Investigators believe the contract worker was overcome by fumes while descending a ladder into the container to retrieve tools – the plant employee also went into the container, possibly to assist the contractor, and also was overcome.
CONFINED SPACE FATALITY – Oxygen Deficiency from Nitrogen Purge Two workers killed in Shintech accident’ investigation underway (state and federal authorities are investigating an accident that killed two workers, overcome by fumes – an employee and a contractor died in a vessel in a process unit that was not operational – the bodies of the two men were sent to New Orleans for autopsy and released to their families – a Guard called 911 at 11:30 a.m. to report one man had fallen in the tank, but was still alive – the men received immediate medical treatment at the site, and that local emergency medical services were called in)
UPDATE on story Shintech plant manager: men apparently suffocated in nitrogen-filled container (investigators believe the contract worker was overcome by fumes while descending a ladder into the container to retrieve tools – the plant employee also went into the container, possibly to assist the contractor, and also was overcome – plant manager stated the men likely suffocated in the oxygen-deficient container that was filled with nitrogen as part of the process to produce vinyl chloride – authorities are awaiting autopsy results)
