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On November 5, 2005 two contractor employees were asphyxiated while preparing to reassemble a pipe on a pressure vessel while it was being purged with nitrogen. The first worker, in an attempt to retrieve a roll of tape from inside the vessel, was overcome by nitrogen, collapsed in the vessel, and died. His co-worker, the crew foreman, was asphyxiated while attempting to rescue him.
American Petroleum Institute (API)2006-2-I-DE-R6
Revise Guidelines for Safe Work in Inert Confined Spaces in the Petroleum and Petrochemical Industries (API, 2005) to clearly address the following:
- An oxygen-deficient atmosphere rapidly overcomes the victim.
- There is no warning before being overcome.
- An oxygen-deficient atmosphere might exist outside a confined space opening.
- Rescuers must strictly follow safe rescue procedures.
Status: Open - Awaiting Response or Evaluation/Approval of Response