Inspection Detail

Inspection: 126477512 - Santee Print Works

Inspection Information - Office: Sc Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation

Investigation Summary

Employees #1, #2, and #3, a printer, inspector, and rotary operator, respectively, at a large textile finishing mill, were in an area with a 160 gallon capacity stainless steel tank containing 50 percent hydrogen peroxide used in the bleaching process. Apparently, the tank had become contaminated and had been sitting half-full and idle for a week when it exploded. All three employees were struck by flying debris. Employee #1 suffered leg fractures, Employee #2 sustained foot lacerations, and Employee #3 sustained puncture wounds on his hands. The source of contamination and the cause of the rupture could not be determined from the evidence that remained after the explosion. The tank had one feed line, a dispensing line going in, and an overflow vent on top. This bleaching process had been in production for a year.

Keywords: FRACTURE, HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, WORK RULES, EXPLOSION, LACERATION, CHEMICAL REACTION, STRUCK BY, FLYING OBJECT, TANK, LEG