Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 783910 - Employees evacuated when chemicals spontaneously react

Accident Summary Nr: 783910 -- Report ID: 0452110 -- Event Date: 07/22/1991
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
115948150	07/29/1991	7381	0	Guardsmark, Inc
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
112357157	07/25/1991	3625	0	Eaton Corp., Cutler Hammer Products

Abstract: On July 19, 1991, a 20 gallon drum of chromic acid bright dip reacted and formed a yellowish green cloud. The material was overpacked (lab packed) and all three drums were placed into the Inland Building outside the main building. The drums contained 6 lb, 4 lb, and 20 lb of product. The 4 lb drum reacted first. The overpacked drum was brought back into the main building and placed alongside the unreacted drums in an EPA permitted storage area. On Monday, July 22, 1991, another drum containing 6 lb of chromic acid bright dip reacted, causing 67 employees on the first shift to be evacuated. Four employees tried to remove the drum. Two were wearing SCBAs, an Eaton employee and a Guardsmark guard. The product was removed. Investigation showed that employee action in both situations should have been to evacuate the building. Analysis of reacted and unreacted chemical percentages did not correlate with the Material Safety Data Sheets. Chemicals released by reaction were determined to be chlorine, hydrofluoric acid, ammonia, and sulfates, which accounts for the employees reportedly smelling chlorine, ammonia, and battery acid. Employees #25, #26, and #27 were hospitalized.

Keywords: AMMONIA, HYDROFLUORIC ACID, DRUM, CHLORINE, CHEMICAL REACTION

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	115948150	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Guards and police, excluding public service
2	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Welders and cutters
3	112357157	Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.
4	112357157	Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.
5	112357157	Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.
6	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.
7	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.
8	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.
9	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.
10	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.
11	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.
12	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Machinery maintenance occupations
13	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.
14	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Supervisors; handlers,equip-cleaners,laborers nec
15	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Misc. metal,plastic,stone&glass-working mach. op's
16	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Freight, stock and material handlers, n.e.c.
17	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Misc. metal,plastic,stone&glass-working mach. op's
18	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.
19	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Machinery maintenance occupations
20	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.
21	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.
22	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Misc. metal,plastic,stone&glass-working mach. op's
23	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.
24	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Janitors and cleaners
25	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.
26	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.
27	112357157	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous machine operators, n.e.c.

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