Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 201342201 - Three Employees Killed in Confined Space

Accident Summary Nr: 201342201 -- Report ID: 0729700 -- Event Date: 08/27/2001
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
303800874	08/28/2001	1521	0	Emerson Construction, Inc.

Abstract: Three employees were attempting to perform a vacuum test on a newly-installed residential sewer line. When a vacuum seal could not be created, Employee #1 entered the manhole. He descended on the portable ladder approximately 3 feet, and fell 20 feet to the bottom of the manhole. Employee #2 entered the manhole while Employee #3 summoned help. Employee #2 was found lying on the bottom of the manhole when Employee #3 arrived. Employee #3 entered the manhole. He reached the bottom of the manhole and started back up the ladder when he collapsed. The manhole was approximately 23 feet deep. The sewer line had not been used prior to this accident. Employees #1 through #3 died in the confined space from asphyxiation.

Keywords: SEWER, ASPHYXIATED, COLLAPSE, CONFINED SPACE, LADDER, 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		$50,000 to $250,000			X

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation	Construction
1	303800874	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
2	303800874	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
3	303800874	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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