At 11:30 a.m. on October 15, 2021, Employees #1 and #2, both maintenance contractor employees, were assigned to install a pressure safety valve (PSV) on a flare header in a methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) unit when they were exposed to nitrogen and carbon monoxide. The installation procedure requires supplied air respirators. The employees were staging equipment on the platform area in the MDI unit to remove the PSV. Employee #2 decided to go down to the lower level to obtain both employees’ supplied air respirators before starting the work.
Employee #2 looked back and saw Employee #1 slumped over on the platform. Employee #1 was overcome by the gases and lost consciousness.
Employee #2, in an attempt to revive Employee #1, also lost consciousness.
The employees were discovered by coworkers, and emergency services were notified.
First responders removed both employees from the platform, but Employee #1 died from his exposure.