TranslateAccident Report Detail
Accident: 202004503 - Two Employees Are Killed From Oxygen Deficiency
| Inspection | Open Date | SIC | Establishment Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 307019943 | 07/09/2004 | 1623 | Rittenbaugh, Inc. |
On July 09, 2004, Employee #1 and #2 died from asphyxiation when they entered a nine foot deep manhole. The manhole was part of a newly constructed sewer line, which still needed to be "air tested" before it could be put into active services. OSHA readings taken approximately three hours after the men were extracted were as low as 12.7. Readings taken in the manhole three days later indicated oxygen levels as low as 4. Employees entered the manhole without the benefit of any confined space procedure. Employee #1 and #2 died from asphyxiation.
Keywords:
oxygen, sewer, confined space, manhole
| End Use | Proj Type | Proj Cost | Stories | NonBldgHt | Fatality | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sewer/water treatment plant | New project or new addition | $5,000,000 to $20,000,000 | 9 | X | |||
| Employee # | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree | Nature | Occupation | Construction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 307019943 | Fatality | Asphyxia | Construction trades, n.e.c. | FallDist: FallHt: Cause: Trenching, installing pipe FatCause: Asphyxiation/inhalation of toxic vapor |
||
| 2 | 307019943 | Fatality | Asphyxia | Construction trades, n.e.c. | FallDist: FallHt: Cause: Trenching, installing pipe FatCause: Asphyxiation/inhalation of toxic vapor |