Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 587014 - Employee became ill after exposed to carbon monoxide

Accident Summary Nr: 587014 -- Report ID: 0524200 -- Event Date: 08/06/1992
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
102989365	08/07/1992	2096	0	Houston Foods Company

Abstract: On August 6, 1992, nineteen employees in the wrapping, tin feeding line, and filling and cooling areas of Houston Food Co. experienced severe headaches, nausea, dizziness, and in some cases vomiting, due to carbon monoxide overexposure. A total facility evacuation occurred at 2:30 p.m. The Bensenville Fire Department performed triage and sent Employees #1 through #19 to five area hospitals. In the popping room, which is located next to the filling and cooling rooms, three gas-fired popcorn popping units were found to be the source of the carbon monoxide. The intake dampers on the two HVAC systems for the popping room were found to be closed, creating a negative pressure. This caused the flue exhaust gases to be pulled back into the room and be reburned, yielding large quantities of carbon monoxide. The return ducts in the filling room drew the contaminated air from the popping room into the filling room, the wrapping area, the tin feeding line area, and the cooling room. The carbon monoxide levels in these areas were well above the permissible exposure limit of 35 ppm.

Keywords: HEADACHE, NAUSEA, AIR CONTAMINATION, DIZZINESS, OVEREXPOSURE, CARBON MONOXIDE, VOMIT

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	102989365	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
2	102989365	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
3	102989365	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
4	102989365	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
5	102989365	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
6	102989365	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
7	102989365	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
8	102989365	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
9	102989365	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
10	102989365	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
11	102989365	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
12	102989365	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
13	102989365	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
14	102989365	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
15	102989365	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
16	102989365	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
17	102989365	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
18	102989365	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
19	102989365	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported

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