Inspection Detail

Inspection: 108660945 - Van Houton Plumbing

Inspection Information - Office: Parsippany Area Office

Investigation Summary

At approximately 12:00 noon on November 2, 1995, Employee #1 had been hired by his best friend and a local plumbing contractor to cut trenches into the concrete floor in preparation for future plumbing. He began using a rented 13 HP gasoline-fueled concrete cutter inside an empty 18,240 cubic foot room that had limited ventilation: although the room was large, its only fresh air exchange was through a set of double doors. At approximately 3:00 p.m., the building manager advised Employee #1 to keep the doors open because the fumes were strong. Employee #1 responded that he appreciated the manager's concern but he knew what he was doing. At 5:00 p.m., employees in a tanning salon next door complained to the building manager of a strong odor of fumes. The building manager entered the room to find Employee #1 slumped over the cutter. He was pronounced dead at the scene with a carboxyhemoglobin level of 69 1/2 percent and a blood alcohol level of .3 percent.

Keywords: OXYGEN DEFICIENCY, VENTILATION, ALCOHOL, WORK RULES, INTOXICATED, AIR CONTAMINATION, CARBOXYHEMOGLOBIN, POISONING, TOXIC FUMES, CARBON MONOXIDE