OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #221680564

GLOBAL EARTHWORKS + UNDERGROUND LLC

KANSAS CITY, MO— 2024-07-13T00:00:00

Event: Asphyxiated, Carbon Dioxide, Climbing, Concrete, Confined Space, Fall, Fall From Elevation, Lack of oxygen, Manhole, Oxygen, Oxygen Deficiency, Shortness of breath, Step, Unconsciousness, Unresponsive, Water
NAICS: 238910
Inspection type: Federal Agency
Activity number: #347601932
Employer profile: GLOBAL EARTHWORKS + UNDERGROUND LLC
Summary number: 221680564
Report ID: 0728500
Project type: A
Construction end-use: B

Event description

Employee dies from oxygen-deficient atmosphere in manhole

Investigation abstract

At 5:00 p.m. on July 13, 2024, Employee #1 entered a manhole to tape piping in manhole. preparation for pouring concrete inverts. Shortly after entry, a coworker, stationed topside, observed that Employee #1 appeared pale and was sweating profusely. When asked, Employee #1 indicated difficulty breathing. As Employee #1 attempted to climb the steps to exit the manhole, he experienced a medical incident, lost consciousness, and fell back to the bottom of the manhole. Investigations revealed the presence of an oxygen-deficient environment likely due to carbon dioxide and other oxygen-displacing gases. The fall caused secondary complications, including submersion in water at the bottom of the

Victim

#1 Fatality Age 39 M

Event type
8

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