A septic service company in Maine that employed two workers who died on the job Sept. 27 faces about $17,000 in fines for alleged safety violations, according to seacostonline.com. Winfield Studley, 58, and Richard Kemp, 70, died when they were overcome by hydrogen sulfide gas after entering a septic tank at a hotel in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Following an Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation, Stevens Electric & Pump Service, of Monmouth, Maine, is being cited for failure to ventilate the area where the men were working, failure to test the air quality before the men went in the tank, and failure to monitor the area’s air quality, the news website reported.

According to media accounts, the sewer pump tank at the Lodge at Turbots Creek had been pumped by another contractor and then the men entered the 4-foot high, 5-foot wide and 6-foot long tank to work on a submersible pump. The men worked across the state installing and servicing sewer pumps. Neither was wearing special breathing equipment when they were discovered, according to reports.

It was reported earlier that both of the victims had years of experience working in confined space situations. This tragic case and others like it recently underscore the importance of both safety training and following through with equipment and procedures designed to protect workers when they enter a tank for any reason. We grieve the loss of two wastewater industry veterans and extend our condolences to the families of these victims.