Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1289872.015 - American Yeast Corporation

Inspection Information - Office: Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation Division Of Labor And Industry Maryland Occupational Safety And Health

Investigation Summary

At 4:00 p.m. on January 5, 2018, Employee #1, employed by an industrial cleaning company, was working at a multiemployer project. He was working from an 8-foot stepladder, Werner Fiberglass 300-pound capacity P/N 100521-127 Model Number T6208 Mk 4. He was 2 feet above the ground and monitoring and adding water as necessary to evaporator pans to prevent freezing. The float system on the evaporator failed, a pipe connector broke, and 89 gallons (500 pounds) of anhydrous (liquid) ammonia were released. Employee #1 was exposed to the ammonia. He notified the plant manager and the plant maintenance manager of the release, and the maintenance manager entered the ammonia machine room and shut down the system. Emergency services were called, and Employee #1 was transported to the hospital, where he was treated for frostbite to his lower legs and forearms.

Keywords: Ammonia, Arm, Chemical Burn, Connector, Construction, Equipment Failure, Frozen, Leg, Pipe, Stepladder