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In January 2008, Sure Fresh Foods Inc. pleaded guilty for
failure to provide information, instructions, and supervision
to employees about confined space procedures. This resulted in
the death of a worker in April 2006 and a $150,000 fine to the
employer in 2008.
The Confined Space was a Water Storage Tank
The employee was sent into a large water storage tank which is
usually filled with water drawn from a well to weld a crack.
Due to the fact that Sure Fresh Foods had no Confined Space
Program and no prepared Entry Plan; no atmospheric testing was
performed. The tank contained naturally occurring methane gas
which was entering from the well. Since the gas was in the
explosive range, this resulted in a blast that severely burned
the worker. He then later died in the hospital. Since methane
is colorless and odorless, only testing would have revealed
its presence.
What Could Have Prevented This?
A Confined Space Entry Plan could have saved this worker.
It requires proper atmospheric testing of water tanks before
entry which would have detected the methane gas concentration.
A Confined Space Entry Plan also includes a ventilation plan
which would have rendered the tank safe by evacuating the
dangerous concentration of methane, as well as removing the
fumes that the welding would have produced. Because the
confined space contained an innocuous substance, water in this
case, the space was essentially safe. Please keep in mind that
only proper testing of a space can ensure safety.
Unfortunately, the incident at
Sure Fresh Foods is a classic example of a confined space
incident where a possible hazard is overlooked because no
testing is done. Please ensure the safety of your workers and
provide Confined Space training when needed.
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