Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 14511547 - EMPLOYEE ENTERED TANK FILLED WITH NITROGEN; WAS ASPHYXIATED

Accident Summary Nr: 14511547 -- Report ID: 0625400 -- Event Date: 01/25/1986
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
17501537	02/20/1986	7699	0	Hydra Rig Cryogenics, Inc.

Abstract: A 2000 GALLON TANK WAS BEING PURGED OVERNIGHT WITH HOT NITROGEN GAS. ON SATURDAY MORNING, JANUARY 25, 1986, EMPLOYEE #1 AND THE PLANT MANAGER WENT TO CHECK IF THE TANK WAS WARM. EMPLOYEE #1 REMOVED THE MANHOLE COVER AND NOTICED THAT THE INNER VESSEL WAS WARM. A CUSTOMER CAME IN. THE CUSTOMER AND THE PLANT MANAGER WENT TO THE SHOP OFFICE TO TALK. FIVE MINUTES LATER THE VICE PRESIDENT ARRIVED AND WENT TO THE PAINT SHOP LOCATED ON THE WESTSIDE OF THE BUILDING. HE THEN WENT TO THE SHOP OFFICE TO SEE THE PLANT MANAGER. AT THIS TIME IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT EMPLOYEE #1 WAS INSIDE THE TANK AND UNCONSCIOUS. THE PLANT MANAGER IMMEDIATELY FLOODED THE TANK WITH SHOP AIR. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS REMOVED FROM THE TANK AND GIVEN CPR. THE AMBULANCE ARRIVED AND TOOK EMPLOYEE#1 TO THE EMERGENCY HOSPITAL WHERE HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD ON ARRIVAL.

Keywords: OXYGEN DEFICIENCY, RESPIRATORY, ASPHYXIATED, CONFINED SPACE, WORK RULES, NITROGEN, TANK, RESPIRATOR

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	17501537			Fatality	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported

Thank You for Visiting Our Website

You are exiting the Department of Labor's Web server.

The Department of Labor does not endorse, takes no responsibility for, and exercises no control over the linked organization or its views, or contents, nor does it vouch for the accuracy or accessibility of the information contained on the destination server. The Department of Labor also cannot authorize the use of copyrighted materials contained in linked Web sites. Users must request such authorization from the sponsor of the linked Web site. Thank you for visiting our site. Please click the button below to continue.