Basil Singh Area Director Dallas Area Office INTRODUCTION TO OSHA Basil Singh Area Director Dallas Area Office 02.12.10

Matula & Matula Construction, Inc. South Texas Matula & Matula Construction, Inc.

History This company has been operation for approximately 16 years and has been incorporated for the last ten years. Matula & Matula Construction, Inc. operates under the Primary SIC 1623 and NAICS 237110. The Establishment had approximately 78 employees

Incident Fatality reported to OSHA stating that an employee fell from a ladder.

Operation Approximately two weeks prior to this incident a 15” gravity sewer line running from the intersection of Oak Drive South to Lift Station #1 had been relocated. At this time, the old line was plugged in preparation for future filling of the line with grout. The procedure for plugging the lines involved pumping the sewage level down at the manholes, entering the manhole and plugging the end of the 15” line in each manhole with grout.

Operation The end of the vent pipes were taped shut. It was estimated that the sewage left remaining in the 15” plugged pipe may have been up to half the depth of the pipe. The plugging of the abandoned line was done under the supervision of the foreman. The manholes were approximately 13’ deep.

Day of Incident Employees observed normal sewer odors in the manhole as they started pumping grout into the pipe headed from manhole (1) to manhole (2). Water was ejected from vent pipe in manhole (2). The supervisor instructed the employee to removed the grout plug from manhole (2) to allow the grout to free flow easier from manhole (1).

Day of Incident An employee entered manhole (2), descended about halfway down on a ladder, and then immediately exited the manhole. He stated to the crew that the odor was bad; he did not report any other sensations and was not coughing. He tied a bandana around his nose and reentered the manhole (2).

Day of Incident He was observed in the manhole by a crewmember who was holding the ladder as he entered. Employee was about 2’ from the floor then started climbing back up the ladder to exit the manhole. He was about halfway up the ladder when he fell to the bottom(head still in the manhole). He was not moving and was observed taking up to three breaths.

Day of Incident Employee yelled that the deceased had fallen and started to enter the manhole but was told by the supervisor not to, and he did not. Supervisor attempted to enter and stated the odor was too bad. The employer did not have a permit for the required confine space, any retrieval equipment at the jobsite and the employees were not wearing any harness. The employer did not have any atmospheric testing equipment or ventilation equipment at the jobsite.

INSPECTION The fatality was reported by the project manager as a fall from a ladder. No mention of possible exposure to Hydrogen Sulfide exposure or other hazardous gases or possible Oxygen deficient workplace

Day of Incident The foreman, admitted that prior to the fatality the company did not provide or purchase any Atmospheric Testing equipment, Manhole blower/ ventilation or retrieval Equipment. He admitted that he did not prepare any permits for the Permit- Require Confine Space at the jobsite or during the entire project. He stated that he borrowed a blower and used it for ventilation after OSHA was at the jobsite and returned it back to the City. He also admitted that he borrowed atmospheric testing equipment from the city inspector and uses it after the fatality to test the atmosphere.

Day of Incident Fire Chief: I witness an adult male at the bottom of the sewer in a fetal position and detected an odor of rotten eggs. I was told the victim was in the hole for approximately 20 minutes and he appeared not to be breathing. I deployed my multi gas meter and the meter started to alarm roughly four feet below the grade and continue to alarm showing of H2S. Rescue 1 Crew was assigned to assemble the tripod rescue frame.

Day of Incident I notice there were no positive fan or any source of fresh air to the manhole. The water was about to his chin, but not covering his face. We set up a fan and SCBA air bottles to pressure the manhole with fresh air. We notice he did not have on a safety harness, so we were not able connect a rope to a harness and retrieve the victim. I put on my gear along with an air pack and climbed down a ladder to retrieve the victim. As I started to climb down. I notice the victim face was by this time covered in water. Upon getting to the victim, he was in approximately 18 inches to 2 feet of water.

Day of Incident The employer has an extensive Safety Program Manual and provided that document to the Area Director with abatements for previous Inspection. The employer was cited for this same violation with the same exposed employees (crew) four months prior.  

Incident Location

Incident Location

Incident Location

Incident Location

Incident Location

Incident Location

Incident Location

Incident Location The incident occurred across the street from the Police Department and the Fire Department. Manholes 1 & 2 next to a Church

Citations Citations issued for Three Serious violations, Two Repeated violations and Two Willful violations. VIOLATION SUMMARY: The serious violations address hazards associated with failure to provide specific Personal Protective Equipment, failure to instruct employees of hazardous, exposure to hazardous chemicals, failure to inspect ladders, Failure to remove defective ladders and Failure Respiratory protection.  

Citations The willful violations address the hazards resulting from the employer’s failure to provide to atmospheres testing, failure to provide Ventilation, failure to provide retrieval equipment, failure to ensure employees wear fall arrest system in a vertical confine space; failure instruct the nature of hazards involved in a permit required confine space and the necessary precautions to be taken.  

Citations Employer Responsibility Reviewed key points of 1926, Subparts P and AA FY16 Fatalities in: Trench – Excavations and Confined Spaces The facts are: The death of each worker in America, is tragic and one too many! Workplace Safety and Health Regulations are known as “minimum requirements”. 25 of the 36 (69%) worker deaths in trench-excavations during FY16 were killed due to cave-ins (collapses). 3 of the 18 worker deaths in Confined Spaces during FY16 were asphyxiated due to working in or around manholes.

Citations What is needed: Improve and focus on employer planning and safety inspections of trenches and confined spaces. Improve effectiveness of training and practices of Competent Persons and workers involved in excavations and confined spaces. Prevent worker asphyxiation deaths in confined spaces by adhering to: 1926.1203(a): Before it begins work at a worksite, each employer must ensure that a competent person identifies all confined spaces…  

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