Two Chemical Plant Workers Found Dead

March 22, 2000
Two contract workers were found dead early yesterday inside a large boiler they had been cleaning at a chemical plant in Channelview, Texas.

They were working on a scaffold, performing routine sandblasting inside the 22-by-27 foot boiler, according to David Harpole, a spokesman for the Equistar Chemical LP plant.

"What typically is done when you have workers in a confined space is, you have another worker who stays outside the confined space outside the entry," he said. "That worker is there to make sure the oxygen line doesn't become tangled."

When the workers inside failed to respond, the third worker informed emergency personnel.

Plant officials are not sure how much time elapsed between the loss of communication and the discovery of the men.

Harpole added that information was still sketchy and the cause of the deaths was not yet known.

Harpole said that the unit does not handle chemicals and that officials have no reason to suspect any release of hazardous materials.

Charles Perkins, 51, and Brian Turner, 37, were unconscious and not breathing when a rescue team found them on a scaffold inside the boiler heating box, according to The Houston Chronicle.

Harpole told The Chronicle the two men were employees of AIS Basic, a contractor which provides scaffolding erection and sandblasting services.

Equistar and OSHA are investigating the accident.

Channelview is approximately 15 miles east of Houston.

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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