CSB Safety Video: Hazards of Nitrogen Asphyxiation

Fatal Accident at Valero Refinery
Delaware City, DE, November 5, 2005

Two contract employees were overcome and fatally injured by nitrogen as they performed maintenance work near a 24-inch opening on the top of a reactor. One of the workers died attempting rescue.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• CSB
• USCSB
• Chemical
• Safety
• Board
• Valero
• Refinery
• Asphyxiation
• Nitrogen
• Delaware
• City

[conoba]

No oxygen level meters? Some people do not even climb into sewers without an oxygen meter.

[OnTheRun167]

I'm guessing the first worker wasn't autopsied. The markings on his body would have determined whether he fell in accidentally or not. The markings would have been more severe than they would be from a fall in a standing position even though the difference in distance was 5 feet.

[XdarkvampyreX]

Hold your breath ... and use the ladder at first the average adult male can hold their breath for about 1 minute with a ladder that would have been more than enough time

[Duvmasta]

There's always time for safety!

[destroyerdragon2002]

 lot of confined space deaths happen when a rescue is attempted

[liquid49286]

I know its not funny, but at the end of the night, there was just a huge pile of bodies in that reactor.

[Kalahridudex]

wait, can u even feel nitrogen asphyxiation? i heard its undetectable

[calvinblinkee]

That guy at 0:10 looks funny with his round glasses haha

[landenberg2341]

This is right. Contractors are not trained properly and the deaths and injuries do not count as on the job accidents for the facility involved. They may know how to do their job, but they are often sent into environments for which they are ill prepared.

[DLNGMVIDS]

i live in delaware and a del city firefighter i rem that night

[epid3mic0]

Just another case of contracted work gone wrong. It's unfortunate how tragic events like these have to keep happening.