OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14454581
GARBAGE TRUCK,AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR,VENTILATION,MECHANIC,CARBOXYHEMOGLOBIN,CARBON MONOXIDE
Event description
CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
Investigation abstract
EMPLOYEE #1 WAS HIRED MAY 28, 1985, AS A FULL TIME AUTOMOTIVE MECHANIC. HE WAS 2 1985, AT 2:30 PM, A SECOND EMPLOYEE VISITED EMPLOYEE #1 INSIDE THE GARAGE. THE SECOND EMPLOYEE OBSERVED THE V-8 ENGINE OPERATING AND THE GARAGE DOORS CLOSED. O N DECEMBER 15, 1985, AT 3 PM, EMPLOYEE #1 WAS AGAIN ALONE INSIDE THE GARAGE. ON DECEMBER 15, 1985, AT 5:35 PM, THE OWNER FOUND EMPLOYEE #1 LYING ON THE GARAGE F LOOR, PARALLEL TO THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL OF THE TRUCK. THE TRUCK'S ENGINE WAS RUNN ING AND THE GARAGE DOORS CLOSED. THE CORONER LATER DETERMINED A CARBOXYHEMOGLOBI N LEVEL OF 52% IN EMPLOYEE #1'S BLOOD. THE AUTOPSY, CONDUCTED ON DECEMBER 16, 19 85, REVEALED A CARBOXYHEMOGLOBIN LEVEL OF 48% AND AN OBSTRUCTION (ARTERIOSCLEROS IS) OF EMPLOYEE #1'S CORONARY ARTERIES. 4 YEARS OLD. HIS DUTIES INVOLVED MAINTAINING GARBAGE TRUCKS. HE HAD RECEIVED NO FORMAL TRAINING. ON DECEMBER 15, 1985, AT ABOUT 2 PM, HE WAS REPAIRING THE AIR-B RAKE SYSTEM ON TRUCK #4, A 1975 FORD TRUCK, CHASSIS MODEL LN 900. THE TRUCK HAD A V-8, 477 CUBIC INCH ENGINE WHICH BURNED LIQUID PROPANE FUEL. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS W ORKING ON THE TRUCK INSIDE THE GARAGE. THE PREVIOUS MONTH THE OWNER OF THE BUSIN ESS HAD WARNED ALL HIS EMPLOYEES ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISON ING WHEN WORKING INDOORS. HE HAD INSTRUCTED ALL EMPLOYEES TO KEEP THE LARGE TRUC K BAY DOORS OPEN WHEN RUNNING VEHICLE ENGINES INSIDE THE GARAGE. ON DECEMBER 15,
Victim
-
#1 Fatality Age 24 M
- Nature of injury
- 2
- Part of body
- 25
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 29
- Occupation code
- 885
- Human factor
- 4
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 0560
- Task assigned
- 1
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