OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14559512

RESPIRATORY,TANK TRUCK,VENTILATION,CONFINED SPACE,HYDROGEN SULFIDE,WORK RULES,INHALATION,GAS,POISONING,TOXIC FUMES

1985-05-30T12:45:00

Event: RESPIRATORY,TANK TRUCK,VENTILATION,CONFINED SPACE,HYDROGEN SULFIDE,WORK RULES,INHALATION,GAS,POISONING,TOXIC FUMES
Linked inspection: No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number: 14559512
Report ID: 855610

Event description

POISONED BY HYDROGEN SULFIDE GAS

Investigation abstract

ON MAY 30, 1985, AT ABOUT 12:45 PM EMPLOYEE #1 RETURNED TO THE SHOP YARD WITH A WAS UNDER THE TRUCK, HE HEARD THE TOP HATCH OF THE TANK OPEN AND THEN HE HEARD E MPLOYEE #1'S BODY HIT THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK. THE OTHER EMPLOYEE CAME OUT FROM U NDER THE TRUCK AND SAW THAT EMPLOYEE #1 WAS LYING ON HIS BACK INSIDE THE TANK. A T ABOUT 1:10 PM, THE OTHER EMPLOYEE CALLED EMERGENCY. HE THEN OPENED THE DUMP VA LVE ON THE TANK, STARTED THE TRUCK, AND PUT THE VACUUM PUMP INTO GEAR TO HELP CL EAR THE TOXIC GASES FROM INSIDE THE TANK. THE OTHER EMPLOYEE THEN TOOK AN AIR LI NE FROM INSIDE THE SHOP AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BLOWING FRESH AIR INTO THE TAN K WHEN THE EMERGENCY UNITS ARRIVED AT APPROXIMATELY 1:20 PM. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS REM OVED FROM THE TANK AT APPROXIMATELY 1:30 PM. MEDICAL PERSONNEL WERE UNABLE TO RE VIVE HIM. TANKER TRUCK WHICH WAS USED FOR HAULING OIL FIELD WASTE WATER AND FRESH WATER. U PON RETURNING TO THE SHOP YARD, EMPLOYEE #1 TOLD A FELLOW EMPLOYEE THAT THERE WA S A HEAVY VIBRATION IN THE DRIVE TRAIN OF THE TRUCK AND THAT THE FLOAT GAUGE FOR THE TANK WAS NOT WORKING. THE OTHER EMPLOYEE CHECKED THE AUXILIARY TRANSMISSION AND FOUND SOME LOOSE BOLTS. HE ALSO TOLD EMPLOYEE #1 THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO W ORK ON THE FLOAT GAUGE BECAUSE THERE WAS A SMELL OF HYDROGEN SULPHIDE GAS, EVEN THOUGH THE TANK WAS CLOSED. THE OTHER EMPLOYEE GATHERED UP SOME TOOLS AND WENT U NDER THE TRUCK. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS LAST SEEN IN THE SHOP. WHILE THE OTHER EMPLOYEE

Victim

#1 Fatality Age 45 M

Nature of injury
2

Part of body
31

Event type
8

Source
19

Occupation code
804

Human factor
1

Environmental factor
7

Hazardous substance
1480

Task assigned
2

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