Accident: 201260031 - Dies Of Asphyxia In Manhole

Employee #1, a laborer, and his foreman arrived at a manhole to open a mechanical valve at the bottom of the manhole. While Employee #1 was removing the manhole cover, the foreman was 5 ft away at his truck getting the air tester. When the foreman turned around to go back to the manhole, he saw the top of Employee #1's head disappear into it. The foreman then looked down into the manhole and saw that Employee #1 was unconscious. The foreman tested the air in the manhole and obtained a reading of 14% oxygen. He immediately called 911, and Employee #1's body was retrieved by the local fire department with the use of SCBAs. OSHA's testing of the manhole showed oxygen levels of between 12 and 14 percent. Tests for carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, and flammable vapors were negative. Tests for carbon dioxide were positive, with a reading of 35,000 ppm.

construction, manhole, asphyxiated, unconsciousness, oxygen deficiency, work rules, enclosed space, scba

Accident: 200230050 - One Suffocates, One Injured In Whey Tank

Employees #1 and #2 and a coworker, of Carne, Inc., were at a small dairy farm to repair a 6,900 gallon tank that dispensed whey for cattle feed. The tank was owned and operated by Carne, Inc., as part of its service to provide the whey. The employer requested that Employee #2, a mechanic/ assistant manager, and the coworker, a financial officer, go the site to repair a leaking valve on the tank. Employee #1, a truck driver, was instructed to meet the other employees at the site to pump out the whey in the tank prior to starting work. When all three arrived at the site, the truck was used to hold the excess whey. When the whey level was close to the bottom, Employee #1 lowered himself into the tank and immediately became dizzy. A friend of Employee #1, who had accompanied him to the site, jumped into the tank to help. The friend immediately passed out and fell face down in the residual whey in the bottom. Employee #2 then climbed into the tank, immediately passed out, and fell face down in the whey. The coworker and two other individuals in the area found a chain saw, cut a hole in the side of the tank, and removed the three men. Employee #2 was resuscitated; the other two had suffocated and drowned. The employer was cited for failing to have a permit required confined space program.

storage tank, repair, toxic atmosphere, unconsciousness, drown, suffocated, work rules, enclosed space, dizziness, ppe

Accident: 688804 - Electric Shock - Direct Contact With Energized Parts

An elevator mechanic was troubleshooting an elevator circuit. He deenergized the main circuit and then squeezed himself through the 9.25-inch-wide space between a brick wall and an elevator controller. He jumpered energized circuit behind the controller, apparently reenergizing the circuit that he had deenergized. He contacted 480-volt parts on the controller as he squeezed back out through the tight space and was electrocuted.

electrical, electrocuted, elec circ part--misc, electrical work, lockout, enclosed space, elevator, e gi iv

Accident: 170705909 - Overexposed To Carbon Monoxide

Employees #1 through #4 were hospitalized after they were exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide gas while cutting a hole in a cement floor with gas-powered equipment. Proper ventilation was not in use. The four employees, who had no job-related construction experience, were attempting to cut the hole to allow for the installation of a better drain system. Factors such as noise and dust were taken into consideration, but due to the lack of experience operating gas-powered equipment in an enclosed or restricted area, the possibility for exposure to carbon monoxide gas was not considered. This led to the lack of monitoring for hazardous gases and/or installation of proper ventilation.

carbon monoxide, vapor, overexposure, inexperience, ventilation, enclosed space, work rules, inhalation

Accident: 170705784 - Suffer Overexposure To Carbon Monoxide

While operating diesel- and gas-powered equipment in an enclosed and unventilated building, Employees #1 through #3 were exposed to carbon monoxide gas. They were hospitalized, but only suffered minor physical effects. The employees had been transferred from an outdoor work site to an indoor work site due to inclement weather. Equipment for the job was hastily gathered and brought to the work site inside the building. No pre-job training or analysis was given in the recognition of possible hazards at this new location.

construction, overexposure, carbon monoxide, vapor, enclosed space, ventilation, work rules, respiratory, untrained