INCIDENT

Mr. Provancher on October 9th, 2012 with a co-worker Eric Williams, were replacing pipes at an oil pumping location in Dunn County, North Dakota. One of the pipes burst, releasing a cloud of hydrogen sulfide, a highly toxic colorless gas which carries a distinctive “rotten egg” odder.  

Hight concentrations of the gas, according to an OSHA fact sheet, “can cause shock, convulsions, inability to breathe, extremely rapid unconsciousness, coma and death. Effects can occur within a few breaths, and possibly a single breath.”

Williams, who himself was hit with a heavy dose of the gas, ran from the building, but returned when he saw that Provancher was still inside and dragged him out of the building. Williams attempted CPR on his co- worker until an ambulance arrived.

Provancher was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Dickinson, North Dakota. He died two days later, on October 11th.

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