Accident Report Detail

Accident Summary Nr: 522169 - Surveyor and two backhoe operators drown when asphyxiated

Accident Summary Nr: 522169 -- Report ID: 0830500 -- Event Date: 07/24/1991
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
100562032	07/25/1991	1623	0	R & R Pipelines, Inc.
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
100562073	07/26/1991	8713	0	Zambrana & Associates
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
100562107	07/29/1991	1542	0	Crss, Inc.
Inspection Nr	Date Opened	SIC	NAICS	Establishment Name
100562081	07/26/1991	8713	0	Rubino Surveying

Abstract: Employees #1, #2, and #3, two backhoe operators and one surveyor, were locating underground utilities in preparation for a road construction project. The primary method of locating the utility lines was to dig them up and then precisely survey them. Apparently (since there were no witnesses) Employees #1, #2, and #3 entered a 20 foot deep utility vault to survey the water and gas lines at the bottom. They were overcome by high levels of carbon dioxide and low levels of oxygen, and ultimately drowned in the 3 feet of water at the bottom of the vault. The official cause of death was cited as "Drowning due to asphyxiation due to acute stagnant air syndrome."

Keywords: OXYGEN DEFICIENCY, SURVEYOR, ASPHYXIATED, EQUIPMENT OPERATOR, WORK RULES, SCBA, CONFINED SPACE, CONSTRUCTION, CARBON DIOXIDE, DROWN

Employee Details
Employee #	Inspection Nr	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	100562032	Fatality	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
2	100562032	Fatality	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
3	100562073	Fatality	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
4	100562107			Occupation Not Listed
5	100562081			Occupation Not Listed

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