On Monday morning – January 16, 2017 – a contracted crew returned to a residential street of Key Largo, Florida to resume work on the road.  One of the crew noticed that a section of paved street was not settling properly, so decided to remove a manhole cover and descend to take a look.  Moments later the 15'' deep hole went silent.

Sensing the prior utility worker was trapped, another worker descended into the drainage hole to rescue him.  When no one emerged, a third worker entered the hole to rescue the prior two  workers.  All three workers died.

Locals who live in the area complained that the area had smelled of rotten eggs – the telltale odor of hydrogen sulfide – for the past couple of months.  The Miami-Dade County Hazmat Team confirmed the pipe contained hydrogen sulfide, methane gas, and low levels of oxygen from years of rotting vegetation.  OSHA is investigating.

The forthcoming lesson on Confined Space Entry provides details and training on safety procedures.