Two workers killed during demolition project at Gulfport

**James** · #1 (**permalink**) 03-22-2006, 01:31 AM

Officials say two construction workers died today during a demolition project at the hurricane-ravaged Grand Casino Gulfport.

Officials believe the men were trapped in part of the casino barge which collapsed during Hurricane Katrina.

The men who died were inside the vessel pumping water out, and their names and the cause of death were not immediately available.

The Sun-Herald newspaper reported the men were part of a marine team working with PRC Environmental -- a Houston, Texas-based company which was demolishing the barge.

Responders are working to recover their bodies.

The barge was heavily damaged by Katrina on August 29th

demobud · #2 (**permalink**) 03-23-2006, 07:44 AM

James, I just found out that the two men were overcome by fumes and susequently passed out and drowned in the compartment that they were pumping down. Possibly their pump(s) were too close to the compartment opening. If they are, the displaced air pulls the exhaust fumes down into the hold and can rapidly create a lethal environment. It's always good to have two openoings per compartment and to have your pumps as far as possible from the confined space.
Bud

1Pyro · #3 (**permalink**) 03-23-2006, 07:56 AM

Any worker entering a confined space should have a hole watch & a gas monitor.

1Pyro · #4 (**permalink**) 03-23-2006, 08:08 AM

I would recommend the MSA Solaris portable 4 gas monitor, measures % LEL, CO PPM O2 % & H2S PPM. I wear it every work day all day. Cost $1500 which is very cheap compared to a death.

FNG · #5 (**permalink**) 03-23-2006, 08:21 AM

Just to add to what 1Pyro posted, I've worked as a laborer in confined spaces where in addition to the hole watch and monitoring equipment, we had to use a harness and winch system so that workers could be pulled out if they went unconcious. It's surprising that OSHA isn't all over operations down there to keep the feds from getting another blackeye, since there's such an uproar over how Katrina was handled.

**James** · #6 (**permalink**) 03-23-2006, 08:35 AM

1Pyro & Fng, you guys are right. It is going to be interesting to see if the were using the proper equipment and OSHA guidelines for confined spaces.

I think OSHA, just like all the other Regulatory agencies are so overwhelmed because of Katrina and I am sure this accident is going to put more pressure on all the agencies involved.

The men were identified as 49-year-old Tim Fitzgerald, of Newport News, Virginia, and 48-year-old Miguel Hidalgo-Soberano, of Cardenas Tabasco, Mexico.

The workers were employed by Dominion Marine Group of Norfolk, Virginia. They were part of a marine team working with PRC Environmental, the Houston based company dismantling the barge. Crews began demolishing the battered barge about two weeks ago.

demobud · #7 (**permalink**) 03-23-2006, 10:55 AM

James, you hit the nail where OSHA is concrned. They simply do not have enough inspectors to cover all of the contractors in any region, much less when a situation like Katrina causes a massive influx of contractors to a specific area.
Whether this will cause OSHA to step up inspections in the area we'll just have to see.