Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 14493290 - Employee asphyxiated by nitrogen in sandblasting hood

Accident Summary Nr: 14493290 -- Report ID: 0627400 -- Event Date: 10/23/1987
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
101072742	10/27/1987	2813	0	Big Three Industrial Gas, Inc.
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
101072734	10/27/1987	2813	0	Ref-Chem Corp

Abstract: When Employee #1 could not obtain breathing air from the installed line, he adapted unapproved hoses with quick disconnects so he could connect a respirator for use in abrasive blasting to a gas line supplying a blasting pot. This piping was not color coded or labeled in accordance with company policy, so Employee #1 did not know he was connecting to a nitrogen line instead of compressed air. He died of asphyxia. Since nitrogen is a waste gas in an air separation plant, it is used instead of compressed air for operating pneumatic equipment.

Keywords: AIR LINE RESPIRATOR, ASPHYXIATED, PPE, ABRASIVE BLASTING, WORK RULES, INHALATION, NITROGEN, AIR LINE, SANDBLASTING, MECH MALFUNCTION

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	101072742					Occupation Not Listed
2	101072734			Fatality	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported

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