Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 14251532 - 17 EMPLOYEES EXPOSED TO AMMONIA GAS

Accident Summary Nr: 14251532 -- Report ID: 0453710 -- Event Date: 08/20/1987
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
15297484	08/21/1987	2026	0	Coble Dairy Products Cooperative

Abstract: AT 1:45 PM ON AUGUST 20, 1987, THE HEAD OF AN AMMONIA COMPRESSOR AT THE COBLE DAIRY PRODUCTS PLANT IN LEXINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA, BLEW OFF, ALLOWING AMMONIA TO ESCAPE INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. THE EMPLOYEES IN THE PLANT WERE TOLD TO EVACUATE AND DID SO ACCORDING TO VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED FROM MANAGEMENT. THE EMPLOYEES WERE TO LEAVE THE PLANT AND ASSEMBLE IN THE SOUTHWEST PARKING AREA. HOWEVER, THE WIND WAS BLOWING SUCH THAT THE AMMONIA WAS CARRIED FROM THE COMPRESSOR ROOM TO THE PREARRANGED ASSEMBLY AREA SOUTHWEST OF THE PLANT. THE EMPLOYEES ASSEMBLING THERE WERE EXPOSED TO AMMONIA GAS. SEVENTEEN EMPLOYEES WERE TREATED AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR AMMONIA EXPOSURE. OF THE SEVENTEEN, THREE EMPLOYEES (#12, #13, & #14) WERE ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL, TREATED AND RELEASED THE NEXT DAY.

Keywords: LEAK, RESPIRATORY, AMMONIA, INHALATION, CHEMICAL VAPOR, TOXIC FUMES

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	15297484	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Technicians, n.e.c.
2	15297484	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Freight, stock and material handlers, n.e.c.
3	15297484	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Freight, stock and material handlers, n.e.c.
4	15297484	Hospitalized injury	Other	Freight, stock and material handlers, n.e.c.
5	15297484	Hospitalized injury	Other	Freight, stock and material handlers, n.e.c.
6	15297484	Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.
7	15297484	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Freight, stock and material handlers, n.e.c.
8	15297484	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.
9	15297484	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Technicians, n.e.c.
10	15297484	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Freight, stock and material handlers, n.e.c.
11	15297484	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Freight, stock and material handlers, n.e.c.
12	15297484	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Freight, stock and material handlers, n.e.c.
13	15297484	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Freight, stock and material handlers, n.e.c.
14	15297484	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Freight, stock and material handlers, n.e.c.
15	15297484	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.
16	15297484	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Freight, stock and material handlers, n.e.c.
17	15297484	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Freight, stock and material handlers, n.e.c.

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