104,543Records 70,659Employers 84,666Hospitalizations 27,563Amputations 2015-01-01 2025-09-30
Safety Incidents OSHA Severe Injury Reports · 2015–2025

OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14464341

CONFINED SPACE,CLEANING,INHALATION,PIT,CARBON MONOXIDE

Event
CONFINED SPACE,CLEANING,INHALATION,PIT,CARBON MONOXIDE
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
14464341
Report ID
551800

Event description

CARBON MONOXIDE EXPOSURE DURING CONFINED SPACE ENTRY

Investigation abstract

AN OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR CREW PERFORMED AN UNASSIGNED JOB OF CLEANING WATER OUT OF ORY LAPSE AND A NERVE PROBLEM IN ONE LEG. EMPLOYEE #4 IS FINE. THE EMPLOYER HAD AN INADEQUATE CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROGRAM. A 6'X 8' X 7' DEEP PIT IN A STEEL MILL. DRAIN LINES INTO THE PIT CONNECTED TO AN OPERATING BASIC OXYGEN FURNACE OFFGASSING SYSTEM. REMOVAL OF THE WATER ALLOWED BOF GASES (70-90% CARBON MONOXIDE) TO LEAK. EMPLOYEE #1 ENTERED THE PIT THROUGH A 26"X 30" OPENING AND WAS OVERCOME. EMPLOYEE #3 ENTERED THE PIT TO RESCUE #1. E MPLOYEES #2 AND #4 TRIED TO PULL OUT #1 FROM ABOVE. EMPLOYEE #3 COLLAPSED WHILE LIFTING #1. EMPLOYEE #2 FELL OR WAS DRAGGED INTO THE PIT AS A RESULT. EMPLOYEE # 4 WENT FOR HELP. INLAND STEEL EMPLOYEES EFFECTED RESCUE. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS DEAD AT THE SCENE (81% COHB). EMPLOYEE #2 REMAINS IN A COMA. EMPLOYEE #3 SUFFERED A MEM

Victims (5)

  1. #1 Fatality Age 24 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    887
    Human factor
    18
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0560
    Task assigned
    2

  2. #2 Hospitalized Age 20 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    887
    Human factor
    18
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0560
    Task assigned
    2

  3. #3 Hospitalized Age 27 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    887
    Human factor
    18
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0560
    Task assigned
    2

  4. #4 Hospitalized Age 27 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    887
    Human factor
    18
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0560
    Task assigned
    2

  5. #981 Degree 0 Age 0

    Nature of injury
    0
    Part of body
    0
    Event type
    0
    Source
    0
    Occupation code
    0
    Human factor
    0
    Environmental factor
    0
    Task assigned
    0

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