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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 105871917 - Ketchikan Pulp Company
Inspection Information - Office: Alaska Department Of Labor Osh Enforcement
Site Address:
Ketchikan Pulp Company
7559 North Tongass Highway
Ketchikan, AK 99901
Mailing Address:
, , 00000
Union Status: Union
SIC:2611
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Health
Close Conference: 06/23/1995
Planning Guide: Health-Manufacturing
Emphasis: L:Akh
Case Closed: 11/07/1995
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 360102271 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 2 | 2 | ||||
| Current Violations | 2 | 2 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $3,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $3,000 |
| Current Penalty | $1,500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,500 |
| 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 | 19100119 D | 09/06/1995 | 11/10/1995 | $750 | $1,500 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
| 2. | 01002 | Serious | 19100119 J05 | 09/06/1995 | 11/10/1995 | $750 | $1,500 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement |
Investigation Summary
On June 19, Employees #1through #4 were doing electrical and mechanical repairs in the bleach plant and digester building of the Palo Mill. Employees #5 through #8 were in the carpenter shop lunchroom in the bleach plant on break. Sulfur dioxide escaped from the dump chest off gas controlling system, and all eight employees required hospitalization. The cause of the release from the sulfur dioxide controlling (recovery) system was that a valve on the #1 digester malfunctioned and remained open, letting fresh liquor flow into the dump chest. This was confirmed by the cook who saw that the valve light on his control panel was off, indicating a closed valve. The off light resulted because of the jammed dump valve, which is electrically driven and subject to being overloaded under the above condition. The #1 digester blow valve stem jammed because a journeyman pipefitter had accidentally removed its stem guide several days earlier. He and a newly hired pipefitter were supposed to have removed the blow valve stem guide from the #4, not the #1, digester. The #4 digester was down and locked out for repairs. All mill employees are required to carry half-face respirators. During this sulfur dioxide release, the respirators were inadequate.
Keywords: WORK RULES, JAMMED, SULFUR DIOXIDE, VALVE, MILL--PLANT, OVEREXPOSURE, RESPIRATOR
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 105871917 | Hospitalized injury | Burn(Chemical) | Carpenter apprentices | ||
| 2 | 105871917 | Hospitalized injury | Burn(Chemical) | Not specified mechanics and repairers | ||
| 3 | 105871917 | Hospitalized injury | Burn(Chemical) | Carpenter apprentices | ||
| 4 | 105871917 | Hospitalized injury | Burn(Chemical) | Carpenter apprentices | ||
| 5 | 105871917 | Hospitalized injury | Burn(Chemical) | Supervisors; electricians & power transm. install. | ||
| 6 | 105871917 | Hospitalized injury | Burn(Chemical) | Millwrights | ||
| 7 | 105871917 | Hospitalized injury | Burn(Chemical) | Supervisors, production occupations |