Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Co-worker fatalities from hydrogen sulfide.

Robert G Hendrickson1, Arthur Chang, Richard J Hamilton

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Oregon Poison Center, Portland, Oregon, USA.

American Journal of Industrial Medicine
|March 19, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas is deadly, causing fatalities in numerous industries. New workers are most at risk, and co-worker rescue attempts tragically lead to additional deaths.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Fellowship Training After Four-Year Emergency Medicine Residency.

The western journal of emergency medicine·2026
Same author

Severe Illness Associated with Eating Mushroom-Containing Chocolate Products - United States, January-October 2024.

MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report·2026
Same author

ACMT Practice Statement:
Duration of Intravenous Acetylcysteine Therapy Following Acetaminophen Overdose (2026 Update).

Journal of medical toxicology : official journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology·2026
Same author

Interpreting Fentanyl and Norfentanyl Concentrations among Patients Seen in the Emergency Department after a Nonfatal Opioid Overdose: A Multicenter Study.

Journal of medical toxicology : official journal of the American College of Medical Toxicology·2026
Same author

Bone Marrow Colony Stimulating Factors (CSF) and Stem Cell Therapy as Medical Countermeasures (MCM) for Treatment of Hematopoietic-Acute Radiation Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

Disaster medicine and public health preparedness·2026
Same author

Health Care Systems: Responsibilities and Resilience.

Disaster medicine and public health preparedness·2026

Area of Science:

  • Occupational Health
  • Toxicology
  • Industrial Safety

Background:

  • Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a colorless, odorless gas posing significant toxicity risks.
  • H2S exposure can cause rapid loss of consciousness and respiratory depression.
  • Worker fatalities have occurred across various industries due to H2S exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze occupational deaths related to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) toxicity.
  • To identify high-risk industries and worker demographics for H2S fatalities.
  • To understand the circumstances surrounding H2S-related workplace deaths.

Main Methods:

  • Review of the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (USBLS) Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) data.
  • Analysis of occupational deaths attributed to hydrogen sulfide from 1993 to 1999.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examination of worker demographics, industries, and fatality circumstances.

    • Main Results:

    • Fifty-two worker deaths from H2S toxicity were recorded between 1993 and 1999.
    • Fatalities predominantly affected white (85%), male (98%) workers, often in their first year of employment (48%).
    • Common industries included waste management, petroleum, and natural gas; co-worker fatalities occurred in 21% of cases.

    Conclusions:

    • Hydrogen sulfide toxicity, while uncommon, presents a severe, potentially fatal risk in the workplace.
    • New employees are particularly vulnerable to H2S toxicity.
    • Co-worker fatalities during rescue attempts highlight the need for specialized training and safety protocols.