OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14348296
GOLDEN POULTRY COMPANY INC
DOUGLAS, GA—
Event description
EMPLOYEE WAS ASPHYXIATED IN TANK CONTAINING METHANE GAS
Investigation abstract
ON OCTOBER 10, 1984, AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 PM, EMPLOYEE #1 ENTERED A TANK WHICH PLATFORM ON THE OUTSIDE AND A WOODEN LADDER ON THE INSIDE. UPON ENTERING THE TAN K, EMPLOYEE #1 WAS IMMEDIATELY OVERCOME BY A GASEOUS, OXYGEN-DEFICIENT ATMOSPHER E. WHEN HE TRIED TO CLIMB OUT, HE FELL BACKWARD INTO THE TANK AND APPARENTLY LOS T CONSCIOUSNESS. LOCAL AUTHORITIES WERE UNABLE TO REVIVE HIM. THE GAS PRESENT IN THE TANK WAS IDENTIFIED AS METHANE. HAD CONTAINED CHICKEN BLOOD. THE TANK WAS LOCATED ON THE SECOND FLOOR AND WAS P ART OF A CHICKEN PROCESSING OPERATION AT A RENDERING PLANT. THE INSIDE OF THE TA NK MEASURED 8 FEET HIGH BY 6 1/2 FEET IN DIAMETER. THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK WAS CO NE-SHAPED AND SLOPED OUTWARD AT A 120-DEGREE ANGLE. THE TOP OF THE TANK WAS COVE RED WITH LOOSE PLATE STEEL, ONE-THIRD OF WHICH HAD BEEN REMOVED JUST PRIOR TO EM PLOYEE #1'S ENTRY. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS TO ENTER THE TANK TO REPAIR A HOLE IN THE BOT TOM. THE ONLY WITNESSES TO THIS OPERATION WERE TWO OTHER EMPLOYEES WHO OBSERVED FROM OUTSIDE THE TANK. TO GET INSIDE, EMPLOYEE #1 USED A FIXED METAL LADDER AND
Victim
-
#1 Fatality Age 56 M
- Nature of injury
- 2
- Part of body
- 28
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 19
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 1
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 1640
- Task assigned
- 1
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