Inspection Detail
Inspection: 2661098 - Hawkeye Chemical Company
Inspection Information - Office: Iowa 0751910
Site Address:
Hawkeye Chemical Company
Rural Route 1
Camanche, IA 52370
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 899, Clinton, IA 52732
Union Status: Union
SIC:2873
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 12/23/1985
Planning Guide: Safety-Manufacturing
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 03/05/1987
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 360583876 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Current Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $630 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $630 |
| Current Penalty | $380 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $380 |
| 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 | 880004 | 01/08/1986 | 02/11/1986 | $380 | $630 | $0 | 01/29/1986 | L - State Settlement |
Investigation Summary
EMPLOYEES #1 THROUGH #6 WERE PREPARING A LARGE REFORMER FURNACE FOR FIRING UP. THE FURNACE HAD BEEN SHUT DOWN FOR ABOUT 5 MONTHS. BECAUSE THERE WAS A LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE WORKERS, AND BECAUSE SOME OF THE EMPLOYEES WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE FURNACE OPERATOR'S MANUAL, THE FURNACE WAS LIT WHILE 10 MANUALLY OPERATED GAS VALVES WERE OPEN. THE FLAME IGNITED THE GAS WHICH HAD BUILT UP IN THE FURNACE, CAUSING AN EXPLOSION. THE PROPER PROCEDURE IS TO OPEN THE VALVE ON EACH BURNER, AND LIGHT EACH BURNER, SEPARATELY. ALSO, A FIVE MINUTE PRESSURE TEST IS CALLED FOR TO DETECT ANY LEAKS IN THE SYSTEM. THE EXPLOSION PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF THE PRESSURE TEST HAD BEEN RUN.
Keywords: FURNACE, LEAK, MAINTENANCE, FLAMMABLE VAPORS, WORK RULES, EXPLOSION, GAS LEAK, UNTRAINED
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2661098 | Fatality | Concussion | Miscellaneous plant and system operators | ||
| 2 | 2661098 | Hospitalized injury | Fracture | Miscellaneous plant and system operators |
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