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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 122027444 - Praxair Distribution, Inc.
Inspection Information - Office: Allentown Area Office
Site Address:
Praxair Distribution, Inc.
145 Shimersville Rd.
Bethlehem, PA 18015
Mailing Address:
, , 00000
Union Status: Union
SIC:2812
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Health
Close Conference: 03/03/1998
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 02/11/1999
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 361086846 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Current Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $0 | $70,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $70,000 |
| Current Penalty | $20,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $20,000 |
| 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 | 5A0001 | 03/06/1998 | 03/13/1998 | $20,000 | $70,000 | $0 | 03/26/1998 | F - Formal Settlement |
Investigation Summary
Employee #1 was filling a chlorine gas cylinder (pressure rating 480 psi) with nitrogen gas from a storage tank (pressure rating 3,000 psi). Employee #1 was purging the chlorine cylinder to prepare it for hydro-testing. The chlorine gas cylinder became over pressurized and burst sending Employee #1 across the room and killing him. There was no pressure regulator or pressure relief device on the filling system between the 3,000 psi nitrogen system and the 480 psi chlorine cylinder. Employee #1 could only regulate the pressure by opening and closing a valve and watching a pressure gauge.
Keywords: CYLINDER, GAS, CHLORINE, EXPLOSION, PRESSURE RELEASE
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 122027444 | Fatality | Other | Chemists, except biochemists |