Inspection Detail
Inspection: 1530065.015 - 74986 - 3v Sigma Usa Inc
Inspection Information - Office: Sc Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation
Site Address:
74986 - 3v Sigma Usa Inc
888 Woodstock Street
Georgetown, SC 29440
Mailing Address:
888 Woodstock Street, Georgetown, SC 29440
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:2869
NAICS: 325199/All Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing
Inspection Type: Fat/Cat
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Health
Close Conference: 09/20/2021
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 02/14/2022
Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
---|---|---|---|
Accident | 1750896 |
Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initial Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
Current Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
Initial Penalty | $2,500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $2,500 |
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 | 19100120 Q01 | 09/20/2021 | 09/30/2021 | $1,500 | $2,500 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement |
Investigation Summary
At 12:00 a.m. on March 26, 2021, Employee #2, a supervisor, and Employee #3, a system technician, of 3V Sigma USA Inc. began running batch processes in reactors R-402, R-403 and R-406 of the Gamma chemical plant. During the initiation of the free-radical polymerization reaction, the Gamma control room received successive alarms on pump PT-4009 for low chilled water header pressure. Employees #2 and #3 began troubleshooting in an attempt to cool the reactors. Employee #2 called Employee #1 for assistance. Employee #1 arrived onsite and began helping Employees #2 and #3 troubleshoot. The employees were unsuccessful in stopping the exothermic reaction. Due to high temperature and pressure inside the reactors, methylene chloride vapors escaped through a broken sight glass on R-404 and unsecured hatches on mixing vessels VA-406 and VA-407. Employees #2 and #3 left the Gamma control room due to strong vapors of methylene chloride. They witnessed Employee #1 inside the Gamma plant unresponsive and attempted to retrieve him. Employee #1 was exposed to an IDLH atmosphere of methylene chloride and died of anoxic brain injury, cardiopulmonary arrest, and asphyxiation.
Keywords: Asphyxiated, Cardiac Arrest, Chemical Exposure, Chemical Reaction, Inhalation, Lack of oxygen, Methylene Chloride, Oxygen Deficiency, Unresponsive
# | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1530065.015 | 43 | M | Fatality | Occupation not reported |