Inspection Detail

Inspection: 3199502 - Greenwood County Ems

Inspection Information - Office: Sc Department Of Labor, Licensing, And Regulation

Investigation Summary

EMPLOYEE #1, ALONG WITH OTHERS, WAS REMOVING PAINT OVERSPRAY FROM THE FLOOR OF A PUMPING PIT. A PAINT STRIPPER CONTAINING 66 PERCENT METHYLENE CHLORIDE, AND SMALLER PERCENTAGES OF TOLUENE, METHYL ETHYL KETONE, ACETONE AND METHANOL WAS BEING USED. THE FLOOR WAS 35 FEET BELOW THE GROUND IN A 35 BY 24 FOOT PIT WITH AN ENCLOSED BUILDING ABOVE IT. NO MECHANICAL VENTILATION WAS PROVIDED. A STRONG BUILDUP OF FUMES CAUSED THE WORKERS TO EVACUATE. EMPLOYEE #1 RETURNED TO THE PIT. HE WAS OVERCOME BY THE FUMES AND WAS KILLED. EMPLOYEE #2, AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL EMPLOYEE, ATTEMPTED TO RESCUE EMPLOYEE #1. HE WAS HOSPITALIZED BECAUSE OF HIS EXPOSURE TO THE FUMES. THIS EVENT WAS CAUSED BY IMPROPER ENTRY INTO A CONFINED SPACE CONTAINING HAZARDOUS LEVELS OF METHYLENE CHLORIDE.

Keywords: RESPIRATORY, TOXIC FUMES, VENTILATION, METHYLENE CHLORIDE, WORK RULES, INHALATION, CONFINED SPACE