Inspection Detail

Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA

Inspection: 18815621 - Westvaco Corporation Fine Papers Division

Inspection Information - Office: Maryland Hlth Reg 1

Nr: 18815621	Report ID: 0352450	Open Date: 11/19/1987

Westvaco Corporation Fine Papers Division
500 Pratt Street Luke, MD 21540		Union Status: Union
SIC: 2631/Paperboard Mills
Mailing: 300 Pratt Street, Luke, MD 21562

Inspection Type:	Accident
Scope:	Partial	Advanced Notice:	N
Ownership:	Private
Safety/Health:	Health	Close Conference:	12/11/1987
Planning Guide:	Health-Manufacturing	Close Case:	12/28/1987

Related Activity:	Type	ID	Safety	Health
	Accident	360751580

	Inspection		Degree	Nature	Occupation
Accident Investigation Summary
Summary Nr: 14196554		Event: 11/05/1987	Employee Exposed To Chlorine Dioxide Gas
EMPLOYEE #1 WAS THE OPERATOR OF A CHLORINE DIOXIDE TANK. CHLORINE DIOXIDE IS MANUFACTURED IN THIS BUILDING AND THEN PIPED TO THE BLEACH ROOM. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS IN THE OPERATOR'S ROOM WHEN HE HEARD A NOISE. HE LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW AND SAW THAT CHLORINE DIOXIDE HAD SPILLED ONTO THE FLOOR. HE GRABBED A SCOTT AIRPAK AND LEFT THE BUILDING. AFTER ALERTING THE PULP MILL SUPERVISOR, HE RETURNED TO THE BUILDING AND SAW THAT A 3 INCH CHLORINE DIOXIDE LINE HAD RUPTURED. HE ENTERED THE BUILDING AND SHUT OFF THE VALVE TO THE RUPTURED LINE. DURING THE EXERTION TO CLOSE THE VALVE, CHLORINE DIOXIDE GAS LEAKED INTO THE SCOTT AIRPAK. THE KYNAR-LINED STEEL PIPE WHICH HAD RUPTURED RELEASED 7,000 GALLONS OF CHLORINE DIOXIDE BEFORE THE VALVE COULD BE CLOSED. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS TRANSPORTED TO CUMBERLAND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, OBSERVED AND RELEASED. HE SUFFERED MINOR RESPIRATORY IRRITATION. THE PIPE, WHICH WAS SCHEDULED FOR REPLACEMENT, HAD SIMPLY DETERIORATED AND FAILED. EMPLOYEE #1 HAD BEEN TRAINED ON THE USE OF THE SCOTT AIRPAK (THE AIRPAK USED WAS OF THE DEMAND TYPE).
Keywords: ppe, inhalation, rupture, chlorine dioxide, pipe, toxic fumes, chemical, respirator
1	18815621		Non Hospitalized injury	Other	Miscellaneous plant and system operators

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Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA