EPA Criminal Case File: Scott Dominguez

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Scott Dominguez was only 20 years old when he was ordered to climb into a 25,000 gallon tank while employed at an industrial chemical reprocessing plant in Soda Springs, Idaho. Owner Allan Elias ignored requests for safety equipment and instructed Scott to climb down into the tank to clean out the sludge at the bottom. Scott did not know that the tank had once held cyanide and later, phosphoric acid. When Scott began hosing the tank down with water, it produced hydrogen cyanide gas. Lacking safety equipment, Scott was overcome and could not be carried up a ladder out of the tank. Firefighters eventually cut a hole in the side and pulled him free, but not before Scott fell victim to cyanide poisoning. He is permanently brain damaged.


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