The danger of toxic gas hazards is a very real and daily threat that people face in numerous occupations. In the state of Kentucky, one police officer and two sewer workers died in an attempt to rescue a third sewer worker who had been overcome by H{sub}2S gas at the bottom of an underground pumping station. All four were pronounced dead upon their removal from the station. In the state of Georgia, a plumbing contractor and two co-workers were laying out a new sewer line for an industrial building under construction when a fatal accident occurred. The contractor entered the manhole and descended 15 feet into the sewer to measure a stub out location for the new line. Co-workers were unsuccessful in their rescue attempts and the contractor was removed by the fire rescue squad. He was pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital. Atmospheric tests revealed the oxygen level in the sewer to be six percent. Deaths of workers in confined spaces are a recurring occupational tragedy. According to NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health), approximately 60% of deaths involve would-be rescuers. With the proper equipment and training, the vast majority of these fatalities can be prevented. When working in a confined space, atmospheric monitoring is a vital.
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