Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 202003810 - Six Employees Exposed To A Release Of Hydrogen Fluoride

Accident Summary Nr: 202003810 -- Report ID: 0317000 -- Event Date: 12/17/1999
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
302630546	12/17/1999	1799	0	J.J. White Inc.
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
302630553	12/17/1999	1799	0	Mid-Atlantic Inc.

Abstract: Six contract employees, three from Mid-Atlantic Contractors Incorporated and three from J.J. White Incorporated, became ill from exposure to hydrofluoric acid. They were working on the alkylation unit of the refinery. J.J. White's employees were dismantling a scaffold while Mid-Atlantic's employees were doing carpentry work. At the same time, the refinery personnel were purging an acid storage drum with nitrogen to move the inventory acid for the unit from the storage drum to the unit. A utility hose was attached to the storage drum and connected to the nitrogen. The hose failed during the procedure and released hydrofluoric acid in to the atmosphere. All six contract employees were exposed to a cloud of hydrofluoric acid. They were treated on-site and then transported to a local hospital for additional treatment. The six contract employees were released approximately 24 hours after the exposure.

Keywords: HYDROGEN FLUORIDE, REFINERY, CHEMICAL, SCAFFOLD

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Refinery		Maintenance or repair		Under $50,000

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	302630546	Hospitalized injury	Other	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Exterior carpentry Fatality Cause: Asphyxiation/inhalation of toxic vapor
2	302630546	Hospitalized injury	Other	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Exterior carpentry Fatality Cause: Asphyxiation/inhalation of toxic vapor
3	302630546	Hospitalized injury	Other	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Exterior carpentry Fatality Cause: Asphyxiation/inhalation of toxic vapor
4	302630553	Hospitalized injury	Other	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Exterior carpentry Fatality Cause: Asphyxiation/inhalation of toxic vapor
5	302630553	Hospitalized injury	Other	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Exterior carpentry Fatality Cause: Asphyxiation/inhalation of toxic vapor
6	302630553	Hospitalized injury	Other	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Exterior carpentry Fatality Cause: Asphyxiation/inhalation of toxic vapor

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