Translate
Inspection Detail
Inspection: 102809464 - Mccarthy Brothers Ice Cream Company, Incorporated
Inspection Information - Office: Boston South Area Office
Site Address:
Mccarthy Brothers Ice Cream Company, Incorporated
205 Commercial Street
Whitman, MA 02382
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 151, Whitman, MA 02382
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:2024
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Safety
Close Conference: 01/19/1990
Planning Guide: Safety-Manufacturing
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 11/08/1990
| Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accident | 360388144 | ||
| Referral | 901336206 | Yes |
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 6 | 6 | ||||
| Current Violations | 6 | 6 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $6,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $6,000 |
| Current Penalty | $3,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $3,000 |
| FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001 | Serious | 5A0001 | 02/26/1990 | 03/19/1990 | $500 | $1,000 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
| 2. | 01002 | Serious | 5A0001 | 02/26/1990 | 05/20/1990 | $500 | $1,000 | $0 | P - Petition to Mod Abatement | ||
| 3. | 01003 | Serious | 19100132 A | 02/26/1990 | 04/20/1990 | $500 | $1,000 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
| 4. | 01004 | Serious | 19100133 A01 | 02/26/1990 | 04/20/1990 | $500 | $1,000 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement | ||
| 5. | 01005 | Serious | 19100134 A02 | 02/26/1990 | 05/20/1990 | $500 | $1,000 | $0 | P - Petition to Mod Abatement | ||
| 6. | 01006 | Serious | 19100151 C | 02/26/1990 | 04/20/1990 | $500 | $1,000 | $0 | I - Informal Settlement |
Investigation Summary
On December 26, 1989, Employee #1 was attempting to replace a leaking oil valve on a minus 30-degree freezer when a tank inside the freezer exploded. The company uses anhydrous ammonia to manufacture ice cream. The liquid ice cream mixture (at 50 degrees) is added to the tank. When the liquid ammonia changes to a gas, the liquid ice cream mixture becomes solid. As the ammonia gas pressure builds up inside the tank, it is sucked out in a suction line and directed through the system. This freezer was down for seven days and the oil inside the tank had congealed. Normal weekly maintenance requires the removal of used oil through the oil valve. Employee #1 closed all valve lines and used steam to loosen the thick oil. The steam caused pressure to build up inside the tank and with no relief valve, the tank exploded. When the tank exploded, Employee #1 was killed. Employee #2 was approximately 10 feet away and was hospitalized with burns to his eyes. Employee #3 was in an adjacent room and was injured when he inhaled the ammonia vapors.
Keywords: BURN, EYE, LUNG, MAINTENANCE, SHOCK, AMMONIA, EXPLOSION, TOXIC FUMES, FREEZER COMPARTMENT, PRESSURE RELEASE
| # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 102809464 | Non Hospitalized injury | Other | Occupation not reported | ||
| 2 | 102809464 | Hospitalized injury | Burn(Chemical) | Occupation not reported | ||
| 3 | 102809464 | Fatality | Other | Occupation not reported |