OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #1001361
FEED ENERGY COMPANY
DES MOINES, IA·
Event description
Two employees die of asphyxia after falling into tank
Investigation abstract
On May 30, 1986, Employee #1 was hosing down the inside walls of a 10,000 gallon d outside ladder. He thought he could help rescue Employees #1 and #2 but, when he realized what had happened, he contacted 911. The Des Moines Fire Department rescue unit recovered the bodies of the two employees. No effective ppe was in u se at the time of the accident. , horizontally-mounted, steel storage tank while standing on a ladder inside the 28 in. open-top hatchway. No effective ppe was in use. The tank was full of dec omposed hog entrails and a mixture of hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide had f ormed above it. Employee #1 passed out and fell into the tank. Employee #2 saw w hat had happened and, taking no precautions, entered the tank to rescue Employee #1. He, too, fainted and fell into the tank. Both employees died of asphyxia. A coworker summoned a foreman who was in the locker room taking a shower. The for eman put on pants and shoes, ran to the tank, and climbed partway up the attache
Victims (2)
-
#1 Fatality Age 26 M
- Nature of injury
- 2
- Part of body
- 4
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 40
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 1
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 0530
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#2 Fatality Age 45 M
- Nature of injury
- 2
- Part of body
- 4
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 40
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 19
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 0530
- Task assigned
- 1
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