Occupationally Related Hydrogen Sulfide Deaths in the United States from 1984 to 1994

Details

• Personal Author:
  Fuller DC ; Suruda, Anthony J.
• Description:
  Alice Hamilton described fatal work injuries from acute hydrogen sulfide poisonings in 1925 in her book Industrial Poisons in the United States. There is no unique code for H2S poisoning in the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision; therefore, these deaths cannot be identified easily from vital records. We reviewed US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigation records for the period 1984 to 1994 for mention of hazardous substance 1480 (hydrogen sulfide). There were 80 fatalities from hydrogen sulfide in 57 incidents, with 19 fatalities and 36 injuries among coworkers attempting to rescue fallen workers. Only 17% of the deaths were at workplaces covered by collective bargaining agreements. OSHA issued citations for violation of respiratory protection and confined space standards in 60% of the fatalities. The use of hydrogen sulfide detection equipment, air-supplied respirators, and confined space safety training would have prevented most of the fatalities. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Confined Spaces Mortality Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Poisoning Respiratory Protective Devices Safety Staff Development Sulfides
• Keywords:
  Acute-exposure Confined-spaces Gas-detectors Injuries Mortality-data Mortality-rates Poison-gases Poisons Respirators Safety-education Standards Training

  More +
• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 8 ; Utah
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  42
• Issue:
  9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20037456
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Med 2000 Sep; 42(9):939-942
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr Douglas C. Fuller, Occupational Medicine Program, University of Utah School of Medicine, 75 South 2000 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
• Email:
  fullerdc@pol.net
• CAS Registry Number:
  Hydrogen sulfide (CAS RN 7783-06-4)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2000
• Performing Organization:
  Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Family & Preventive Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19950701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• End Date:
  20020630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0b9a8ee32ef91d8d6892716fe7b3fff37b5e2bcd4fd997142d31126403d6e74884857f9469bc1fcd73cc9dc14ecb3b992bf6eaf4e26d6893f0275ecbcc4ddcc1
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/188551/cdc_188551_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 102.72 KB ]