Exposure through intact tissue · Chemical burns, corrosions degree unspecified
At a glance
Federal OSHA recorded a severe workplace injury
at DUREZ CORPORATION, 5000 PACKARD ROAD, NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK 14304
on — Chemical burns, corrosions degree unspecified, affecting the Multiple body parts n.e.c..
Final narrative
An employee was hooking up a chemical hose to an air diaphragm pump when the discharge air disconnected the hose from the pump. The employee was splashed with distillate byproduct (95% water and 3% or less phenol-formaldehyde) on their face, wrist, forearm, right knee, and right side of their stomach. The employee was hospitalized for chemical burns.
Hospitalized Multiple body parts n.e.c. Multiple flammable and combustible liquids and solids
An employee was descending an exterior ladder from the second floor to the mezzanine level. The employee's leg slipped through the rungs of the ladder; he fell backward and sustained a leg fracture and knee injury that required surgery. The employee was hospitalized.
An employee was clearing powder from a clogged dust collector on a grinder and suffered a partial amputation of the right index fingertip from the moving rotary valve feeder/air lock at the bottom of the hopper. The machine was not locked out at the time.
An employee was attempting to dislodge a blockage from the transfer line. The steam was shut off, but pressure remained in the line. When the blockage was dislodged, hot resin (200 degrees Celsius) sprayed down into the drum and onto the employee's face and neck. The employee was hospitalized with burns to the face and neck.
After cleaning a process kettle with methanol and water, an employee emptied the tank and filled it with phenol. The employee then began to remove the plug and was splashed with phenol, suffering chemical burns to the right thigh, stomach, and face.
An employee was removing a hose from a chemical tank after filling the tank with hexamethylenediamine (HMD). He checked the line to ensure that the hose was clear, then disconnected the hose at the connection. Residual chemical sprayed onto his face, causing a second-degree burn. He was hospitalized.
A shipping/receiving operator was working on a loading rack, loading a railcar. A 2-inch discharge cap failed and released pressure along with sulfuric acid from the railcar. The acid sprayed onto the employee, who suffered burns to the chest and the lower facial area. The employee was hospitalized.
An employee was pressure washing truck scales when they were splashed with water and an unknown chemical on their leg and immediately experienced a burning sensation. The employee was hospitalized with a chemical burn and required surgery.
An employee was on a ladder disconnecting a 1-inch hose, known to have last carried acrylic acid that had been drained. When the hose was disconnected, residual acid dripped onto the employee's shoulder/arm area, causing a second-degree chemical burn.
Employees were removing scaffolding that was used to repair an ion exchange tank. The line was undergoing the regen process when a piece of scaffold struck a PVC pipe that transported hydrochloric acid (HCl). The injured employee was placing material inside a scaffold rack when he was sprayed in the face with HCl and sustained chemical burns to his eyes, face, chest, right arm, and left leg.
More severe injuries in this industry (NAICS 325211)
An employee was monitoring a rotary press when his left hand became caught in the machinery. The employee's left middle finger was amputated at the distal interphalangeal joint.
An employee was sweeping in an area with powdered PVC on the floor and began having difficulty breathing and coughing up blood, The employee was hospitalized for inhalation of PVC.
An employee was working on a pastillator machine, which processes resin-based materials into solid pastilles. His right hand became caught between the feed roller (operating at approximately 350 F) and the cooling belt. The employee s glove and shirt sleeve adhered to his arm due to the heat. The employee sustained third-degree burns to his right hand and forearm, requiring hospitalization and surgery.
An employee was troubleshooting a leak on a low pressure (less than 50 PSI) condensate line in the oxidation area of the plant. He was working to remove insulation around a valve when either the valve or the line failed, and hot condensate contacted his right arm, right abdomen area, and the front of both legs, resulting in second- and third-degree burns.
An employee was replacing a fan on a cooling unit. As he went to adjust a pump, the unit caught his right hand and the fan blades severely lacerated his index finger. He underwent a medical amputation to the finger.
An employee was operating a battery-powered broom to clean demolition debris off the top of the outermost bridge girder. The girder was approximately 11 feet above the demolition scaffold below. The employee fell approximately 8 feet to wind bracing below. The employee was hospitalized with a pelvis/tailbone fracture. Fall protection was in place at the time.
An employee slipped while descending in a stairwell, fell, and suffered multiple contusions/bruises to the head, neck, shoulders, knees, and back. She was hospitalized.
An employee was directing trucks as they entered and left a highway work zone. A vehicle struck them, resulting in multiple fractures and other injuries. The employee was hospitalized.