OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14476600
M & U ERECTORS & FABRICATORS, INC.
LEBANON, OH—
Event description
ASPHYXIATED INSIDE A GASOLINE STORAGE TANK
Investigation abstract
ON JUNE 7, 1985, EMPLOYEE #1 DIED INSIDE A 6.3 MILLION GALLON CAPACITY GASOLINE HE HAD NO RESPIRATOR FOR HIS OWN USE, AND EMPLOYEE #1 WAS NOT HOOKED TO A LIFEL INE OR EQUIVALENT DEVICE. STORAGE TANK. THE TANK WAS HALF-FILLED WITH REGULAR LEADED GASOLINE. THIS EMPLOY EE WAS PERFORMING AN "INTERNAL PAN TANK INSPECTION" WHICH PRIMARILY INVOLVES WAL KING ON A FLOATING ALUMINUM COVER INSIDE THE TANK AND CHECKING THE CONDITION OF THE RUBBER SEALS WHICH ARE PRESENT WHEREVER THE FLOATING COVER MUST MOVE PAST A STATIONARY SURFACE. THE EMPLOYEE WAS APPROXIMATELY HALFWAY AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE 150 FOOT DIAMETER TANK WHEN HE PASSED OUT. HE WAS WEARING A SCBA ON HIS B ACK, BUT WAS NOT WEARING THE RESPIRATOR FACEPIECE. ANOTHER EMPLOYEE, ON THE TOP OF THE TANK, HEARD EMPLOYEE #1 FALL OVER, BUT COULD NOT ATTEMPT A RESCUE BECAUSE
Victim
-
#1 Fatality Age 22 M
- Nature of injury
- 2
- Part of body
- 28
- Event type
- 8
- Source
- 35
- Occupation code
- 999
- Human factor
- 19
- Environmental factor
- 7
- Hazardous substance
- 1340
- Task assigned
- 1
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