Inspection Detail

Inspection: 306835810 - Michelin North America, Inc Us8 Starr Facility

Inspection Information - Office: Sc Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation

Investigation Summary

After a nine day shut-down at the plant, five employees were mixing the first batch of rubber. They were standing on the second-level platform when the computer told the operator that a fault had occurred, (not enough of an ingredient added). The operator accepted the batch and told the computer to drop the load. When this was done the batch caught on fire. During the shut down the company had pressure-washed the machine and there was a small hole in the top of the temperature probe that water had gotten into. When the machine was started and heated up the water in the probe reached the boiling point and the probe read (100 degrees C, 212 degrees F) and stayed as all additional heat went out as steam. The auto shut down was tied to this probe and since it read a faulty temperature it did not activate the shut down and the batch got too hot, allowing it to ignite and injure all five employees. The employees suffered first-degree and second-degree burns. Two employees were hospitalized and three were treated but not hospitalized.

Keywords: BURN, FIRE, EQUIPMENT FAILURE