OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14511943
MINERVA WELL SERVICE & SUPPLY CO.
ROCKDALE, TX·
Event description
Employee dies of asphyxia in fractionation tank
Investigation abstract
After supper on June 12, 1986, Employee #1 returned to the well site and ensure that the flow of gas and fluid going into the fractionation tank was still corre ct. He also decided to check the amount of sand in the fluid. This could have be en done at the wellhead, but he decided to check at the fractionation tank inste ad. Apparently, he dropped his hat in the tank and went in to retrieve it. He wa s overcome by the lack of oxygen and could not climb out of the 9 ft deep tank. The landowner (not an employee of the company) apparently tried to rescue Employ ee #1, but was also overcome. They were both found dead the next day.
Victim
-
#1 Fatality Age 28 M
- Nature of injury
- 2
- Part of body
- 28
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 35
- Occupation code
- 614
- Human factor
- 1
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 2037
- Task assigned
- 2
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