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Two workers injured at Barfield, Woodbine
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A Marco Island city worker and a worker employed by the contractor for the Septic Tank Replacement Project passed out in a manhole Tuesday afternoon.
Marco Island Public Information Coordinator Lisa M. Douglass said employees of DH Higgins were working on sewer main installations for the STRP near the intersection of Barfield Drive and Woodbine Court at approximately 5:15 p.m.
One of the men was 13 feet deep inside the manhole. When he began climbing a ladder to get out of the manhole, witnesses said he passed out from fumes when he got within 3 feet of the surface. He fell 10 feet back into the manhole. Other workers called 911.
Employees for the city were repairing a water line nearby. A city inspector heard pleas for help from the worker in the manhole. When the inspector lowered himself into the hole to pull the man out, he also passed out from the fumes.
Other workers were able to pull the unconscious men out of the manhole as rescue workers from the Marco Island Fire-Rescue Department and Police Department arrived.
MIF-RD personnel immediately used advanced life-saving techniques on the two workers. Both men were taken to the helipad at the Marco Island Health Care Center and airlifted to Lee Memorial Hospital in Fort Myers.
Ed Bania / Eagle staff
A Marco Island city worker and an employee of DH Higgins were critically injured Tuesday afternoon at this construction site near the intersection of Barfield Drive and Woodbine Court. The workers were in a manhole at the time.
“We have spoken to their families and their conditions have improved,” Douglass said Wednesday.
MIF-RD employees remained at the scene and took readings of the air in the manhole and at the construction site.
“The readings detected elevated hydrogen sulfide levels and a decreased oxygen levels within the manhole,” Douglass said. “Readings outside the manhole were not elevated.”
The accident is being investigated by the MIPD and the Fort Lauderdale office of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration.
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This is why this project needs to be slowed down. Someone is going to be hurt or worse. Why? So that Minozzi, Tucker, Trotter and Moss can have their unneeded sewer before they leave office. To think they wanted to accelerate it. Popoff, you made the right call. Pray for these two and pray that there will be no more harmed to appease the egos of our politicians.
#1 Posted by Lolala on July 25, 2007 at 4:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I pray for these men and their families. As a member of the Florida Water & Pollution Control Operators Association, they are my brethern. What we have witnessed is a major violation of federal Confined Space Entry Rules. I am a Marco resident who works for the City of Naples, Utilities Department. I will limit my comment to say that such an incident speaks as to what the STRP is really all about, a steady revenue stream, as opposed to the best interests of the people.
#2 Posted by MarcoJimbo on July 25, 2007 at 8:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you know or believe that the worker for Higgins was an illegal alien and not authorized to work here, contact U.S. Attorney Jim Klindt in Tampa at 813-274-6358.
#3 Posted by legaleasy on July 27, 2007 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The street says that guy is illegal, just like the guy that was electricuted about a month ago that Bania wrote about. Call U.S. Attorney!
#4 Posted by rayboomboom on July 28, 2007 at 3 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Were there any copies of Don Farmers columns down in the hole where the two men passed out from stinky fumes?
#5 Posted by barfieldfly on July 28, 2007 at 11:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For an island that is only4 by 6 miles, we have set a record for the most torn up roads and traffic jams in the entire state of Florida. We seem to have one fiasco after another. We spent millions for a park we still do not have, because the administration has given the use of the land for a long period of time. We are about to waste over a million [ $1000,000.00 ] dollars + on pumping stations that may not be necessary in the sheffield- Lamplighter districts, since it would take three pro STRP candidates to be elected for the four open seats on the council to proceed with this project, which is very unlikely in the current climate on Marco Island. No such candidates have even announced for election yet. on the other hand , four candidates that have pledged to stop the STRP and review the need for it at this time have filed for election and they would only have to elect two of them to stop the STRP for further study. One would think that this and the fact there is no health emergency in this area, would be enough to have the Council Members cancel these pumping stations for the time being. Now, we find that some of our important City employees are in danger for the lack of safety training or equipment. This is the final Straw for me!
#6 Posted by SmokeyJoe on July 29, 2007 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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