Sewer Workers Killed While Conducting Dye Test
Authorities are investigating a tragic incident that led to the death of two sewer workers in Aldan, Pennsylvania.
Late last week, colleagues found the pair unconscious in a manhole and alerted responders.
“A rescue operation for the pair began about 11:15 a.m. after coworkers reported the two were unresponsive in the manhole at West Rively and South Sycamore Avenues,” according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. “Rescuers pulled both workers from the manhole around noon but the men, both believed to be in their early 20s, were pronounced dead at the scene.”
The two men were reportedly part of a larger team that was conducting dye tests on a sewer line. According to a tweet from CBS 3 reporter Kimberly Davis, the identities of the two men and a potential cause of death have been released.
“Daniel Cleaver, Prospect Park PA and Matthew DiSands, 20, Prospect Park were both pronounced dead at the scene,” Davis tweeted. “Police believe they may have been overcome by gas in the sewer while doing a dye test.”
The accident reportedly had no immediate wastewater or sewer impact on the surrounding area. But, according to a CBS 3 report, one of the victim’s fathers is a police officer in the county where the accident took place. And the large police presence that accompanied the investigation did alert residents.
“I figured because people were outside crying but we were just hoping it was because they got them up and out but it’s said,” Chantel Tomasella told CBS 3.
At the time of this writing, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is apparently still investigating.
To read more about the employees of water and wastewater treatment operations, visit Water Online’s Labor Solutions Center.