Document VGeqkXbz7NvE5wgvMJZp13Vpj

November 18, 1951 -^ Paul Harris, Safety Engineer, Seattle, Washington, phoned to report the death of a and the circumstances which caused the death. fas transferring jet fuel, identified as JP3 from a tank truck into an underground aqua system tank Id,at 3 tOO a,,m., Thursday, November 15# at McCord Pie] Washington. He lowered himself into the manhole pjit to cheek the progress of the filling.while the fuel was flowing into the tank. Presumably the displacement of air by the inflowing fuel produced a very high concentration of vapor in the air of the pit and might have displaced a considerable amount of oxygen. became unconscious very shortly aftter entering the pit and the other man on the job entered the p:it to rescue Tlie rescuer was very quickly affected by the atmosphere to such an extent that he left the pit and only on a second entry was he able to get out of the pit. It was estimated that died about 10 minutes after losing consciousness. Mr. Harris was called on November 17, after the death occurred because someone thought of the possibilil ;y of T.E.L. being involved in the accident, This aqua system tank had at one time stored leaded aviation gasoline but the currently stored jet fuel presumably does not contain lead. KZ 0017289 Memorandum. - Re - page 2 The death was almost certainly due to the vapors of the jet.fuel and T.E.L. even if present could not have been even a contributing factor. This report is only for record. Lester W. Sanders,; M.D. ) KE 0017290