Inspection Detail

Inspection: 3344652 - Rubatex Corporation

Inspection Information - Office: Va-E-Roanoke (Regional Office) -Safety 0355118

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