Abstract: At about 8:00 a.m. on May 13, 1991, a 3-man Dalton Construction Co. crew, including Employee #1, a laborer, were cleaning, unplugging, and turning over a newly built sanitary sewer line to the union Sanitary District. Because a plug had been deflated, water had rushed through the manhole. Employee #1 and a foreman stood next to the manhole, waiting to re-enter. Confined space entry procedures were not followed and the required safety equipment was not available. Employee #1 descended into the manhole and almost immediately became overcome by massive amounts of hydrogen sulfide. He dropped 11 ft to the bottom of the manhole. The Newark (NJ) Fire and Police Departments responded and, after several attempts, rescued Employee #1 at about 8:20 a.m. CPR was administered and he was transported to the Washington Hospital in Fremont, where he was pronounced dead. Tests revealed an explosive concentration of hydrogen sulfide in the manhole.