Fatal Accident Circumstances and Epidemiology (FACE) Report: Two Supervisors Die in Manhole in South Carolina, August 11, 1987

摘要

The case of a city wastewater treatment facility supervisor and a public works director who entered a manhole with an oxygen deficient atmosphere and collapsed was examined. The director apparently entered a manhole at the north end of the filter beds at the wastewater treatment facility to take samples while the site supervisor stood by observing. On exiting the manhole the director called for a sewer vacuum truck to come and clean sand from the pipe. The superintendent arrived and all three men drove to the manhole at the south end of the filtration beds. The supervisor entered this manhole to determine if there was also sand at that end of the pipe. The other two men heard a splash and saw that the supervisor had collapsed. Both men entered to assist the downed man and one was also overcome. The superintendent managed to escape. An attempt by a facility operator with a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to rescue the men failed when an air hose was damaged. Fire department rescuers with SCBAs removed the victims. Testing of the manhold one day after the accident revealed an oxygen concentration of 11%. The employer should implement a comprehensive safety review program of the existing safety policy and procedures with a section dealing with the safe entry of a confined space. The employer should enforce safety rules.