On June 29, 2005, Employee #1 was involved in the following the maintenance activities in the Chloropyridines Complex at the employer’s chemical manufacturing facility. Employee #1 was returning a reactor vessel to service. He was attempting to do a pressure and leak test using chlorine gas. The pipe was supposed to be pressure tested with nitrogen gas during the previous shift. During the test Employee #1 noticed that a valve leading from the reactor vessel was closed. When Employee #1 opened the valve, chlorine gas began to escape from a loose downstream flange. About 180 pounds of chlorine was released. Employee #1 returned to close the valve without donning respiratory protection and inhaled chlorine gas. Employee #1 was hospitalized for more than 24 hours for acute chemical exposure. Employee #2, a contractor employee, was escaping from the released chlorine gas and suffered an asthma attack. Employee #2 was treated and released the same day.
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Violation Summary
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total | |
| Initial Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Current Violations | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $18,000 | $18,000 | ||||
| Current Penalty | $18,000 | $18,000 | ||||
| Violation Items | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | ID | Type | Standard | Issuance | Abate | Curr$ | Init$ | Fta$ | |
| 1. | 01001 | Serious | 5189 F01 A | 12/16/2005 | 12/29/2005 | $18,000 | $18,000 | $0 | |
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