Photo by Gary Stelzer
Authorities are still sorting out an unusual confined space incident in Middleton, Ohio that took the life of a city worker, and hospitalized 3 firefighters. The 31 year old city maintenance worker was conducting a non-entry inspection of a manhole when he lost consciousness and fell down inside the manhole.
It is believed the worker may have been overcome by an unknown gas, possibly nitrogen. The manhole was located in front of an Air Products facility.
Middleton firefighters, responding to a report of a fall, attempted to rescue the worker by lowering a firefighter into the manhole with a rope.
A fire captain quickly lost consciousness after being lowered into the hole by two firefighters. The firefighters lowering the captain into the manhole also began having respiratory difficulties.
Middletown police Maj. Mark Hoffman says the firefighters were pulled to safety by a Middleton police officer. The unconscious fire captain was airlifted to the hospital. A second firefighter was transported by ambulance. It is not known how long the fire officer was inside the sewer.
Air monitoring of the manhole by later responding hazmat and confined space teams revealed 2% oxygen in the manhole.
photo by Gary Stelzer
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