Know the limitations of our Respiratory Protection (PRCS Fatality, O2 Defeciency, 1-entrant and 1-would be rescuers)

Employee #1, a warehouse operator, dropped his safety glasses into the compartment of a railroad tank car that was being filled with aerosol. The aerosol was blown through a line by low-pressure nitrogen (N2) gas. After Employee #1 notified coworkers and his supervisor, the material flow was turned off, but NOT the gas. Wearing an Air-Purifying Respirator (APR), Employee #1 entered the railcar through a manhole. He was overcome and fell to the bottom of the tank. Employee #2, his supervisor, entered the railcar in a rescue attempt but was also overcome. Two other employees wearing APRs attempted a rescue, but it was unsuccessful. Coworkers who were wearing SCBAs removed the two (2) bodies.

Neither Employee #1 nor Employee #2 could be revived.

Two hours later, the tank air was tested and found to be at 14%oxygen.

Violations/PenaltiesSeriousWillfulRepeatOtherUnclassTotal
Initial Violations11
Current Violations11
Initial Penalty$1,620$0$0$0$0$1,620
Current Penalty$810$0$0$0$0$810
FTA Penalty$0$0$0$0$0$0
#Citation IDCitaton TypeStandard CitedIssuance DateAbatement Due DateCurrent PenaltyInitial PenaltyFTA PenaltyContestLatest EventNote
1.01001ASerious5A000110/27/198710/30/1987$810$810$0 
2.01001BSerious19100134 A0310/27/198710/30/1987$0$0$0 
3.01001CSerious19100134 B0810/27/198710/30/1987$0$0$0 
4.01001DSerious19100134 E0310/27/198710/30/1987$0$0$0 
5.01001ESerious19100134 E03 I10/27/198710/30/1987$0$0$0 
6.01001FSerious19101200 H0110/27/198710/30/1987$0$810$0I – Informal Settlement 

Source: https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=100344050

Scroll to Top