On January 2, 2007, John L. Dorton, instrumentation/electrical (IE) technician, age 37, was fatally injured when he opened a valve in the piping system of a vacuum monitoring line and hydrogen fluoride discharged onto his face. Dorton was not wearing a respirator or face shield when he opened the valve in preparation for unplugging the stem.
The accident occurred because management failed to establish procedures to ensure that IE technicians could safely work on vacuum monitoring lines. The procedures provided to IE technicians did not require them to wear a respirator or face shield to protect them from hydrogen fluoride exposure. Additionally, the established procedures did not require the IE technicians to use the special wash out tool designed to seal around the clean out drill bit and prevent pressure or hydrogen fluoride from escaping during the clean out procedure.
Fatality #1 - January 2, 2007
METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On January 2, 2007, a 37 year-old instrument technician, with 2½ years experience, was fatally injured at an alumina operation. The victim partially opened a ball valve in an access pipe in preparation for maintenance. Hydrogen fluoride discharged from the pipe onto his face. He was hospitalized and died several hours later.
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health
REPORT OF INVESTIGATION
Surface Metal Mill
(Alumina)
Fatal Other Accident
January 2, 2007
Alcoa World Alumina Atlantic
Bayer Alumina Plant
Point Comfort, Calhoun County, Texas
Mine ID No. 41-00320
Investigators
Brian P. Goepfert
Supervisory Mine Safety and Health Inspector
Emilio Perales
Mine Safety and Health Inspector