Fatal accident circumstances and epidemiology (FACE) report: construction worker dies as a result of spraying coating material in confined space in California

Technical Report · Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985

OSTI ID:5043169

A fatal accident circumstances and epidemiology (FACE) report describing a confined space accident in California was presented. The report was part of the NIOSH FACE project to collect data on electricity or confined space/related accidents involving fatalities. The victim and a coworker were exposed to 2-nitropropane and coal-tar-pitch vapors while painting the valves and steel flanges in a 72-inch underground water line with an epoxy coating on July 1, 1985. They were admitted to a hospital after complaining of nausea, headache, and vomiting. They were discharged on July 2. The victim was readmitted on July 6. He lapsed into a coma and died on July 12 of acute liver failure. The coworker was advised by the attending physician not to return to work because of fluctuations in his liver enzyme counts. Despite warnings on the cans not to use the resin in confined, unventilated spaces, a blower provided for ventilation was not used. Since both workers did not speak English well, it is possible they did not understand the warning labels. Recommendations include ensuring that employees are aware of the hazards associated with the materials they are using and enforcing existing safety policies.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV (USA). Div. of Safety Research
• OSTI ID: 5043169
• Report Number(s): PB-86-224391/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
COAL TAR OILS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
PAINTS
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
INHALATION
INSPECTION
MORTALITY
TOXICITY
ACCIDENTS
AIR POLLUTION
COATINGS
INTAKE
MATERIALS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SAFETY
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
552000 - Public Health