San Francisco Firefighters Get OSHA Permit Prior to Rescue

Aug. 19, 2024

"Performing a rescue inside a confined space like a sewer pipe involves getting an OSHA permit to enter the confined space," Lt. Mariano Elias said.

Susan Nicol

San Francisco rescue technicians had to obtain an OSHA permit before going into a sewer pipe to extricate a man early Sunday.

After all the proper protocols were observed, firefighters found the man and rescued him, extricating him from the pipe shortly after 5 a.m., San Francisco Lt. Mariano Elias told 7news.

The man was taken to San Francisco General Hospital with serious injuries.

A man called 9-1-1 telling dispatchers he heard scraming coming from a manhole.

Elias said the victim somehow got into the pipe which was 20 feet below street level. At some point, there was a downward drop in the pipe, and the man fell on his head.

About the Author

Susan Nicol | News Editor

Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.