Once again, a DOT container cleaning company had another fatal PRCS incident (2020) where we have an entrant and a would-be rescuer dying in a hazardous atmosphere – oxygen deficient. In this incident, the would-be rescuer donned a full-face Air Purifying Respirator before he attempted his rescue effort but was overcome by the atmosphere and died. There were so many things done wrong that led up to this tragedy – but had this individual been properly trained in the LIMITATIONS of his/her APR we maybe could have avoided one fatality.
At 8:30 a.m. on August 12, 2020, two employees, age 23 and 30, were performing chemical tank car cleaning in two separate tank cars at the cleaning rack. Employee #1 enters the tank car to perform chemical cleaning prior to completing an entry permit, ventilating the PRCS, testing the atmosphere, and without a designated attendant. Employee #1 becomes incapacitated during the entry.
Employee #2 arrives to perform a rescue, wearing a full-face air-purifying respirator, and enters the PRCS.
NOTE: the company has contested all 13 citations, 2 willful and 11 serious, for $419,347
