Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 14390983 - EMPLOYEE DIED OF OXYGEN DEFICIENCY IN NITROGEN ENRICHED AIR

Accident Summary Nr: 14390983 -- Report ID: 0625700 -- Event Date: 02/03/1987
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
101020386	02/04/1987	2821	0	Himont U.S.A., Inc.

Abstract: EMPLOYEE #1 WAS PLACING PHENOLIC NAME TAGS ON TESTING INSTRUMENTS INSIDE THE GAS CHROMATOGRAPH ROOM AT K-LINE. THE K-LINE GAS CHROMATOGRAPH WAS ON A NITROGEN BACK-UP FOR INSTRUMENT AIR FOR ITS ANALYZERS TO KEEP THEM EXPLOSION-PROOF. AT THE TIME, THE ANALYZERS HAD 10 SCFM OF POSITIVE PRESSURE FROM THE INSTRUMENTS BEING PURGED INTO THE GAS CHROMATOGRAPH ROOM. THE GAS CHROMATOGRAPH ROOM'S ATMOSPHERE THEREFORE WAS NITROGEN ENRICHED WHEN EMPLOYEE #1 ENTERED TO PLACE THE TAGS. THE NITROGEN REPLACED THE OXYGEN IN THE ROOM'S ATMOSPHERE, CAUSING AN OXYGEN DEFICIENCY. EMPLOYEE #1 DIED OF A LACK OF OXYGEN.

Keywords: OXYGEN DEFICIENCY, RESPIRATORY, ASPHYXIATED, WORK RULES, TOXIC ATMOSPHERE, INHALATION, GAS, NITROGEN, PURGING, INATTENTION

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	101020386			Fatality	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported

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