OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14477822

OXYGEN DEFICIENCY,RESPIRATORY,BARGE,ASPHYXIATED,CONFINED SPACE,WORK RULES,AIR MONITORING

1985-04-11T00:00:00

Event: OXYGEN DEFICIENCY,RESPIRATORY,BARGE,ASPHYXIATED,CONFINED SPACE,WORK RULES,AIR MONITORING
Linked inspection: No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number: 14477822
Report ID: 111100

Event description

EMPLOYEES ENTERED BARGE HOLD WHICH WAS OXYGEN DEFICIENT

Investigation abstract

FIVE PEOPLE ENTERED THE HOLD OF A SURFACE STORAGE BARGE IN WHICH THE ATMOSPHERE E OXIDATION OF THE STEEL STRUCTURE. THE CARBON MONOXIDE APPARENTLY WAS GENERATED BY THE OXY-ACETYLENE TORCH TORCH USED TO BURN OFF THE HATCH COVER. THE OXYGEN L EVELS DETECTED ARE BELIEVED TO BE SOMEWHAT HIGHER THAN THSE ON THE DAY OF THE AC CIDENT BECAUSE THE EMPLOYER LATER TRIED TO OXYGENATE THE SPACE USING THE OXYGEN LINES FROM THE OXY-ACETYLENE TORCH. COTAINED APPROXIMATELY 10% OXYGEN. THE FIRST PERSON TO ENTER (EMPLOYEE #3) DID S O FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. THE OTHER EMPLOYEES WHO ENTERED THE SPACE DID SO IN AN EF FORT TO RESCUE EMPLOYEE #3. EMPLOYEE #3 SURVIVED WHILE EMPLOYEES #2 AND #3 DIED. THE TWO CONTRACTOR EMPLOYEES WHO ENTERED WERE ABLE TO SELF RESCUE. APPROXIMATEL Y 28 HOURS AFTER THE EVENT THE FOLLOWING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS WERE DETECTED IN THE HOLD: OXYGEN - 10% (12% AFTER THE HOLD HAD BEEN OPEN FOR 45 MINUTES), CAR BON DIOXIDE - 0.12%, COMBUSTIBLE GASES - 3% OF LEL (SUBSTANCE UNIDENTIFIED) AND CARBON MONOXIDE - 300 PPM. THE OXYGEN DEFICIENCY APPARENTLY RESULTED FROM SURFAC

Victims (3)

#1 Fatality Age 20 M

Nature of injury
2

Part of body
4

Event type
14

Source
4

Occupation code
999

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
X100

Task assigned
2
#2 Fatality Age 20 M

Nature of injury
2

Part of body
4

Event type
14

Source
4

Occupation code
999

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
X100

Task assigned
2
#3 Hospitalized Age 22 M

Nature of injury
2

Part of body
4

Event type
14

Source
4

Occupation code
999

Human factor
4

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
X100

Task assigned
2

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