At approximately 9:45 p.m. on November 4, 2003, a maintenance employee went to the chlorine house to turn on the chlorination system. The chlorine house measured 3 feet, 10-inches wide by 5 feet, 10-inches long and was approximately 10-feet high. The water lines ran through a hole in the block wall. The hole in the block wall lead directly from the chlorine house into the chemical room. The hole was approximately 12 inches wide by 10-inches high.
The maintenance employee stated that when he cracked the chlorine valve, he noticed the seal was leaking. He ran out of the chlorine house, about 20 feet away, caught his breath, collected his thoughts, and then went to the maintenance shop to get a respirator.
He returned to the chlorine house, entering an unknown released concentration of chlorine, and shut the valve off. The maintenance employee fixed the seal and a lead washer and turned the chlorine valve back on. The maintenance worker returned to the maintenance shop to put the respirator away.
He then saw Employee #1 approximately 30 feet away, acting very bazaar. The maintenance employee then went to the picking room where he felt chlorine gas burning his eyes. He and another maintenance employee went to get water hoses and started spraying the Picking Room down with water for about 10 minutes.
The chlorine odor had gotten stronger in the Mechanical Room so Employee #1, with the help of Employee #2 decided to open the roll up door for air.
Employee #1 then asked for someone to summon emergency personnel because he needed oxygen. As he was being helped outside, he collapsed. He was given oxygen by the night superintendent. The night superintendent then noticed that Employee #1 didn’t have a pulse or heartbeat and began to administer CPR.
Employee #1 was transported to Duplin General Hospital along with Employees #2 and #3.
Employee #2 was coughing and Employee #3 was also bothered by the chlorine gas vapors.
Employee #1 died of asphyxia and Employee’s #2 and #3 were hospitalized.
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 6 | 3 | 9 | |||
| Current Violations | 6 | 3 | 9 | |||
| Initial Penalty | $6,125 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $6,125 |
| Current Penalty | $3,500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $3,500 |
| FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 01001 | Serious | 19100120 Q01 | 03/10/2004 | 04/26/2004 | $700 | $875 | $0 | 04/28/2004 | F – Formal Settlement | |
| 2. | 01002 | Serious | 19100120 Q06 I | 03/10/2004 | 04/26/2004 | $0 | $875 | $0 | 04/28/2004 | F – Formal Settlement | |
| 3. | 01003 | Serious | 19100120 Q06 IIIA | 03/10/2004 | 04/26/2004 | $0 | $875 | $0 | 04/28/2004 | F – Formal Settlement | |
| 4. | 01004A | Serious | 19100134 A01 | 03/10/2004 | 04/26/2004 | $1,400 | $1,750 | $0 | 04/28/2004 | F – Formal Settlement | |
| 5. | 01004B | Serious | 19100134 E01 | 03/10/2004 | 04/26/2004 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 04/28/2004 | F – Formal Settlement | |
| 6. | 01004C | Serious | 19100134 F02 | 03/10/2004 | 04/26/2004 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 04/28/2004 | F – Formal Settlement | |
| 7. | 01004D | Serious | 19100134 G03 | 03/10/2004 | 04/26/2004 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 04/28/2004 | F – Formal Settlement | |
| 8. | 01004E | Serious | 19100134 H03 IB | 03/10/2004 | 04/26/2004 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 04/28/2004 | F – Formal Settlement | |
| 9. | 01005 | Serious | 19100151 B | 03/10/2004 | 04/26/2004 | $700 | $875 | $0 | 04/28/2004 | F – Formal Settlement | |
| 10. | 01006 | Serious | 19100151 C | 03/10/2004 | 04/26/2004 | $700 | $875 | $0 | 04/28/2004 | F – Formal Settlement | |
| 11. | 02001 | Other | 19100134 H01 III | 03/10/2004 | 04/26/2004 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 04/28/2004 | F – Formal Settlement | |
| 12. | 02002 | Other | 19100134 K01 VII | 03/10/2004 | 04/26/2004 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 04/28/2004 | F – Formal Settlement | |
| 13. | 02003 | Other | 19100134 L01 | 03/10/2004 | 04/26/2004 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 04/28/2004 | F – Formal Settlement |
Source: https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=306925876