DEATHS IN CONFINED SPACES

Each year, more than 20 people die in the United States from inhaling toxic chemicals in confined spaces, which include sewers, tanks and storage silos, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration says. About 60 percent of the fatalities are would-be rescuers.

Below is a synopsis of some recent fatalities involving confined spaces and the investigation results.

August 2001 -- Topeka, Kan.

Three men working for Emerson Construction died from suffocation while inspecting a new sewer line. The first worker was climbing into the 23-foot-deep manhole when he succumbed to a lack of oxygen, passed out and fell. Two other workers went in to save him and also lost consciousness. The first worker died at the scene. The other two died at an area hospital. OSHA investigators found two willful violations and one serious violation. They fined the company $85,500, which later was reduced to $65,750.

October 2001-- Yuma, Ariz.

One worker and a would-be rescuer died after being overcome with toxic fumes in a sewer pipe. Arizona OSHA investigators cited Far West Water & Sewer Inc. with five serious violations and fined the company $35,000. A grand jury later indicted the company, its president and a supervisor on negligent homicide and other charges. After convictions, a judge fined the company $1.77 million and sentenced the president to seven years of probation and 840 hours of community service. The convictions are under appeal.

July 2002 -- Des Moines, Iowa

Two workers died in a sewer pipe after being overcome by hydrogen sulfide fumes and collapsing facedown in sewage. Five other workers for Insituform Technologies Inc. were overcome by fumes during a failed rescue attempt. Iowa OSHA investigators found 11 willful and nine serious violations and fined the company $808,250. After an appeal by Insituform, the penalty was reduced to $733,750.

September 2002 -- Nokomis, Fla.

One worker died, and three others were hurt, after a 23-foot-deep lift station filled with sewage. The first worker went in to make repairs and was overcome with sewer gases, and the others inhaled gases during the rescue. Federal OSHA investigators found one willful violation and five serious violations against E.T. MacKenzie of Florida and fined the company $68,700.

October 2002 -- Miami Beach, Fla.

Two employees of Electrical Technologies died after inhaling fumes in a sewer, passing out and drowning. The workers were installing pipes for electrical cables next to a sewer when water started seeping into the pipe trench. When a pump used to remove the water clogged, a worker went inside a nearby manhole to unclog it. He was overcome with hydrogen sulfide and collapsed. The second worker went in to save him and also collapsed after inhaling the gas. Federal OSHA officials found one willful violation and three serious violations and fined the company $62,000. The fine later was reduced to $47,000.

November 2003 -- Edinburg, Texas

Two workers died after inhaling hydrogen sulfide and methane while cleaning an 18-foot-deep sewer line. The first worker slipped while climbing into the manhole, and the second worker went in after him. They both suffocated. Federal OSHA officials found one willful violation and eight serious violation against Jimmerson Underground and levied $78,200 in fines. They also fined L & B Vactor Services $22,400 for eight serious violations.

August 2004 -- Tulsa, Okla.

One worker died, and another was seriously hurt, after exposure to hydrogen sulfide at a wastewater treatment plant. The men were in a manhole when they were overcome. OSHA found two willful and 20 serious violations against two companies, L&L Construction and Raven Lining Systems. The companies were fined a total of $94,800, which later was reduced to $20,700.