Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 200122471 - Employee dies from asphyxiation in manhole

Accident Summary Nr: 200122471 -- Report ID: 0523400 -- Event Date: 08/14/2003
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
305279515	08/14/2003	1623	237110	D.F. Tomasini Contractors, Inc.

Abstract: Employee #1, a laborer, was flushing or flooding trenches (prior to backfilling) in a housing subdivision construction project, but had insufficient water pressure. The employee informed his coworker, the superintendent, that there was insufficient water pressure and they went to check the water valves. The coworker directed Employee #1 to check a water valve in a vault manhole approximately 15 feet deep. The coworker saw Employee #1 remove the manhole cover and went to check other water valves. Employee #1 determined that the valve could not be turned from above by a gate key, since it was a wheel type valve, and he entered the vault manhole to turn the valve by hand. When the coworker returned, he saw Employee #1 on the manhole ladder approximately 3 feet from the top. Employee #1 then lost his grip and fell back into the manhole. Employee #1 died from asphyxiation. Testing at the time of the accident indicated an oxygen deficient atmosphere and subsequent testing (one week later) indicated an oxygen deficient atmosphere and hazardous concentrations of carbon dioxide present in the vault manhole.

Keywords: OXYGEN DEFICIENCY, ASPHYXIATED, CONFINED SPACE, CONSTRUCTION, FIXED LADDER, VALVE, CARBON DIOXIDE, FALL, MANHOLE

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	305279515			Fatality	Asphyxia	Construction laborers	Distance of Fall: feet Worker Height Above Ground/Floor: feet Cause: Backfilling and compacting Fatality Cause: Asphyxiation/inhalation of toxic vapor

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