Inspection Detail

Inspection: 101020386 - Himont U.S.A., Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Baton Rouge Area Office

Inspection Nr: 101020386

Report ID: 0625700

Date Opened: 02/04/1987

Site Address:
Himont U.S.A., Inc.
Cities Service Hwy. 108
Lake Charles, LA 70601

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 1687, Lake Charles, LA 70601

Union Status: Union

SIC:2821

NAICS: 0

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: Y

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 02/06/1987

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 03/31/1987

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	360135149

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	1					1
Current Violations	1					1
Initial Penalty	$560	$0	$0	$0	$0	$560
Current Penalty	$560	$0	$0	$0	$0	$560
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citaton Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	FTA Penalty	Contest	Latest Event	Note
1.	01001	Serious	19100145 C03	03/05/1987	03/08/1987	$560	$560	$0		-

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 14390983

Event: 02/03/1987

EMPLOYEE DIED OF OXYGEN DEFICIENCY IN NITROGEN ENRICHED AIR

EMPLOYEE #1 WAS PLACING PHENOLIC NAME TAGS ON TESTING INSTRUMENTS INSIDE THE GAS CHROMATOGRAPH ROOM AT K-LINE. THE K-LINE GAS CHROMATOGRAPH WAS ON A NITROGEN BACK-UP FOR INSTRUMENT AIR FOR ITS ANALYZERS TO KEEP THEM EXPLOSION-PROOF. AT THE TIME, THE ANALYZERS HAD 10 SCFM OF POSITIVE PRESSURE FROM THE INSTRUMENTS BEING PURGED INTO THE GAS CHROMATOGRAPH ROOM. THE GAS CHROMATOGRAPH ROOM'S ATMOSPHERE THEREFORE WAS NITROGEN ENRICHED WHEN EMPLOYEE #1 ENTERED TO PLACE THE TAGS. THE NITROGEN REPLACED THE OXYGEN IN THE ROOM'S ATMOSPHERE, CAUSING AN OXYGEN DEFICIENCY. EMPLOYEE #1 DIED OF A LACK OF OXYGEN.

Keywords: OXYGEN DEFICIENCY, RESPIRATORY, ASPHYXIATED, WORK RULES, TOXIC ATMOSPHERE, INHALATION, GAS, NITROGEN, PURGING, INATTENTION

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	101020386			Fatality	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported

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