Man Fell into Corrosive Chemical Tank and Died on Swan Island

Date:  February 19, 2012

Location:  6000 block of Basin Avenue, Swan Island Industrial Site

Name:  John Michael Summers

Portland Fire and Rescue performed the grim and dangerous job of recovering a man’s body from a tank of toxic and corrosive chemicals Sunday. The tank was on the D/B Boaz barge located at an industrial site on Swan Island, alongside the Willamette River.

John Michael Summers, 57, of Pe ell, Washington, was standing near an open hatch which led into a 40-foot by 50-foot tank  that was filled to a depth of 12 feet with a liquid chemical called Lignin Amine. When a co-worker turned away, then turned back, Summers had disappeared and the alarm was raised. Officials now believe Summers leaned down to open the hatch, passed out from the fumes and fell in. Lignin Amine sucks oxygen out of the air; there was less than a one percent concentration of oxygen at the surface of the tank, and anyone falling in would have been unconscious in a matter of seconds.

Rescue crews were called and used a camera to confirm Summers’ body was in the tank, which was then drained. It took crews about 45 minutes to then enter the tank and recover the body, according to the report on KOIN Local 6. Officials were unable to say whether or not Summers was wearing any safety equipment but said it was a situation which called for precautions to be in place.

We would like to extend our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of John Summers at this tragic time.

In Oregon, property owners are responsible for making certain their property is maintained safely, without any unreasonable dangers. Despite laws intended to protect people, many accidents still occur due to dangerous conditions.

Common types of premises liability cases include:

Slip and Fall:
Example: A store owner fails to mop up a wet floor, or provide proper traction, and a person slips and falls as a result.

Inadequate Maintenance:
Example: A hotel owner fails to maintain the premises, like when a falling tree branch injures a passerby because it has not been properly trimmed.

Defective Conditions:
Example: A property owner fails to repair or warn the public about a dangerous condition in the area, such as a broken staircase.

Inadequate Security.
Example: A parking structure company fails to install adequate lighting or warn patrons about dangerous criminal activity taking place on the premises.

If you or a family member have received injuries due to negligence by a property owner, contact a premises liability lawyer in Oregon to help you investigate, handle your case, and allow you to begin recovery.