Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 997346 - 5 WORKERS KILLED, 9 INJURED WHEN EXPOSED TO HYDROGEN CYANIDE

Accident Summary Nr: 997346 -- Report ID: 0551800 -- Event Date: 06/28/1988
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
104009105	06/28/1988	3471	0	Bastian Plating Company, Inc.

Abstract: WHEN A HOLDING TANK, 5 FEET LONG, 4 FEET WIDE AND 5 FEET HIGH, AND WHICH PREVIOUSLY CONTAINED ZINC CYANIDE, WAS CLEANED, THE CLEANING EMPLOYEES APPARENLY USED SOME KIND OF ACID. THE RESULTING CHEMICAL REACTION PRODUCED HYDROGEN CYANIDE IN THE TANK. THE FIVE EMPLOYEES WHO ENTERED THE TANK ALL DIED; THE FIRST FOUR IMMEDIATELY AND THE FIFTH 2 1/2 DAYS LATER. NINE OTHER EMPLOYEES WERE ALSO AFFECTED BY THE HYDROGEN CYANIDE, ALTHOUGH ONLY TWO REQUIRED HOSPITALIZATION.

Keywords: RESPIRATORY, CONFINED SPACE, WORK RULES, CLEANING, INHALATION, TANK CLEANING, CHEMICAL REACTION, TANK, CYANIDE, CHEMICAL

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	104009105	Non Hospitalized injury	Poisoning(Systemic)	Managers and administrators, n.e.c
2	104009105	Non Hospitalized injury	Poisoning(Systemic)	Supervisors, production occupations
3	104009105	Non Hospitalized injury	Poisoning(Systemic)	Chemical technicians
4	104009105	Non Hospitalized injury	Poisoning(Systemic)	Metal plating machine operators
5	104009105	Non Hospitalized injury	Poisoning(Systemic)	Metal plating machine operators
6	104009105	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Metal plating machine operators
7	104009105	Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Metal plating machine operators
8	104009105	Fatality	Asphyxia	Metal plating machine operators
9	104009105	Fatality	Asphyxia	Metal plating machine operators
10	104009105	Fatality	Asphyxia	Metal plating machine operators
11	104009105	Fatality	Asphyxia	Metal plating machine operators
12	104009105	Fatality	Asphyxia	Metal plating machine operators
13	104009105	Non Hospitalized injury	Poisoning(Systemic)	Occupation not reported
14	104009105	Non Hospitalized injury	Poisoning(Systemic)	Metal plating machine operators

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