EMPLOYEE #3 WAS SPOTTING TRUCKS ABOUT 10 FEET AWAY. HE HAD SORE LUNGS AND A SORE THROAT. EMPLOYE E #4 WAS SUPERVISING THE CREWS ABOUT 1,000 YARDS DISTANT FROM THE ACID SOURCE. H

Victims (6)

  1. #1 Hospitalized Age 56 M

    Nature of injury
    4
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1460
    Task assigned
    1

  2. #2 Hospitalized Age 32 M

    Nature of injury
    4
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1460
    Task assigned
    1

  3. #3 Hospitalized Age 44 M

    Nature of injury
    4
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1460
    Task assigned
    1

  4. #4 Hospitalized Age 58 M

    Nature of injury
    4
    Part of body
    9
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1460
    Task assigned
    1

  5. #5 Hospitalized Age 25 M

    Nature of injury
    4
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1460
    Task assigned
    1

  6. #6 Hospitalized Age 39 M

    Nature of injury
    4
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    44
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    11
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1460
    Task assigned
    1

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