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Inspection Detail
Inspection: 3344652 - Rubatex Corporation
Inspection Information - Office: Va-E-Roanoke (Regional Office) -Safety 0355118
Site Address:
Rubatex Corporation
Railroad Avenue, Plant #1
Bedford, VA 24523
Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 340, Bedford, VA 24523
Union Status: Union
SIC:3069
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 02/18/1986
Planning Guide: Safety-Manufacturing
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 02/28/1986
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 36063170 | ||
| Accident | 360631709 |
Investigation Summary
At approximately 11:40 a.m. on January 24, 1986, Employees #1 and #3 were struck by the 2 ton door of chamber #7 of the gas chamber department, and Employees #2 and #4 through #13 were struck by airborne debris and equipment. The cover/door had been held in place with three clamping devices; when the clamping devices atop the vessel fractured, additional stress was placed on the remaining two clamping devices, which quickly failed and fractured. Nitrogen gas was released from a nitrogen gas chamber under approximately 4500 lb of pressure that had been in chamber #7. Debris and equipment became airborne, striking the employees. Employee #1 died at 8:15 p.m. on February 11, 1986. Employee #2 suffered multiple head and body injuries. Employees #3 through #13 suffered cuts, bruises, lacerations, and concussions.
Keywords: HEAD, EQUIPMENT FAILURE, NITROGEN, EXPLOSION, HIGH PRESSURE, STRUCK BY, FLYING OBJECT, DOOR, PRESSURE RELEASE
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3344652 | Fatality | Other | Supervisors; distrib., sched'g & adjusting clerks | ||
| 2 | 3344652 | Hospitalized injury | Fracture | Misc. metal,plastic,stone&glass-working mach. op's | ||
| 3 | 3344652 | Non Hospitalized injury | Concussion | Occupation not reported | ||
| 4 | 3344652 | Non Hospitalized injury | Concussion | Occupation not reported | ||
| 5 | 3344652 | Non Hospitalized injury | Concussion | Occupation not reported | ||
| 6 | 3344652 | Non Hospitalized injury | Concussion | Occupation not reported | ||
| 7 | 3344652 | Hospitalized injury | Fracture | Milling and planing machine operators | ||
| 8 | 3344652 | Hospitalized injury | Concussion | Milling and planing machine operators | ||
| 9 | 3344652 | Hospitalized injury | Cut/Laceration | Misc. metal,plastic,stone&glass-working mach. op's | ||
| 10 | 3344652 | Non Hospitalized injury | Cut/Laceration | Misc. metal,plastic,stone&glass-working mach. op's | ||
| 11 | 3344652 | Non Hospitalized injury | Concussion | Supervisors, production occupations | ||
| 12 | 3344652 | Non Hospitalized injury | Concussion | Supervisors, production occupations | ||
| 13 | 3344652 | Hospitalized injury | Concussion | Supervisors, production occupations | ||
| 14 | 3344652 | Non Hospitalized injury | Concussion | Misc. metal,plastic,stone&glass-working mach. op's |