Inspection Detail

Inspection: 17407453 - Chris Matthews Construction, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Birmingham Area Office

Inspection Nr: 17407453

Report ID: 0418300

Date Opened: 08/26/1988

Site Address:
Chris Matthews Construction, Inc.
3200 Block Of Oakwood Drive
Adamsville, AL 35005

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 7655, Birmingham, AL 35253

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:1623

NAICS: 0

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Safety

Close Conference: 09/01/1988

Planning Guide: Safety-Construction

Emphasis:

Case Closed: 10/17/1988

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	360673867

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	2					2
Current Violations	2					2
Initial Penalty	$2,000	$0	$0	$0	$0	$2,000
Current Penalty	$1,500	$0	$0	$0	$0	$1,500
FTA Penalty	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0

Violation Items
#	Citation ID	Citaton Type	Standard Cited	Issuance Date	Abatement Due Date	Current Penalty	Initial Penalty	FTA Penalty	Contest	Latest Event	Note
1.	01001	Serious	5A0001	09/16/1988	10/17/1988	$750	$1,000	$0		I - Informal Settlement
2.	01002	Serious	19260021 B06 I	09/16/1988	10/17/1988	$750	$1,000	$0		I - Informal Settlement

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 14347942

Event: 08/25/1988

Employee dies in oxygen-deprived manhole

At approximately 10:25 a.m. on August 25, 1988, Employee #1 was sent into a sewer manhole called a valve vault to open a valve. While in the vault, Employee #1 passed out. Employee #2, not knowing why Employee #1 had passed out, went down to help him. Once in the vault, Employee #2 passed out. Employee #3, who had seen Employee #2 enter the vault, decided that there might be bad air in the vault. He tied a rope around himself, then entered, tied a rope around Employee #2, and then passed out himself. Somehow, Employees #2 and #3 were able to get out of the vault. Employee #4, seeing that Employee #3 was dazed, took the rope off him and went into the vault but passed out before he could tie the rope around Employee #1 and had to be pulled out himself. When the fire rescue quad arrived wearing air packs they retrieved Employee #1, who was dead. Employees #2, #3, and #4 recovered.

Keywords: OXYGEN DEFICIENCY, UNCONSCIOUSNESS, CONFINED SPACE, WORK RULES, CONSTRUCTION, MANHOLE

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	17407453	Non Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
2	17407453	Non Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
3	17407453	Fatality	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported
4	17407453	Non Hospitalized injury	Asphyxia	Occupation not reported

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