Inspection Detail

Inspection: 300688868 - Frito-Lay Inc

Inspection Information - Office: Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation Division Of Labor And Industry Maryland Occupational Safety And Health

Investigation Summary

The operator of the corn cook room had left for lunch before Employee #1 entered to collect inventory readings. He noticed that a 1 1/2 gallon, hand-held, pressurized spray container normally used to apply a strong acid for sanitation, was emitting a yellow mist. Employee #1 was leaving the room when the bottle ruptured and he was struck by a flying rubber hose. In addition, seven coworkers were taken to the hospital for observation, in case they had been exposed to the acid. All were released without treatment. It is believed that the container had been previously used by a painting contractor at the site, who had stored an organic solvent in it. Mixing the two compounds had resulted in an exothermic reaction, which increased the internal pressure of the container above its design capacity.

Keywords: WORK RULES, HOSE, RUPTURE, CHEMICAL REACTION, HIGH PRESSURE, STRUCK BY, FLYING OBJECT, CHEMICAL, HIGH TEMPERATURE