OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14385934
OXYGEN DEFICIENCY,CONFINED SPACE,WORK RULES,INHALATION,NITROGEN,CARBOXYHEMOGLOBIN,POISONING,CARBON MONOXIDE,COMMUNICATION
Event description
One killed, two nearly overcome by gas in truck tank
Investigation abstract
Employee #1 entered a semi tanker trailer to wash out the inside, which had cont ashing facility, he had not informed the workers about the inert gas, nor had th e manifest indicated its use. The tank washing facility had not tested the atmos phere in the tank before Employee #1 entered, and there was no confined space en try program in effect. ained a fatty acid (linseed oil). A short time later, he was found lying at the bottom under the hatch opening. Employees #2 and #3 jumped in to rescue him and were nearly overcome. Employee #1 died, and blood tests conducted two hours afte r exposure revealed carboxyhemoglobin levels of 56 percent for Employee #1, and 15 and 25 percent for Employees #2 and #3, respectively. The vessel's atmosphere was later found to be an inert gas containing mostly nitrogen and about 5 perce nt carbon monoxide. The gas had been made by the plant that unloaded the trailer , and had been used to blow off the load. When the driver arrived at the truck w
Victims (3)
-
#1 Fatality Age 24 M
- Nature of injury
- 17
- Part of body
- 31
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 19
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 18
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 0560
- Task assigned
- 1
-
#2 Non-hospitalized injury Age 23 M
- Nature of injury
- 17
- Part of body
- 31
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 19
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 18
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 0560
- Task assigned
- 2
-
#3 Non-hospitalized injury Age 26 M
- Nature of injury
- 17
- Part of body
- 31
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 19
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 18
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 0560
- Task assigned
- 2
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