OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #170882419
CHEVROLET MOTOR DIV
Massena, NY—
Event description
Two employees exposed to ethylene oxide
Investigation abstract
On May 2, 1994, Employees #1 and #2 were assigned to change gas cylinders at an nding in the main hall and entered the area to inform all employees to leave. Em ployees #1 and #2 were exposed to EtO gas through inhalation and skin absorption . They were sent to the county emergency room for treatment and documentation of exposure after reporting the incident to their supervisor. acute care hospital where on-site sterilization of surgical instruments is condu cted using ethylene oxide (EtO) gas mixed with freon. When Central Services call ed Plant Management to change the EtO cylinders only, Employees #1 and #2 though t there was a mistake in the request and responded to the site to change tanks. They were not trained in the procedure for changing EtO tanks. Two attempts were made to turn off the tanks to remove them from the area before the two employee s stated that they did not have the proper tools to remove the tanks. They learn ed of their exposure from the Central Service Manager after she heard alarms sou
Victims (2)
-
#1 Non-hospitalized injury Age 50 M
- Nature of injury
- 22
- Part of body
- 31
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 19
- Occupation code
- 869
- Human factor
- 4
- Environmental factor
- 9
- Hazardous substance
- 1191
- Task assigned
- 2
-
#2 Non-hospitalized injury Age 52 M
- Nature of injury
- 22
- Part of body
- 31
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 19
- Occupation code
- 869
- Human factor
- 4
- Environmental factor
- 9
- Hazardous substance
- 1191
- Task assigned
- 2
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