Inspection Detail
Inspection: 104230628 - U. S. Tanning
Inspection Information - Office: Iowa 0751910
Site Address:
U. S. Tanning
Port Neal Industrial District
Sergeant Bluff, IA 51054
Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 668, Sergeant Bluff, IA 51054
Union Status: NonUnion
SIC:3111
NAICS: 0
Inspection Type: Accident
Scope: Partial
Advanced Notice: N
Ownership: Private
Safety/Health: Health
Close Conference: 02/08/1989
Emphasis:
Case Closed: 11/13/1990
Type | Activity Nr | Safety | Health |
---|---|---|---|
Accident | 360741086 |
Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Initial Violations | 2 | 2 | ||||
Current Violations | 2 | 2 | ||||
Initial Penalty | $0 | $18,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $18,000 |
Current Penalty | $0 | $13,500 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $13,500 |
FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
# | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 01001 | Willful | 880004 | 03/10/1989 | 04/16/1989 | $6,750 | $9,000 | $0 | 03/27/1989 | F - Formal Settlement | |
2. | 01002 | Willful | 880004 | 03/10/1989 | 04/16/1989 | $6,750 | $9,000 | $0 | 03/27/1989 | F - Formal Settlement |
Investigation Summary
At approximately 11:45 p.m. on January 31, 1989, Employees #1 and #2 were entering an effluent manhole to perform repairs on a leaking overflow standpipe. When Employee #3 went out to check on the employees at the job site, he saw Employee #2 at the bottom of the effluent manhole, slumped over and unresponsive. Employee #3 held his breath and entered the manhole to attempt a rescue. Prior to entering the manhole, Employee #3 had detected the presence of hydrogen sulfide but did not smell it after entering the manhole. Employee #3 failed to rescue Employee #2 and felt tightness of the chest, so he climbed out. After exiting the manhole, Employee #3 lost consciousness for 5 to 10 minutes; when he regained consciousness, he returned to the office for help. Employees #3, #4, #5, #6, and #7 returned to the site. Employee #7 briefly entered the manhole without respiratory protection and left 10 to 15 seconds later after feeling faint. Employee #6 donned SCBA and entered the manhole to attempt to rescue Employee #2. Employee #5, who climbed halfway down to assist Employee #6 in the rescue attempt, was not wearing a respirator and briefly lost consciousness. He was pulled from the manhole by Employees #4 and #7. Employee #6 abandoned the rescue attempt after failing to lift Employee #2 out of the confined space. The body of Employee #1 was discovered. Rescue personnel arrived shortly thereafter and transported the affected employees to the hospital. Employees #1 and #2 died. Employees #3 through #7 were hospitalized.
Keywords: UNCONSCIOUSNESS, CONFINED SPACE, HYDROGEN SULFIDE, WORK RULES, TOXIC ATMOSPHERE, SCBA, TOXIC FUMES, MANHOLE, OVEREXPOSURE, RESPIRATOR
# | Inspection | Age | Sex | Degree of Injury | Nature of Injury | Occupation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 104230628 | Hospitalized injury | Poisoning(Systemic) | Occupation not reported | ||
2 | 104230628 | Hospitalized injury | Poisoning(Systemic) | Occupation not reported | ||
3 | 104230628 | Hospitalized injury | Poisoning(Systemic) | Occupation not reported | ||
4 | 104230628 | Hospitalized injury | Poisoning(Systemic) | Occupation not reported | ||
5 | 104230628 | Hospitalized injury | Poisoning(Systemic) | Occupation not reported | ||
6 | 104230628 | Fatality | Poisoning(Systemic) | Occupation not reported | ||
7 | 104230628 | Fatality | Poisoning(Systemic) | Occupation not reported |