Jan. 25, 2010
DuPont Employee Dies from Phoegene Exposure
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Charleston, WV (HNN) – Carl Fish, who worked at the DuPont, Belle, WV plant for all of his life has died after an accident Saturday in which he was accidentally sprayed in the face with Phoegene. The chemical was used in World War I to “choke” soldiers on the battlefield.
Unfortunately, initial plant statements regarding hospital “observation” did not reveal the extent of his battle for survival. Fish endured a spray of phoegene to the face. Family members have told reporters that he either is, or has been, in a medically induced coma, on life support, and his body is swollen.
According to the CDC website, delayed effects from exposure take about 48 hours to occur. These include breathing difficulties, coughing up white to pink-tinged fluid (pulmonary edema), low blood pressure and possible heart failure. These symptoms may occur “even if the person feels better or appears well following removal from exposure. People who have been exposed to phosgene should be monitored for 48 hours.”
Kent Carper, Kanawha County Commissioner, on Sunday afternoon ordered the release of the 911 tape when plant security reported the employees injury. The security person did not inform first responders that the man had been exposed to a chemical.
The guard simply asked for an ambulance due to “a medical emergency,” indicating that the circumstances behind the call were not given to 911 responders. Therefore, first responders entered the plant without preparations for phoegene treatment.
Maya Nye, spokesperson for People Concerned About MIC, told HNN late Sunday evening:
“The community's first line of defense is the worker, and when workers are not being protected, no one else is either. There is no excuse for this kind of incident. It is obvious from the series of incidents that have occurred this week as well as the numerous other reports recently that safety is not a priority at the Dupont plant in Belle. I can only imagine what the poor man is suffering having been expose to one of the most deadly chemicals known to man. It was used as a chemical weapon (nerve agent) in WWII. My thoughts and prayers go out to the injured worker and his family. “
Referring to an earlier HNN report that related this chemical to the Bhopal disaster, Nye added, “incidents seem to be the premise of most chemical industry protocol,” referring to the Bhopal process (route) in which methylamine with phosgene to form MIC (methyl isocyanate), which was then reacted with 1-naphthol to form the final product, carbaryl.
The plant has voluntarily suspended production for a safety pause.
As of Sunday night, the following information has surfaced: (1) That OSHA and the Chemical Safety Board may inspect the plant (per the Charleston Gazette); and (2) that a small fire had been reported at the DuPont plant on Sunday evening.
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DuPont Employee Dies from Phoegene Exposure
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Charleston, WV (HNN) – Carl Fish, who worked at the DuPont, Belle, WV plant for all of his life has died after an accident Saturday in which he was accidentally sprayed in the face with Phoegene. The chemical was used in World War I to “choke” soldiers on the battlefield.
Unfortunately, initial plant statements regarding hospital “observation” did not reveal the extent of his battle for survival. Fish endured a spray of phoegene to the face. Family members have told reporters that he either is, or has been, in a medically induced coma, on life support, and his body is swollen.
According to the CDC website, delayed effects from exposure take about 48 hours to occur. These include breathing difficulties, coughing up white to pink-tinged fluid (pulmonary edema), low blood pressure and possible heart failure. These symptoms may occur “even if the person feels better or appears well following removal from exposure. People who have been exposed to phosgene should be monitored for 48 hours.”
Kent Carper, Kanawha County Commissioner, on Sunday afternoon ordered the release of the 911 tape when plant security reported the employees injury. The security person did not inform first responders that the man had been exposed to a chemical.
The guard simply asked for an ambulance due to “a medical emergency,” indicating that the circumstances behind the call were not given to 911 responders. Therefore, first responders entered the plant without preparations for phoegene treatment.
Maya Nye, spokesperson for People Concerned About MIC, told HNN late Sunday evening:
“The community's first line of defense is the worker, and when workers are not being protected, no one else is either. There is no excuse for this kind of incident. It is obvious from the series of incidents that have occurred this week as well as the numerous other reports recently that safety is not a priority at the Dupont plant in Belle. I can only imagine what the poor man is suffering having been expose to one of the most deadly chemicals known to man. It was used as a chemical weapon (nerve agent) in WWII. My thoughts and prayers go out to the injured worker and his family. “
Referring to an earlier HNN report that related this chemical to the Bhopal disaster, Nye added, “incidents seem to be the premise of most chemical industry protocol,” referring to the Bhopal process (route) in which methylamine with phosgene to form MIC (methyl isocyanate), which was then reacted with 1-naphthol to form the final product, carbaryl.
The plant has voluntarily suspended production for a safety pause.
As of Sunday night, the following information has surfaced: (1) That OSHA and the Chemical Safety Board may inspect the plant (per the Charleston Gazette); and (2) that a small fire had been reported at the DuPont plant on Sunday evening.
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