Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 571067 - CHLORINE GAS RELEASED WHEN BLEACH AND ACID WERE MIXED

Accident Summary Nr: 571067 -- Report ID: 0524500 -- Event Date: 07/31/1985
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
1238542	08/01/1985	8062	0	Decatur Memorial Hospital

Abstract: EMPLOYEES #1-8 WERE ENGAGED IN WASHING AND FOLDING LAUNDRY IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM OF DECATUR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, DECATUR, ILLINOIS. EMPLOYEE #3 WAS POURING THE REMAINING CONTENTS OF A DRUM CONTAINING CHLORINE BLEACH INTO ANOTHER DRUM. EMPLOYEE #3 THOUGHT THE DRUMS CONTAINED THE SAME BLEACH SOLUTION. HOWEVER, THE DRUM THAT EMPLOYEE #3 POURED INTO WAS A DRUM CONTAINING A SOLUTION OF PHOSPHORIC ACID. ALL THE OTHER EMPLOYEES WERE LOCATED IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM AT THE TIME EMPLOYEE #3 MIXED THE CHLORINE BLEACH WITH THE ACIDIC SOLUTION. CHLORINE GAS WAS PRECIPITATED IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM AS A RESULT OF THIS MIXTURE. EMPLOYEES #1-8 EXPERIENCED IRRITATION TO THEIR UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT AND LUNGS. THE INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY INADEQUATE LABELING OF THE DRUMS, WHICH WERE ALL THE SAME COLOR.

Keywords: LUNG, BLEACH, CLEANING, DRUM, INHALATION, GAS, PHOSPHORIC ACID, CHLORINE, RESPIRATORY TRACT

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	1238542	Non Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
2	1238542	Non Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
3	1238542	Non Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
4	1238542	Non Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
5	1238542	Non Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
6	1238542	Non Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
7	1238542	Non Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
8	1238542	Non Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported

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