Accident Report Detail
Accident: 14498158 - One Employee Killed, 2 Injured When Reactor Exploded
Accident: 14498158 -- Report ID: 0626600 -- Event Date: 01/09/1988 | |||||||
Inspection | Open Date | SIC | Establishment Name | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
102300654 | 01/12/1988 | 1741 | Archem Co. | ||||
EMPLOYEE #1 AND OTHER EMPLOYEE(S) HAD CHARGED REACTOR "B", A 2000 GALLON 304 STAINLESS STEEL PRESSURE VESSEL, WITH METHANOL, CAUSTIC, AND ORTHO-NITROCHLOROBENZENE. THE EMPLOYEES WERE PRESSURIZING THE REACTOR WITH NITROGEN WHEN A DETONATION OCCURRED. APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 MINUTES AFTER THE REACTOR HAD BEEN CHARGED WITH ALL THE RAW MATERIALS THE PRESSURE RELIEF SYSTEM RELEASED WITH EXPLOSIVE FORCE. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS KILLED, WHILE EMPLOYEES #2 & 3 WERE HOSPITALIZED WITH SERIOUS INJURIES. | |||||||
Keywords:
methyl alcohol, reactor, pressure vessel, explosion, chemical reaction, high pressure, struck by, pressure release, chemical
| |||||||
Employee # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree | Nature | Occupation | |
1 | 102300654 | Fatality | Other | Occupation not reported | |||
2 | 102300654 | Hospitalized injury | Fracture | Occupation not reported | |||
3 | 102300654 | Hospitalized injury | Burn(Chemical) | Occupation not reported |