Employees #1 and #5 through #7 were near the chlorine unloading area at a
bleach plant when the gasket of a recently-installed vaporizer failed,
releasing between 500 and 700 gallons of liquid chlorine. When Employees
#1 and #7 went to investigate the extent and location of the leak, they
found an overwhelming concentration of the chemical. They were not
using SCBAs, nor was Employee #6, who used the wrong escape route.
Employee #5, the bleach plant operator, attempted to find and assist
Employee #6. Employees #2 through #4 attempted to shut down the
vaporizer system but they did not know the location of the one critical
shut-off valve, and the key person was not immediately available to
help. Employees #1 through #7 suffered chemical burns from inhaling the
chlorine fumes; all were hospitalized except for Employee #2.
Source:osha.gov
Source:osha.gov
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