Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 200001873 - Employee is killed due to asphyxia

Accident Summary Nr: 200001873 -- Report ID: 0728500 -- Event Date: 08/04/2004
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
306707894	08/05/2004	1623	237110	Holthouse Construction, Llc

Abstract: At approximately 1:30 p.m. on August 4, 2004, Employee #1 was grouting the seams in a newly constructed sewer manhole that was about 16.5-feet deep. About an hour later, Employee #1 was found lying at the bottom of the manhole with most of the grouting completed. Emergency services were contacted and the local fire department responded to the accident. Employee #1 was pronounced dead due to asphyxia. During the accident investigation, it was revealed that the manhole had failed a vacuum test approximately one week earlier and according to the fire department's report, the oxygen levels near the bottom of the manhole measured levels of 17 and 16.3, using a Draeger Mini-Wam and Area Rae tester. Additionally, air samples taken by OSHA on August 13, 2004, indicated similar results. At the time of the incident and during air sampling, the plug inserts for the vacuum test equipment were in place at the bottom of the manhole to cover the newly laid sewer pipe which was connected to the manhole.

Keywords: OXYGEN DEFICIENCY, SEWER, UNCONSCIOUSNESS, ASPHYXIATED, INSTALLING, CONSTRUCTION, INHALATION, PIPELINE, MANHOLE, UNTRAINED

Accident Details
End Use		Project Type		Project Cost	Stories	Non-building Height	Fatality
Single family or duplex dwelling		New project or new addition		$250,000 to $500,000			X

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	306707894			Fatality	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Installing underground plumbing conduit Fatality Cause: Asphyxiation/inhalation of toxic vapor

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