Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 14339824 - POISONED BY METHYLENE CHLORIDE IN TANKER COMPARTMENT

Accident Summary Nr: 14339824 -- Report ID: 0453710 -- Event Date: 06/04/1986
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
3026440	06/04/1986	4213	0	Central Transport Inc

Abstract: EMPLOYEES #1 AND #2 WERE ASSIGNED THE TASK OF CLEANING THE INSIDE OF A TANKER TRAILER COMPARTMENT ON JUNE 4, 1986. THEY ATTACHED A "SPINNER", WHICH AUTOMATICALLY CLEANS THE TANK INTERIOR WITH CAUSTIC, THEN SPRAYED METHYLENE CHLORIDE "PRESOLVE" INTO THE TANK TO SOFTEN THE PVA LATEX WHICH HAD ACCUMULATED ON THE TANK'S INTERIOR WALLS. AFTER "SPINNING" AND RINSING WITH HOT WATER, THE TANK WAS CLOSED UP AND LEFT TO COOL. AT ABOUT 1 AM, THE TWO EMPLOYEES OPENED THE TOP LATCH AND THE BOTTOM VALVE. WITHOUT WAITING FOR THE VAPORS TO DISSIPATE, EMPLOYEE #1 CLIMBED IN TO INSPECT THE CLEANING JOB. HE COLLAPSED AS HE WAS MOVING AWAY FROM THE ENTRY LADDER. EMPLOYEE #2 THEN WENT IN TO HELP. HE TRIED TO GET BACK OUT BUT COLLAPSED BEFORE HE COULD MAKE IT. WITH THE BOTTOM VALVE AND TOP HATCH OPEN, THE METHYLENE CHLORIDE VAPORS RAPIDLY LEFT THE TANK. BY THE TIME EMPLOYEES #1 AND #2 WERE FOUND BY OTHER EMPLOYEES, THE METHYLENE CHLORIDE VAPOR LEVEL HAD DECREASED TO BELOW THE ODOR THRESHOLD (100 PPM). EMPLOYEES #1 AND #2 WERE KILLED.

Keywords: RESPIRATORY, CONFINED SPACE, METHYLENE CHLORIDE, WORK RULES, CLEANING, TANK

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	3026440			Fatality	Poisoning(Systemic)	Supervisors; handlers,equip-cleaners,laborers nec
2	3026440			Fatality	Poisoning(Systemic)	Supervisors; handlers,equip-cleaners,laborers nec

Thank You for Visiting Our Website

You are exiting the Department of Labor's Web server.

The Department of Labor does not endorse, takes no responsibility for, and exercises no control over the linked organization or its views, or contents, nor does it vouch for the accuracy or accessibility of the information contained on the destination server. The Department of Labor also cannot authorize the use of copyrighted materials contained in linked Web sites. Users must request such authorization from the sponsor of the linked Web site. Thank you for visiting our site. Please click the button below to continue.