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Accident Report Detail

Accident: 14464226 - Exposure To Phosgene Gas

Accident: 14464226 -- Report ID: 0551800 -- Event Date: 08/20/1985
InspectionOpen DateSICEstablishment Name
270113408/27/19857349Industrial Sewer Service Inc Roto Rooter
InspectionOpen DateSICEstablishment Name
270110008/27/19852821General Electric Co
InspectionOpen DateSICEstablishment Name
270112608/27/19858711John Brown Crawford & Russell
InspectionOpen DateSICEstablishment Name
270117508/27/19857349Jerry Hargett & Sons Labor Service
InspectionOpen DateSICEstablishment Name
270113408/27/19857349Industrial Sewer Service Inc Roto Rooter
AT APPROXIMATELY 4 PM ON AUGUST 20, 1985, A PRESSURE BUILDUP IN THE REACTOR IN BUILDING NUMBER 14 CAUSED A SAFETY VALVE TO RUPTURE. THE REACTOR, WHICH CONTAINED BISPHENOL A (BPA) AND PHOSGENE GAS, VENTED THROUGHT THE SAFETY VALVE AND INTO LINES LEADING TO AN EMERGENCY SCRUBBER. THE PHOSGENE GAS LEAKED AROUND SOME LOOSE BOLTS IN A FLANGE ON THE LINE LEADING TO THE SCRUBBER. CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL WHO HAD WORKED ON THE LINE A FEW WEEKS AGO HAD NOT ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED THE FLANGE BOLTS. FIVE EMPLOYEES WERE EXPOSED TO THE LEAKING PHOSGENE GAS. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS ON HIS WAY TO BUILDING 45 TO QUIT WORK FOR THE DAY. HE WAS PROCEEDING ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF BUILDING 14 TO WARN OTHER EMPLOYEES TO EVACUATE THE AREA. EMPLOYEE #2 DROVE A VEHICLE THROUGH THE PHOSGENE CLOUD AND THEN ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF BUILDING 14 TO ANOTHER PART OF THE PLANT. EMPLOYEES #3 AND #4 WERE LOCATED ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF BUILDING 14, CLEANING A SEWER LINE. EMPLOYEE #5 WAS LOCATED AT THE SOUTH DOCK OF BUILDING 14, PUTTING HIS TOOLS AWAY AND QUITTING WORK FOR THE DAY. ALL FIVE EMPLOYEES WERE KEPT OVERNIGHT AT THE PLANT'S MEDICAL FACILITY AND OBSERVED BY THE PLANT'S PHYSICIAN. THE FIVE EMPLOYEES SUSTAINED NO INJURIES OR ILLNESSES AS A RESULT OF THEIR EXPOSURE TO PHOSGENE GAS.
Keywords: respiratory, toxic atmosphere, inhalation, valve, phosgene, rupture, gas leak
Employee # Inspection Age Sex Degree Nature Occupation
1 2701134 Hospitalized injury Poisoning(Systemic) Janitors and cleaners
2 2701100 Hospitalized injury Poisoning(Systemic) Engineering technicians, n.e.c.
3 2701126 Hospitalized injury Poisoning(Systemic) Mechanical engineers
4 2701175 Hospitalized injury Poisoning(Systemic) Janitors and cleaners
5 2701134 Hospitalized injury Poisoning(Systemic) Janitors and cleaners

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