Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 14542856 - EMPLOYEES EXPOSED TO HIGH LEVELS OF CARBON DIOXIDE

Accident Summary Nr: 14542856 -- Report ID: 0418100 -- Event Date: 10/19/1984
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
1200104	10/20/1984	2015	0	Cagles Inc
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
1200096	10/20/1984	9641	0	Us Department Of Agriculture
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
1200104	10/20/1984	2015	0	Cagles Inc

Abstract: AT APPROXIMATELY 9 AM ON OCTOBER 19, 1984, 15 EMPLOYEES OF CAGLE'S, INC. BECAME ILL AT WORK. THEY EXHIBITED SYMPTOMS OF DIZZINESS, WEAKNESS, SWEATING, AND LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. THEY WERE SEEN BY VARIOUS CLINICS, PRIVATE PHYSICIANS AND HOSPITALS AND TREATED FOR CARBON DIOXIDE EXPOSURE. THE COMPANY, WHICH SLAUGHTERS AND DEBONES CHICKENS, USES A CARBON DIOXIDE COOLING SYSTEM IN THE MEAT PACKING DEPARTMENT. THE CHICKEN MEAT IS QUICK-COOLED AS IT FLOWS BY, ON A CONVEYOR, ON ITS WAY TO LARGE VATS. CARBON DIOXIDE "HORNS" PERIODICALLY FORCE DRY ICE FLAKES INTO THE CONTAINERS OF MEAT. AN INADEQUATE VENTILATION SYSTEM ALLOWED THE CARBON DIOXIDE TO FLOW OVER THE VAT SIDES AND ACCUMULATE IN THE CHICKEN DE-BONING AREA, WHERE THE 15 AFFECTED EMPLOYEES WORKED. THE COMPANY HAS SINCE MADE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO THE VENTILATION SYSTEM, LOWERING THE CARBON DIOXIDE LEVELS TO LESS THAN 5,000 PPM, ON AVERAGE.

Keywords: OXYGEN DEFICIENCY, RESPIRATORY, UNCONSCIOUSNESS, INHALATION, DIZZINESS, VENTILATION, CARBON DIOXIDE

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	1200104	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Graders and sorters, agricultural products
2	1200104	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Graders and sorters, agricultural products
3	1200104	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Graders and sorters, agricultural products
4	1200104	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Graders and sorters, agricultural products
5	1200104	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Graders and sorters, agricultural products
6	1200104	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Graders and sorters, agricultural products
7	1200104	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Graders and sorters, agricultural products
8	1200104	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Graders and sorters, agricultural products
9	1200104	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Graders and sorters, agricultural products
10	1200104	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Graders and sorters, agricultural products
11	1200096			Occupation Not Listed
12	1200104	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Graders and sorters, agricultural products
13	1200104	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Graders and sorters, agricultural products
14	1200104	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Graders and sorters, agricultural products
15	1200104	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Graders and sorters, agricultural products
16	1200104	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Graders and sorters, agricultural products

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