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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 102989365 - Houston Foods Company
Inspection Information - Office: Chicago North Area Office
Site Address:
Houston Foods Company
1010 Sesame
Bensenville, IL 60106
Mailing Address:
, , 00000
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:2096
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Health
Close Conference: 09/14/1992
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 01/26/1993
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 360121990 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 12 | 2 | 14 | |||
| Current Violations | 12 | 2 | 14 | |||
| Initial Penalty | $18,900 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $18,900 |
| Current Penalty | $11,100 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $11,100 |
| FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001 | Serious | 19100095 B01 | 09/28/1992 | 12/30/1992 | $1,000 | $1,750 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
| 2. | 01002 | Serious | 19100095 C01 | 09/28/1992 | 10/31/1992 | $1,000 | $1,750 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
| 3. | 01003 | Serious | 19100147 C04 I | 09/28/1992 | 10/31/1992 | $1,000 | $1,750 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
| 4. | 01004 | Serious | 19100147 C07 I | 09/28/1992 | 10/31/1992 | $1,200 | $1,750 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
| 5. | 01005 | Serious | 19100151 C | 09/28/1992 | 10/21/1992 | $700 | $1,050 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
| 6. | 01006A | Serious | 19100157 G03 | 09/28/1992 | 10/31/1992 | $1,000 | $1,400 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
| 7. | 01006B | Serious | 19100157 G04 | 09/28/1992 | 10/31/1992 | $0 | $0 | $0 | - | ||
| 8. | 01007 | Serious | 19100212 A01 | 09/28/1992 | 10/16/1992 | $1,000 | $1,750 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
| 9. | 01008 | Serious | 19100215 A04 | 09/28/1992 | 10/11/1992 | $600 | $1,050 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
| 10. | 01009 | Serious | 19100215 B09 | 09/28/1992 | 10/11/1992 | $600 | $1,050 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
| 11. | 01010A | Serious | 19101000 A03 | 09/28/1992 | 12/30/1992 | $1,700 | $3,500 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
| 12. | 01010B | Serious | 19101000 A03 | 09/28/1992 | 12/30/1992 | $0 | $0 | $0 | - | ||
| 13. | 01010C | Serious | 19101000 F02 I | 09/28/1992 | 12/30/1992 | $0 | $0 | $0 | - | ||
| 14. | 01011 | Serious | 19101200 E01 | 09/28/1992 | 10/31/1992 | $650 | $1,050 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
| 15. | 01012 | Serious | 19101200 H | 09/28/1992 | 10/31/1992 | $650 | $1,050 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
| 16. | 02001 | Other | 19040002 A | 09/28/1992 | 10/06/1992 | $0 | $0 | $0 | - | ||
| 17. | 02002A | Other | 19101200 F05 I | 09/28/1992 | 10/03/1992 | $0 | $0 | $0 | - | ||
| 18. | 02002B | Other | 19101200 F05 II | 09/28/1992 | 10/03/1992 | $0 | $0 | $0 | - |
Investigation Summary
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
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | 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 |