FILTER SUPPLY CORPORATION

CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING

AT ABOUT 8:30 AM ON NOVEMBER 11, 1985, EMPLOYEE #5 STARTED TO UNLOAD A LOAD OF S TEEL AT THE PLANT LOADING DOCK. HE WAS USING A GASOLINE POWERED CLARK FORKLIFT ( MODEL NUMBER C50030, SERIAL NUMBER 235-390-4306). ANOTHER TRUCK ARRIVED WITH A L OAD OF CARDBOARD BOXES TO BE UNLOADED, AND THEN ANOTHER TRUCK TO PICK UP A LOAD OF FLOOR DRY. EMPLOYEE #5 USED THE CLARK FORKLIFT TO WORK ON LOADING OR UNLOADIN G ALL THESE TRUCKS. AFTER ABOUT 3 HOURS EMPLOYEE #5 CAME DOWN WITH AN INTENSE HE ADACHE AND WENT TO THE LUNCH ROOM. THE SUPERVISOR (EMPLOYEE #1) PLACED A WETTED CLOTH ON EMPLOYEE #1'S FOREHEAD. EMPLOYEE #1 THEN SAT IN A CHAIR WITH HIS HEAD I N HIS ARMS, RESTING ON A LUNCHROOM TABLE. EMPLOYEE #8 ALSO BEGAN GETTING SICK FR OM THE CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES. EMPLOYEE #5 NEARLY FELL OUT OF HIS CHAIR AND WAS A SSISTED TO THE FLOOR. EMPLOYEE #1 PHONED THE MAIN OFFICE FOR ASSISTANCE. THE PER SON SHE ASKED FOR WAS NOT IN, SO SHE CONTACTED THE EMPLOYER NEXT DOOR TO HELP CA RRY EMPLOYEE #5 OUT OF THE BUILDING. HE WAS TAKEN TO THE OFFICE NEXT DOOR. EMPLO YEE #5 EVENTUALLY TURNED BLUE AND PASSED OUT. EMPLOYEE #8 WAS GETTING SICKER, SO SHE WAS ALSO ASSISTED. A LOCAL AMBULANCE COMPANY WAS CALLED AND A TOTAL OF FIVE EMPLOYEES TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. THEY WERE GIVEN OXYGEN, AND BLOO D TESTS WERE TAKEN. THE DOCTOR STATED THAT THE CARBON MONOXIDE LEVEL IN THEIR BL OOD WAS BETWEEN 17 AND 20 MG %.