Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 913384 - ONE EMPLOYEE DIES, FIVE INJURED WHEN OVERCOME BY TOXIC FUMES

Accident Summary Nr: 913384 -- Report ID: 0552625 -- Event Date: 07/16/1992
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
114554017	07/17/1992	3714	0	Karmazin Products Corp.

Abstract: EMPLOYEE #3 WAS ASKED TO ENTER A WATER COOLING TANK MEASURING 4 FEET WIDE BY 8 FEET LONG BY 65 FEET DEEP TO REMOVE WASTEWATER SLUDGE. HE WAS RELIEVED 15 MINUTES LATER BY EMPLOYEE #1. EMPLOYEE #3 COMPLAINED OF VISUAL DISTURBANCES AND DIZZINESS AFTER EXITING. EMPLOYEE #1 APPARENTLY BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE SIMILAR SYMPTOMS AND TRIED TO CLIMB THE LADDER, BUT COLLAPSED AND FELL INTO THE SLUDGE. EMPLOYEE #2 ATTEMPTED TO RESCUE EMPLOYEE #1 THREE TIMES BEFORE HE COLLAPSED. EMPLOYEES #4 AND #6 ENTERED THE TANK WITH SCBA TO RESCUE EMPLOYEES #1 AND #2. THE RESCUE FAILED. EMPLOYEE #5 CALLED FOR OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE. EMPLOYEE #5 HAD BEEN PUMPING WASTEWATER FROM THE WATER COOLING TANK PRIOR TO THE ENTRY AND HAD REMARKED TO COWORKERS THAT THE FIRST FOUR BARRELS HAD SMELLED LIKE PURE TRICHLOROETHYLENE. EMPLOYEE #1 DIED AS A RESULT OF THIS EXPOSURE.

Keywords: VENTILATION, CONFINED SPACE, PPE, WORK RULES, SCBA, DIZZINESS, TOXIC FUMES, TRICHLORETHYLENE, SLUDGE, WATER TANK

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	114554017	Hospitalized injury	Burn(Chemical)	Occupation not reported
2	114554017	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Occupation not reported
3	114554017	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Occupation not reported
4	114554017	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Occupation not reported
5	114554017	Fatality	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
6	114554017	Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Occupation not reported

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