OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #912717
NORTHLAND CONTR AMOCO PRODUCTION CO
KALKASKA, MI·
Event description
EMPLOYEE HOSPITALIZED DUE TO CONFINED SPACE ASPHIXIATION
Investigation abstract
On April 24, 1989, Employee #1 entered molecular sieve dehydrator number 3 throu rt period of asphyxia but did not sustain any permanent health effects. gh an opening at the top to vacuum the molecular sieve beads. Nitrogen was used to purge the dehydrator creating an oxygen deficient atmosphere. The nitrogen pu rge drives out natural gas and maintains a non-explosive atmosphere. Soon after entering Employee #1 had difficulty breathing. The standby man observed this and pulled Employee #1 out of the dehydrator. Employee #1 was wearing an airline re spirator manufactured by ISI with a full-face mask. However, the air hose broke at the connection to the air bottle used for escape. Employee #1 was given oxyge n and taken to the hospital. The doctor indicated Employee #1 had suffered a sho
Victim
-
#1 Hospitalized Age 39 Male
- Nature of injury
- Asphyxia (2)
- Part of body
- BODYSYSTEM (4)
- Accident type
- CARD-VASC/RESP FAIL. (12)
- Source of injury
- OTHER (43)
- Occupation
- Occupation not reported (999)
- Human factor
- MISJUDGMENT, HAZ. SITUATION (1)
- Environmental factor
- OTHER (18)
- Hazardous substance
- 1900
- Task assigned
- Task regularly assigned (1)
Labels are OSHA's own, from the code dictionary published with the accident-investigation file. The raw code is shown beside each one so this page can be reconciled against OSHA's bulk data. OSHA notes that nature of injury, part of body, source of injury and accident type in this file are not coded to the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System, and that the occupation titles are not standardised — so these values are not directly comparable with the OIICS-coded severe injury reports.