".....the cause of the fumes has not been determined"
Really?
Doesn't sound like they had the proper equipment.
SC I keep hearing, alternatively, "sewer line" and "storm sewer line" so not sure what they were working on. I think I have heard stories about in the eastern US where they are sometimes the same in times of flooding, but the two are mutually exclusive around here, to my experience. I daresay that I wouldn't have given much though to entering a storm sewer manhole without PPE equipment. I think my opinion is evolving, especially if this accident really happened in a storm sewer.
Andy
Fromy reading of the article it sounds more lack a lack of oxygen rather than other gases. With that being said you can get methane and/or carbon monoxide in storm sewers. Vegetation and other biologic material collects and as they decompose they release gases. It sounds like the LEAST they should have had was an oxygen monitor.
Another Andy
This happened two weeks ago on a project we are currently doing the staking for.
In NYC we have two possible conditions.
In most areas of the City (relatively older, I mean before the 1940's), all the sewers are combined, i.e., sanitary and storm are all channeled into one line. When there's a heavy rainstorm, these often are diverted away from the sewer plants and directly into the rivers because the sewer plants can't handle the excessive flow. Recently, the City has spent 1.6 billion dollars on huge underground storage structures, called CSO (Combined Sewer Overflow) facilities, where the fluid is diverted until after the rainstorm and then gradually pumped back into the system for treatment. Usually, the City takes a large park or otherwise open area, digs it up and then covers it back over. There are four currently open and in use, and they can hold over 100 million gallons, with one or two more planned.
In more recently developed areas, there are separate storm and sanitary lines, where the two never mix.
Nonetheless, for the purposes of working inside, both types of sewers are considered confined space, and should not be entered without proper ventilation and monitoring.
Many years ago, I did as-builts and inspections of NEW (i.e., clean, before they were put into service) 48" and larger diameter sanitary sewer lines and we were not allowed entry until at least two manholes on either side of our working area were opened, ventilated (by fans) and sampled.
Andy
I think they updated the article since I originally read it. Looks like it was an intentionally plugged sewer line (perhaps new construction) and they were taking the plug out to activate the new line. Wouldn't even consider for a second doing what they did without PPE. Apparently they were in a 5' diameter line. Enough for the body to flow downstream and probably plenty of gases.
The reporting is very scattered with one station saying that the men were trapped in a septic tank.
Andy
I subbed for SJL when I had my business. They primarily do large utilities. If it was a NTMWD line it was probably a big interceptor. I am surprised that they let them plug it to begin with.
Andy
Road, if I had to speculate I'd guess it was a new lateral dumping into the big pipe that was plugged. But, just speculating. I'm sitting in Midland listening to WBAP on the computer while drafting, so just trying to piece the story together from reporters who don't know their rear end from a sanitary sewer manhole.
Andy
I heard it was a 60 inch dia. line, and that one of the men was washed away.
Bummer, one of them had five kids.