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Inspection Detail

Inspection: 109327148 - Merrill Security, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Omaha Area Office

 

Inspection Nr: 109327148
Report ID: 0728900
Date Opened: 08/19/1994

Site Address:
Merrill Security, Inc.
650 Industrial Park Drive
Blair, NE 68008

Mailing Address:
Rr 3, Albia, IA 52531

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:7381

NAICS: 0 

Inspection Type: Unprog Rel

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Health

Close Conference: 09/01/1994

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 01/05/1995

Related Activity
Type Activity Nr Safety Health
Referral 901949164 Yes
Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties Serious Willful Repeat Other Unclass Total
Initial Violations 3 3
Current Violations 2 1 3
Initial Penalty $3,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $3,000
Current Penalty $1,800 $0 $0 $0 $0 $1,800
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 Other 19100157 G02 11/02/1994 12/05/1994 $0 $1,000 $0 I - Informal Settlement  
2. 01002 Serious 19101200 E01 11/02/1994 01/06/1995 $900 $1,000 $0 I - Informal Settlement  
3. 01003 Serious 19101200 H01 11/02/1994 01/06/1995 $900 $1,000 $0 I - Informal Settlement  

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 14419550
Event: 08/18/1994
Six employees suffer from anhydrous ammonia inhalation

Between 8:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. on August 17, 1994, a terminal operator for Agricultural Minerals arranged for anhydrous ammonia to be pumped from the pipeline into two 30,000 gallon anhydrous ammonia pressure vessels (bullets) at the anhydrous ammonia and liquid fertilizer terminal. The high level shut-off switch had been disconnected since July 27, 1994. At about 3:00 a.m. on August 18, 1994, while the terminal operator was working in the compressor room, the bullets were overfilled and an emergency relief valve released about 1,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia into the air. The ammonia cloud drifted southward onto another property, where a Cargill, Inc., ethanol plant was under construction. As a result, Employee #1 of Merrill Security, Inc., and Employees #2 through #6 of Ryan & Associates (a piping contractor), were sent to Blair Memorial Community Hospital where they received oxygen as first aid for respiratory irritation. Another 18 employees of Ryan Associates were evaluated and released.

Keywords: RESPIRATORY, TOXIC ATMOSPHERE, AIR CONTAMINATION, PRESSURE VESSEL, ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE, WORK RULES, INHALATION, OVEREXPOSURE, CONSTRUCTION, ANHYDROUS AMMONIA

Investigated Inspection
# Inspection Age Sex Degree of Injury Nature of Injury Occupation
1 109327148 Non Hospitalized injury Burn(Chemical) Occupation not reported
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