Far West Water & Sewer Inc.

Description

Gamble and Lanser died from acute hydrogen sulfide gas poisoning while working in an underground sewage tank. They lost consciousness because of the exposure and drowned in the sewage. Connie Charles directed Gamble to enter the tank and unplug the gravity line once it filled up halfway with sewage because she was concerned the lift station was overflowing. Garrett attempted to rescue Gamble from the tank, tying a rope around his waist and having another person, Andrew, hold it while he climbed inside using a ladder. He could not get Gamble out and instead he passed out while trying to exit the tank. Garrett suffered severe injuries, including life-threatening respiratory distress syndrome, aspiration pneumonia, and injuries to his lungs and eyes. Lanser then climbed into the tank to rescue Gamble and Garrett and he too passed out, falling into the tank. Charles was informed of the incident and entered the tank to rescue the others, and she too passed out, but eventually regained consciousness. Far West lacked critical safety equipment required for permit-required confined space entry; did not use or require air monitoring or blower equipment; lacked coordination and planning with Santec; made no attempt to identify rescue services; and lacked rescue equipment; never executed a permit for entry into confined space and had no written permit space program; and did not provide employees with training about the hazards and how to safely enter tanks. Approximately six months before the incident, an OSHA consultant and expert told Weidman and Noll that far West had to implement permit space procedures and training and specified the necessary safety equipment it was required to obtain, but Far West did not do any of it.

Prosecutors

Assistant Attorney General Christina Fitzpatrick; Assistant Attorney General Mark Horlings