OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #997346

RESPIRATORY,CONFINED SPACE,WORK RULES,CLEANING,INHALATION,TANK CLEANING,CHEMICAL REACTION,TANK,CYANIDE,CHEMICAL

1988-06-28T00:00:00

Event: RESPIRATORY,CONFINED SPACE,WORK RULES,CLEANING,INHALATION,TANK CLEANING,CHEMICAL REACTION,TANK,CYANIDE,CHEMICAL
Linked inspection: No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number: 997346
Report ID: 551800

Event description

5 WORKERS KILLED, 9 INJURED WHEN EXPOSED TO HYDROGEN CYANIDE

Investigation abstract

WHEN A HOLDING TANK, 5 FEET LONG, 4 FEET WIDE AND 5 FEET HIGH, AND WHICH PREVIOU SLY CONTAINED ZINC CYANIDE, WAS CLEANED, THE CLEANING EMPLOYEES APPARENLY USED S OME KIND OF ACID. THE RESULTING CHEMICAL REACTION PRODUCED HYDROGEN CYANIDE IN T HE TANK. THE FIVE EMPLOYEES WHO ENTERED THE TANK ALL DIED; THE FIRST FOUR IMMEDI ATELY AND THE FIFTH 2 1/2 DAYS LATER. NINE OTHER EMPLOYEES WERE ALSO AFFECTED BY THE HYDROGEN CYANIDE, ALTHOUGH ONLY TWO REQUIRED HOSPITALIZATION.

Victims (14)

#1 Fatality Age 19 M

Nature of injury
2

Part of body
28

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
723

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
9

Hazardous substance
1440

Task assigned
2
#10 Non-hospitalized injury Age 23 M

Nature of injury
17

Part of body
28

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
633

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
9

Hazardous substance
1440

Task assigned
2
#11 Non-hospitalized injury Age 58 M

Nature of injury
17

Part of body
28

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
224

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
9

Hazardous substance
1440

Task assigned
2
#12 Non-hospitalized injury Age 22 M

Nature of injury
17

Part of body
28

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
723

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
9

Hazardous substance
1440

Task assigned
2
#13 Non-hospitalized injury Age 21 M

Nature of injury
17

Part of body
28

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
723

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
9

Hazardous substance
1440

Task assigned
2
#14 Non-hospitalized injury Age 29 M

Nature of injury
17

Part of body
28

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
999

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
9

Hazardous substance
1440

Task assigned
2
#2 Fatality Age 29 M

Nature of injury
2

Part of body
28

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
723

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
9

Hazardous substance
1440

Task assigned
2
#3 Fatality Age 29 M

Nature of injury
2

Part of body
28

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
723

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
9

Hazardous substance
1440

Task assigned
2
#4 Fatality Age 25 M

Nature of injury
2

Part of body
28

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
723

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
9

Hazardous substance
1440

Task assigned
2
#5 Fatality Age 21 M

Nature of injury
2

Part of body
28

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
723

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
9

Hazardous substance
1440

Task assigned
2
#6 Hospitalized Age 49 M

Nature of injury
2

Part of body
28

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
723

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
9

Hazardous substance
1440

Task assigned
2
#7 Hospitalized Age 22 M

Nature of injury
2

Part of body
28

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
723

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
9

Hazardous substance
1440

Task assigned
2
#8 Non-hospitalized injury Age 24 M

Nature of injury
17

Part of body
28

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
723

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
9

Hazardous substance
1440

Task assigned
2
#9 Non-hospitalized injury Age 46 M

Nature of injury
17

Part of body
28

Event type
8

Source
9

Occupation code
19

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
9

Hazardous substance
1440

Task assigned
2

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