Fumes rise from manhole; 1 killed, 3 injured
May 11, 2010 by Fred HosierPosted in: Bizarre Accident of the Week, Falls, Fatality, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Respiratory safety
One worker was killed and three firefighters were hospitalized after being overcome by mysterious fumes that rose out of an opened manhole in Middletown, OH.
Jabin Lakes, a maintenance worker for the City of Middletown, was found dead at the bottom of a manhole. He’d opened the cover to do a routine visual check of sewer lines.
Lakes hadn’t gone below ground. Authorities believe he lost consciousness and fell in.
An autopsy may determine whether Lakes died of exposure to the fumes or from his fall.
One firefighter was lowered into the hole by a rope and was quickly overcome by the same fumes. Two other firefighters standing outside the hole also began to have difficulty breathing.
The firefighters weren’t using breathing apparatus because they thought they were responding to a fall.
The firefighter who was lowered into the hole remains in a hospital intensive care unit. Another firefighter is hospitalized in fair condition, and the third was treated and released.
Initial tests indicate the fumes might have been nitrogen. Further tests will determine what the fumes were.
The manhole is in front of an Air Products and Chemicals facility that supplies oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen to AK Steel’s Middletown Works. Authorities say they can’t rule out that Air Products was the source of the fumes.
Since the incident involved public employees, OSHA won’t investigate.
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Tags: fall, mysterious fumes, nitrogen, overcome by fumes
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May 11th, 2010 at 7:10 am
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May 30th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
So Public employees don’t count? Surely if this is in a city street the “Public” count? or do we?
Why is there so much mystery to all these things Fred?
OSHA (Allegedly) have the skill and tools to investigate these matters so why is a public employee different.
June 8th, 2010 at 9:57 am
What in the world is wrong here? Mystery? Don’t they have any air monitors? Single gas or MultiGas confined space monitors?
I thought Public Workers were covered by OSHA? We pay for Public Works with taxpayers money and they should get the same protection as private workers. Safety saves money and we sure need to use taxpayers money in an economical fashion!
Also Fire Dept not understanding about Confined Space hazards?
Sounds like some Safety Training is in order in Ohio?
November 30th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Yes, municipal workers do count. No, municipal workers do not fall under the same rules as most other private sector workers because they work for a municipal government (correct me if I’m wrong) (I know someone will!). And, finally, waht is everyone tihnking? There are myriadways of testing the atmosphere of a confined space before entering. Frankly in industry you would not be alone there would need to be at least two workers to perform any c-space work. Firefighters going in a c-space without testing atmosphere or wearing SCBA or supplied air … preposterous! It is long overdue that municipal government train their workforce to be safe.
December 3rd, 2010 at 11:03 am
The OSH Act of 1970 specifically excludes state and municipal workers:
The definition of the term “employer” in section 3(5) of the Act:
{5} The term “employer” means a person engaged in a business affecting
commerce who has employees, but does not include the United States or
any State or political subdivision of a State.
The term “State” is defined as follows in section 3(7) of the Act:
{7} The term “State” includes a State of the United States, the District
of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and
the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
December 7th, 2010 at 11:06 am
Where are all the people who want to crucify the managers of companies who kill employees? Now that this is a city government all are silent? City personnel are still people and we need to make the government follow the same rules as private companies, that is if we are really concerned about the people?Or are we just interested in suing and or fining private companies since they are “Evil “!