Inspection Detail

Inspection: 734616 - Martin Marietta Aerospace Corp Michoud Div

Inspection Information - Office: Baton Rouge Area Office

Investigation Summary

EMPLOYEE #1 DROPPED AN ARTICLE THRU THE GRATING OF A COVERED PIT BELOW HIS WORK AREA. HE REMOVED THE PIT COVER AND DESCENDED THE LADDER TO THE PIT FLOOR TO RETRIEVE THE ARTICLE. HE DID NOT RETURN. THE PIT SURROUNDS THREE EMPTY CHEMICAL TANKS. THE TANKS HAD BEEN UNUSED AND TAGGED OUT FOR FIVE YEARS. THE CORONER'S DIAGNOSIS (THROUGH AN AUTOPSY) WAS "COMPRESSIVE ASPHYXIA". THIS INDICATES THAT THE EMPLOYEE WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE PIPES AND POSSIBLY OTHER STRUCTURES AND WAS UNABLE TO BREATHE. IT IS SUSPECTED THAT AN OXYGEN DEFICIENCY AND/OR CHLORINATED HYDROCARBON VAPORS WERE AT LEAST PARTIALLY RESPONSIBLE, BUT THIS COULD NOT BE SUBSTANTIATED. A SIMULATION OF THE WORK ENVIRONMENT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT PRODUCED NO DEFINITIVE RESULTS.

Keywords: ASPHYXIATED, CONFINED SPACE, PIT