Inspection Detail

Inspection: 307019943 - Rittenbaugh, Inc.

Inspection Information - Office: Osha Philadelphia Area Office

Inspection Nr: 307019943

Report ID: 0317000

Date Opened: 07/09/2004

Site Address:
Rittenbaugh, Inc.
719 N. Wheatland Street
Phoenixville, PA 19460

Mailing Address:
719 N Wheatland Street, Phoenixville, PA 19460

Union Status: NonUnion

SIC:1623

NAICS: 237110/Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction

Inspection Type: Accident

Scope: Partial

Advanced Notice: N

Ownership: Private

Safety/Health: Health

Close Conference: 10/20/2004

Planning Guide: Health-Construction

Emphasis: L:Conspace, S:Construction Fatalities

Case Closed: 03/25/2005

Related Activity
Type	Activity Nr	Safety	Health
Accident	102021326

Violation Summary
Violations/Penalties	Serious	Willful	Repeat	Other	Unclass	Total
Initial Violations	1					1
Current Violations	1					1
Initial Penalty	$1,500	$0	$0	$0	$0	$1,500
Current Penalty	$1,000	$0	$0	$0	$0	$1,000
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.	01001A	Serious	5A0001	11/03/2004	02/28/2005	$1,000	$1,500	$0		I - Informal Settlement
2.	01001B	Serious	19260021 B06 I	11/03/2004	02/28/2005	$0	$0	$0		I - Informal Settlement

Investigation Summary

Investigation Nr: 202004503

Event: 07/09/2004

Two employees are killed from Oxygen Deficiency

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

Investigated Inspection
#	Inspection	Age	Sex	Degree of Injury	Nature of Injury	Occupation
1	307019943			Fatality	Asphyxia	Construction trades, n.e.c.
2	307019943			Fatality	Asphyxia	Construction trades, n.e.c.

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