Wheeling Fire Department Mabas TRS Box #24 @ 225 Carpenter Body Recovery From 6000 Gallon Tank
Daily Herald Reports:
By Matt Arado
One of two men cleaning a tank that had held a chemical solvent fell about 50 feet into sludge at the bottom of the tank and died, Wheeling fire officials said Thursday.
Wheeling police and fire personnel responded to a call from Sunnyside Corp., at 225 Carpenter Ave., around 11:50 a.m.
Firefighters quickly determined that the man, who was facedown in the sludge, had died, so they focused on safely removing him from the tank, said Wheeling Fire Chief Keith MacIsaac. His body was removed about 2:30 p.m. and taken to the Cook County medical examiner’s office for an autopsy.
MacIsaac said the two men, who were working for an outside company hired to clean the tank, weren’t wearing certain types of protective gear they might be expected to don. The entrance to the tank was 28 inches wide. It’s unclear if the man fell or was overcome by fumes, MacIsaac said. The tank had contained methylene chloride.
The second worker, who remained on the outside of the tank, felt faint and was taken to Glenbrook Hospital, but his condition didn’t seem life-threatening, MacIsaac said.
MacIsaac said he didn’t know the name of the cleaning company and he declined to comment on the name or are of the victim.
Fire officials have turned the investigation of the death over to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, he said.
Sunnyside Corp. makes paint thinner, cleaners and other chemical solvents and removers, according to its website. Methylene chloride is commonly used as a solvent in products including paint thinners or strippers.
MacIsaac said emergency personnel from 15 departments assisted at the scene.
Read MoreBy Matt Arado
One of two men cleaning a tank that had held a chemical solvent fell about 50 feet into sludge at the bottom of the tank and died, Wheeling fire officials said Thursday.
Wheeling police and fire personnel responded to a call from Sunnyside Corp., at 225 Carpenter Ave., around 11:50 a.m.
Firefighters quickly determined that the man, who was facedown in the sludge, had died, so they focused on safely removing him from the tank, said Wheeling Fire Chief Keith MacIsaac. His body was removed about 2:30 p.m. and taken to the Cook County medical examiner’s office for an autopsy.
MacIsaac said the two men, who were working for an outside company hired to clean the tank, weren’t wearing certain types of protective gear they might be expected to don. The entrance to the tank was 28 inches wide. It’s unclear if the man fell or was overcome by fumes, MacIsaac said. The tank had contained methylene chloride.
The second worker, who remained on the outside of the tank, felt faint and was taken to Glenbrook Hospital, but his condition didn’t seem life-threatening, MacIsaac said.
MacIsaac said he didn’t know the name of the cleaning company and he declined to comment on the name or are of the victim.
Fire officials have turned the investigation of the death over to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, he said.
Sunnyside Corp. makes paint thinner, cleaners and other chemical solvents and removers, according to its website. Methylene chloride is commonly used as a solvent in products including paint thinners or strippers.
MacIsaac said emergency personnel from 15 departments assisted at the scene.
