OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14448039
ALBERT LEA ELECTROPLATING INC
ALBERT LEA, MN—
Event description
FELL INTO TANK CONTAINING SODIUM HYDROXIDE
Investigation abstract
ON FEBRUARY 6, 1985, EMPLOYEE #1, AN ELECTROPLATER, WAS PREPARING TO SHUT OFF OR ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE WAY ACROSS, HE SLIPPED AND FELL INTO THE TANK. HE WAS T OTALLY IMMERSED IN THE SODIUM HYDROXIDE SOLUTION. HE CLIMBED OUT AND GOT INTO TH E RINSE TANK AT THE SOUTH SIDE. ANOTHER EMPLOYEE SAW HIM FALL INTO THE TANK AND WENT TO ASSIST. HE HELPED EMPLOYEE #1 OUT OF THE RINSE TANK. SOME OTHER EMPLOYEE S GUIDED HIM TO THE SHOWER IN THE MEN'S ROOM AND REMOVED HIS CLOTHING. THE AMBUL ANCE ARRIVED AND HE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL. HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE S T. PAUL RAMSEY BURN UNIT. THE EMPLOYEE DIED ON FEBRUARY 19,1985. NO AUTOPSY WAS PERFORMED. THE FIRST REPORT INDICATED THAT HE HAD 2ND AND 3RD DEGREE BURNS ON 75 TO 80% OF HIS BODY. TURN DOWN A STEAM VALVE TO THE ELECTROCLEANER TANK ON THE ZINC PLATING LINE. A NEW TANK HAD BEEN INSTALLED THE DAY BEFORE, DUE TO A HOLE IN THE OLD TANK. THE T ANK WAS FILLED WITH ABOUT 1,600 GALLONS OF WATER AND A SODIUM HYDROXIDE SOLUTION . THE TRADE NAME IS METEX E-1726, MADE BY MACDERMID. INC., WATERBURY, CONNECTICU T. THE TANK IS 3 FEET WIDE, 12 FEET LONG AND 6 FEET DEEP. THE STEAM VALVE IS LOC ATED ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE TANK. THERE ARE TWELVE TANKS IN A ROW ON THIS ZINC LINE. A WOODEN CATWALK HAD YET TO BE INSTALLED ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE NEW TANK . EMPLOYEE #1 GOT UP ON THE LIP OF THE TANK AND TRIED TO GET TO THE STEAM VALVE.
Victim
-
#1 Fatality Age 45 M
- Nature of injury
- 4
- Part of body
- 4
- Event type
- 5
- Source
- 9
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 10
- Environmental factor
- 9
- Hazardous substance
- 2260
- Task assigned
- 1
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