Incident date: 2017-03-28
NAICS industry code: 238220

An employee was using a hot tap device to drill a pilot hole into a steel pipe that had green liquor flowing through it. After drilling the pilot hole, the employee was attempting to withdraw the drill bit/holder beyond the ball valve, so the valve could be closed. While the employee was withdrawing the shaft, a coworker was trying to close the valve, but could not get the valve handle to turn. The employee continued to pull the drill bit out of the piping until the shaft came out of the device, allowing green liquor to spray him and burn his chest and side.

Hazard classification:
code_event: title: Exposure through intact skin, eyes, or other exposed tissue
code_source: title: Chemicals and chemical products, n.e.c.
code_nature: title: Chemical burns and corrosions, unspecified
code_body: title: Chest, except internal location of diseases or disorders
severity: moderate