The resin plant was a six-story, open-sided structure, approximately 100 feet wide and 400 feet long, which sat approximately 50 feet east of the phosgene plant. A street separated the two plants, but they were connected physically by a pipe rack, which held phosgene-conveying pipes. On May 22, 1996, a number of employees were working on the second-floor mezzanine of the resin plant, removing a caustic line so that they could install a heat exchanger for the caustic scrubber system. While they were working, low levels of phosgene vented back through the caustic line. After the phosgene release was detected, the employees evacuated the resin plant. The company did not provide emergency escape respirators for the employees in the resin plant, and none of the employees who evacuated the plant were wearing respirators. After evacuation, the on-site physician examined 11 employees and referred them to a hospital where they were examined further and provided prophylactic treatment. Eight employees stayed overnight for observation and were released the next day.
Source:OSHA.gov
No comments:
Post a Comment