Accident Report Detail

Accident: 127680.015 - Two Employees Are Asphyxiated In Sewer Line Manhole

**Accident: 127680.015 -- Report ID: 0626600 -- Event Date: 07/09/2020**
Inspection	Open Date	SIC	Establishment Name
1482885.015	07/10/2020		Kleen Environmental, Llc

At 11:30 a.m. on July 9, 2020, Employees #1 and #2 and their foreman, employed b y 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 t est the atmosphere before attempting to enter the manhole, which met the definit ion 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 w ater and was overcome by the release of water and sewer gases that included toxi c 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 b ottom of the manhole. The foreman was unable to rescue the employees. A 3M Con fined Space Tripod system was onsite but not set in place. Employee #1 and Empl oyee #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		Proj Type		Proj Cost	Stories	NonBldgHt	Fatality
Other heavy construction		Maintenance or repair					X

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree	Nature	Occupation	Construction
1	1482885.015	58	M	Fatality		Construction laborers	FallDist: FallHt: Cause: Other Activities-Installing Ornamental And Archite FatCause:
2	1482885.015	44	M	Fatality		Construction laborers	FallDist: FallHt: Cause: Other Activities-Installing Ornamental And Archite FatCause:

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