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 #571497

OXYGEN DEFICIENCY,RESPIRATORY,TUNNEL,ASPHYXIATED,VENTILATION,CONFINED SPACE,CONSTRUCTION,CARBON DIOXIDE

Event
OXYGEN DEFICIENCY,RESPIRATORY,TUNNEL,ASPHYXIATED,VENTILATION,CONFINED SPACE,CONSTRUCTION,CARBON DIOXIDE
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
571497
Report ID
524200

Event description

Employees Asphyxiated Due to Oxygen Deficiency in Shaft

Investigation abstract

Two employees entered a 16-foot-diameter drop shaft under construction on the De hospital. Employee #1 died approximately 1 hour later. No tests of the air quali ty in the shaft were performed before entry. ep Tunnel Project. They were asphyxiated from a lack of oxygen, which had been d isplaced by carbon dioxide overnight. The vertical shaft, only 20 feet deep at t he time, had been covered at the end of the previous workday, creating a confine d space. Carbon dioxide from an undetermined source accumulated in the hole, dis placing the oxygen. The two employees entered the shaft in a cage and immediatel y developed breathing difficulties. One of two (Employee #1) fell out of the cag e as it was being pulled from the shaft. Four other employees went down in the c age to rescue him and were overcome as well. All six employees were sent to the

Victims (6)

  1. #1 Fatality Age 49 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    16
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0530
    Task assigned
    1

  2. #2 Hospitalized Age 39 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    16
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0530
    Task assigned
    1

  3. #3 Hospitalized Age 42 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    16
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0530
    Task assigned
    1

  4. #4 Hospitalized Age 51 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    16
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0530
    Task assigned
    1

  5. #5 Hospitalized Age 35 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    16
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0530
    Task assigned
    1

  6. #6 Hospitalized Age 57 M

    Nature of injury
    2
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    8
    Source
    19
    Occupation code
    999
    Human factor
    16
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    0530
    Task assigned
    1

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