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Mechanic dies from lack of oxygen in transport tank.

Authors

Anonymous

Source

NIOSH 2007 May; :1-6

Link

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/stateface/or/04or002.html 

NIOSHTIC No.

20032576 

Abstract

On February 4, 2004, a 23-year-old tank mechanic died when he entered a permit-required confined space. The mechanic was assigned to prepare a shipping container used to transport silicon tetrachloride for an inspection. The tank had been purged with an inert nitrogen atmosphere. While waiting for the inspector to arrive, the mechanic entered the tank for an unknown reason, apparently without first testing the atmosphere, and died of asphyxiation. When the victim was discovered about an hour later, a coworker jumped into the tank, again without testing the atmosphere first, and lifted the victim up to others standing on top of the tank. Testing by fire department responders showed the atmosphere at the bottom of the tank to be about 12% oxygen, below the minimum safe level of 19.5% oxygen. CAUSE OF DEATH: Asphyxiation. RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Employers must evaluate confined spaces in the workplace. A permit-required confined space requires written entry procedures, including posted documentation of test results by an authorized person. 2. Never enter a confined space without first testing the atmosphere with an appropriate air-monitoring instrument. 3. Never enter a confined space without appropriate personal protective equipment for safe entry. 4. A trained attendant must monitor workers in a confined space and be prepared for an emergency response that does not involve direct entry of the space.

Keywords

Region-10; Accident-analysis; Accident-prevention; Accidents; Injuries; Injury-prevention; Traumatic-injuries; Safety-education; Safety-equipment; Work-operations; Training; Confined-spaces; Atmosphere-analyzers; Air-quality-monitoring; Emergency-responders; Work-environment; Work-operations; Breathing-atmospheres; Safety-education; Safety-measures; Safety-practices; Respiration; Mechanics

Publication Date

20070522

Document Type

Field Studies; Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation

Funding Type

Cooperative Agreement

Fiscal Year

2007

NTIS Accession No.

PB2007-114528

NTIS Price

A02

Identifying No.

FACE-04OR002; Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U60-CCU-021204; Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U60-OH-008324

SIC Code

NAICS-33

Source Name

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

State

OR

Performing Organization

Oregon Department of Human Services