Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 127680.015 - Two employees are asphyxiated in sewer line manhole

Accident Summary Nr: 127680.015 -- Report ID: 0626600 -- Event Date: 07/09/2020
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
1482885.015	07/10/2020		562998	Kleen Environmental, Llc

Abstract: At 11:30 a.m. on July 9, 2020, Employees #1 and #2 and their foreman, employed by a waste management company, were installing a closed circuit television (CCTV) into an 8-inch sewer line to enable inspections in the manhole. They did not test the atmosphere before attempting to enter the manhole, which met the definition of confined space, and ventilation equipment was not available. Employee #1 entered the 12-foot deep manhole to remove a plug that controlled the flow of water and was overcome by the release of water and sewer gases that included toxic hydrogen sulfide. Employee #2 entered the manhole to provide assistance, was overcome by the sewer gases, and fell from the rope ladder he was using to the bottom of the manhole. The foreman was unable to rescue the employees. A 3M Confined Space Tripod system was onsite but not set in place. Employee #1 and Employee #2 both died in the manhole.

Keywords: Asphyxiated, Climbing on Ladder, Confined Space, Construction, Fall, Hydrogen Sulfide, Inspecting, Installing, Manhole, Overcome by gas, Oxygen Deficiency, Pipeline, Sewer, Toxic Atmosphere, Ventilation, Water Pipe

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Other heavy construction		Maintenance or repair					X

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	1482885.015	58	M	Fatality		Construction laborers	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Other Activities-Installing Ornamental And Archite Fatality Cause:
2	1482885.015	44	M	Fatality		Construction laborers	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Other Activities-Installing Ornamental And Archite Fatality Cause:

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