TranslateInspection Detail
Inspection: 302321138 - Daikin America, Inc.
Inspection Information - Office: Birmingham
Site Address:
Daikin America, Inc.
905 State Docks Road
Decatur, AL 35601
Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2252, Decatur, AL 35609
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:3089
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Health
Close Conference: 05/21/1999
Planning Guide: Health-Manufacturing
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 07/24/2000
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 101270650 |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 5 | 5 | ||||
| Current Violations | 3 | 3 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $31,500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $31,500 |
| Current Penalty | $18,900 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $18,900 |
| 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 D01 | 11/01/1999 | 11/29/1999 | $6,300 | $6,300 | $0 | 11/19/1999 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 2. | 01002 | Serious | 19100119 E03 III | 11/01/1999 | 11/29/1999 | $6,300 | $6,300 | $0 | 11/19/1999 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 3. | 01003 | Serious | 19100119 F01 IIIB | 11/01/1999 | 11/19/1999 | $0 | $6,300 | $0 | 11/19/1999 | F - Formal Settlement | Citation has been deleted. |
| 4. | 01004 | Serious | 19100119 F04 | 11/01/1999 | 11/29/1999 | $6,300 | $6,300 | $0 | 11/19/1999 | F - Formal Settlement | |
| 5. | 01005 | Serious | 19100119 J03 | 11/01/1999 | 11/29/1999 | $0 | $6,300 | $0 | 11/19/1999 | F - Formal Settlement | Citation has been deleted. |
Investigation Summary
Four employees were engaged in finding a polymer plug that would occasionally occur due to polymerization in the line. They had performed a line break and had reassembled the line, and then opened a tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) valve at a silica gel tower. This allowed full pressure on the line. Due to a poorly connected flange, air had been introduced into the line after reassembly and when the TFE came into contact with the air a fire resulted leading to an explosion of the tower. Two of the four employees were unable to escape the fire, and two others escaped the fire scene. However, only one of the two employees that escaped survived and was hospitalized with burns.
Keywords:burn, fire, explosion, tower
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree | Nature | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 302321138 | Hospitalized injury | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Misc. metal & plastic processing machine operators | ||
| 2 | 302321138 | Fatality | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Misc. metal & plastic processing machine operators | ||
| 3 | 302321138 | Fatality | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Misc. metal & plastic processing machine operators | ||
| 4 | 302321138 | Fatality | Burn/Scald(Heat) | Supervisors, production occupations |