Abstract: EMPLOYEE #2, A MARITIME SURVEYOR, ENTERED A BALLAST COMPARTMENT ON A BARGE. THE COMPARTMENT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN CLOSED FOR SOME TIME AND EMPLOYEE #2 DID NOT TEST THE OXYGEN CONTENT OF THE ATMOSPHERE. HE BECAME ILL WHILE HE WAS INSPECTING THE COMPARTMENT AND CALLED FOR HELP. EMPLOYEE #1, WHO WORKED FOR THE BARGE COMPANY, WAS STANDING ON THE DECK OF THE BARGE. WHEN HE HEARD EMPLOYEE #2 CALL FOR HELP, HE ENTERED THE COMPARTMENT IN AN APPARENT RESCUE ATTEMPT. HE, IN TURN, BECAME ILL AND COULD NOT MAKE IT OUT. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS ASPHYXIATED IN THE COMPARTMENT. EMPLOYEE #2 WAS ABLE TO REACH THE LADDER AND, AFTER A SHORT TIME, CLIMBED TO SAFETY.