Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 170568034 - Six employees exposed to chlorine gas

Accident Summary Nr: 170568034 -- Report ID: 0751910 -- Event Date: 06/23/1994
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
115068058	06/29/1994	8062	0	Samaritan Health System, Inc.

Abstract: A water treatment subcontractor servicing bulk vessels of sodium hypochlorite and sulfuric acid asked a hospital maintenance employee to place a hose in a small tank in the boiler room. The hospital employee did as asked and allowed sulfuric acid to be transferred to the sodium hypochlorite tank. This generated chlorine gas, which then entered the ventilation system. The hospital evacuated 20 patients and 35 staff members. Employees #1 through #6, hospital workers, were sent to their own hospital emergency room(s), examined and released. The estimated gas release was less than 10 lb.

Keywords: RESPIRATORY, SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE, VENTILATION, WORK RULES, INHALATION, GAS, CHLORINE, CHEMICAL REACTION, SULFURIC ACID

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	115068058	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Supervisors, cleaning and building service workers
2	115068058	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Dieticians
3	115068058	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Supervisors, cleaning and building service workers
4	115068058	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Supervisors, cleaning and building service workers
5	115068058	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Supervisors, cleaning and building service workers
6	115068058	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Supervisors, cleaning and building service workers

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