On December 26, 1989, Employee #1 was attempting to replace a leaking oil valve on a minus 30-degree freezer when a tank inside the freezer exploded. The company uses anhydrous ammonia to manufacture ice cream. The liquid ice cream mixture (at 50 degrees) is added to the tank. When the liquid ammonia changes to a […]
An oil separator on a two-stage ammonia refrigeration system became overpressurized and exploded, killing Employee #1. While looking for Employee #1 after the accident, Employee #2 fell into a drain. Ammonia that had been uncovered as a result of the explosion had flowed into the drain. Employee #2 was hospitalized.
At approximately 3:15 pm on May 9, 1986, employees started to charge the number 1 line Carbo-Cooler, using a cylinder containing 150 pounds of anhydrous ammonia at 129 psi (room temperature). Employee #1, in an effort to speed the charging process, was running hot water (132 degrees F) over the ammonia cylinder (to raise the internal
A pressure vessel in an ammonia refrigerator system at an ice plant ruptured under pressure of 170 psi. The explosion caused extensive physical damage and released dense clouds of ammonia gas. Employees #1 through 4 died of acute ammonia inhalation.
Employee #1 was exposed to ammonia gas on November 20, 1984, during an ammonia leak from refrigeration piping in a compressor room. A threaded joint weakened due to excess vibration and cracked. When it failed, ammonia was released. An unapproved gas mask was used by the employee. Employee #1 died the following December 16th from
Car Seal programs have gained some attention in the refrigeration industry over the years, but there is still a significant debate over whether such a program is needed in the industry. A past incident at a client’s facility and the root cause of that incident shine a bright light on the need for a Car Seal
Although this serious injury incident occurred at a car wash, the decision of the OSHRC on guarding the chain conveyor and the workers having to work around it due to a change in work practices is an interesting take on “exposure to a hazard”. If you have ever gone to a car wash that requires
AED’s have become extremely popular in the past decade; they are in just about all public places like airports, government buildings, and many private businesses. These devices require little to no official training, as the device’s computer walks the user through the entire process of saving a life. But these devices do NOT last forever!
This video was one of my “Video of the Week” videos from years ago, but since I get so many request for it I posted it in the PRCS section.
At 3:00 p.m. on January 11, 2018, an employee was working with two coworkers with clearing a blockage in the product discharge system in the Polypropylene Unit. The employee and coworkers opened the process piping at a sample catching location and a flash fire occurred. The employee who made the line opening received first and
The company retained a contractor to provide industrial cleaning services at the plant. An employee of the cleaning service was working alone, cleaning the area around various injection molding machines. The worker approached the robot cage at an injection molding machine, intending to enter for cleaning purposes. Two robots located inside the cage pick, trim
