Inspection Detail

Inspection: 309522803 - Perdue Farms Incorporated

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

Investigation Summary

On December 13, 2005, Employee #1, a truck driver, arrived at offloading point with a tanker truck loaded with Sodium Chlorite Solution. After making contact with security personnel, the employee made contact with wastewater operators at the site. One of the wastewater operators reviewed the bill of laden and advised the employee that they were expecting the product and showed him where to connect his hoses to offload the product within a vessel in the wastewater building. The connection was made and after one of the wastewater operators reconfirmed and certified that the contents of the truck were suitably hooked to the appropriate vessel. Employee #1 began pumping the contents from his truck to the vessel. The vessel contained Ferric Chloride Solution and when the Sodium Chlorite Solution began mixing with the other chemical, a reaction occurred and generated an abundance of heat and pressure. This resulted in an explosion and chemicals rained on two of the wastewater operators, covering them with caustic liquids. They were immediately showered with emergency wash at the site, sent to the local hospital, and treated for minor respiratory irritation.

Keywords: LOADING, RESPIRATORY, HEAT, PRESSURE VESSEL, WASTE PROC FAC, EXPLOSION, TRUCK, TRUCK DRIVER, WATER