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 #14557417

RESPIRATORY,WASTE PROC FAC,CONFINED SPACE,HYDROGEN SULFIDE,CHEMICAL REACTION

Event
RESPIRATORY,WASTE PROC FAC,CONFINED SPACE,HYDROGEN SULFIDE,CHEMICAL REACTION
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
14557417
Report ID
653510

Event description

EMPLOYEES EXPOSED TO HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS

Investigation abstract

EMPLOYEES OF THE AA OILFIELD SERVICE COMPANY, HOBBS, NEW MEXICO, WERE CLEANING A HE ACIDIZING FIRM, ENTERED THE PIT TO RESCUE EMPLOYEE #1. HE WAS ALSO OVERCOME A ND KILLED. EMPLOYEE #5, WHO WORKED FOR THE ACIDIZING FIRM AND EMPLOYEE #6, WHO W ORKED FOR THE WASTE FACILITY, ALSO ATTEMPTED RESCUES AND WERE HOSPITALIZED FOR E XPOSURE. EMPLOYEE #3, WHO WAS A DEPUTY SHERIFF, WAS HOSPITALIZED AFTER BEING EXP OSED TO HYDROGEN SULFIDE EMMANATING FROM THE CLOTHING OF INJURED EMPLOYEES. EMPL OYEE #4, A FIREFIGHTER, WAS HOSPITALIZED AFTER BEING EXPOSED TO HYDROGEN SULFIDE EMMANATING FROM HIS OWN CLOTHES AFTER HE RECOVERED THE BODY OF EMPLOYEE #1. FIV E OTHER FIREFIGHTERS AND SHERRIF'S DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL COMPLAINED OF HEADACHES FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENT, BUT THEY WERE NOT HOSPITALIZED. DISPOSAL PIT AT THEIR OILFIELD WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITY. EMPLOYEES OF THE ACID E NGINEERING COMPANY, ALSO FROM HOBBS, ARRIVED WITH A TRUCKLOAD OF ACIDIC RINSINGS FOR DISPOSAL. A DECISION WAS MADE TO USE THE ACIDIC RINSINGS TO CLEAR THE PIT. THE PIT CONTAINED IRON AND OTHER SULFIDES. HYDROCHLORIC ACID WAS ADDED TO THE PI T TO DISSOLVE THE FERROUS SULFIDE. THE EMPLOYEES DID NOT KNOW THAT THE PRODUCT O F THE REACTION WOULD BE HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS. EMPLOYEE #1, WHO WORKED AT THE WAS TE FACILITY, REENTERED THE PIT AFTER THE ACID WAS ADDED TO SQUEEGE THE SLUDGE. H E WAS OVERCOME AND KILLED BY THE HYDROGEN SULFIDE. EMPLOYEE #2, WHO WORKED FOR T

Victims (6)

  1. #1 Fatality Age 32 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1480
    Task assigned
    2

  2. #2 Fatality Age 23 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1480
    Task assigned
    2

  3. #3 Hospitalized Age 54 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    423
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1480
    Task assigned
    2

  4. #4 Hospitalized Age 22 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    417
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1480
    Task assigned
    2

  5. #5 Hospitalized Age 27 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1480
    Task assigned
    2

  6. #6 Hospitalized Age 25 M

    Nature of injury
    17
    Part of body
    28
    Event type
    8
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1480
    Task assigned
    2

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