A 38-year-old male employee was overexposed to hydrogen sulfide (or possibly an oxygen-deficient atmosphere) while inside a manhole. A second employee tried to rescue the victim but was also overcome. The second employee was rescued by an employee of the Waste Water Treatment facility. The two-man crew had been hired by the Waste Water Treatment Plant to clear a blocked sewer line. They were going to clear the blockage from above the sewer system using a jetter; however, they could not successfully place the jetter line in the sewer from ground level. It was decided that the manhole needed to be entered to place the jetter line in place. The victim entered the manhole by climbing down the ladder inside the manhole. He successfully placed the line to clear the blockage and began to climb out of the manhole when he was overcome with either hydrogen sulfide or an oxygen-deficient atmosphere and lost consciousness. When the other two employees saw him fall into the 2’ of standing water in the bottom of the manhole, the helper tied a ratchet strap to a nearby fence then around his own waist and entered the manhole to attempt a rescue of the victim.
PRCS Fatality @ WWTP involving contractors (hydrogen sulfide or possibly an O2 deficiency)
