Inspection Shows School Employee Died due to Carbon Monoxide Leak

Syracuse, NY (WorkersCompensation.com) – An investigation by local officials has found that the cafeteria where an employee of the Syracuse (N.Y.) Academy of Science was found dead was not equipped with carbon monoxide detectors.

The findings stand in stark contrast to the school district’s assertion that the cafeteria was equipped with the detectors.

Officials said the body of night cleaner Brian Deforge was found in the cafeteria on the morning of Jan. 7. Deforge had worked the night before, but allegedly died sometime during his shift. Around 9 a.m., the Syracuse Fire Department responded to the school for a report of a victim who had suffered a cardiac arrest. When they arrived, a carbon monoxide detector attached to a medical emergency bag alerted first responders to the presence of carbon monoxide.

An investigation by the fire department found that high levels of carbon monoxide were present in the kitchen and cafeteria, and that lower levels were found in the rest of the school. Twelve adults were evaluated for exposure to the gas, with five of them exhibiting mild to moderate symptoms. Those five were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. All of the employees were working in the kitchen area, officials said.

The fire department said an improperly vented appliance in the kitchen was the source of the leak.

School officials addressed the employee’s death as they sent home students for the day citing an emergency situation.

"The deceased employee was a valued member of the school team for over three years," the school said in a statement. "He was a very hard worker and will be deeply missed. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and loved ones."

The school went on to assure parents and the public the school’s facilities had appropriate monitors and detectors as required by code.

“The City Fire Department regularly inspects the school’s fire and carbon monoxide detection systems. The School is cooperating with the investigations into this matter,” the statement said.

But a later investigation by the fire department and National Grid found that while the school did have carbon monoxide alarms in multiple areas of the building, they were not present in the cafeteria. The city closed the school pending the installation and approval of additional carbon monoxide alarms as well as safety certification by a licensed professional submitted for the kitchen equipment.

On Jan. 8, the school said there was confusion over a smoke detector in the cafeteria that its staff thought could detect smoke and carbon monoxide. The school continues to maintain that the presence of the gas and Deforge’s death are unrelated.

But at least one kitchen worker, Jackie Rozelle, told news agencies that workers in the kitchen had been feeling sick well before Deforge’s death. Rozelle was one of the staff members taken to the hospital on the day of the incident. She said she was told by hospital workers that her carbon monoxide levels were “through the roof.”

Students at the school also said they had heard carbon monoxide alarms going off the day before the incident. Cenei Williams, a freshman at the school, told news outlets that he heard an alarm on Monday morning (Jan. 5) that continued to go off for several hours.

Sarah Ferguson, a marketing specialist with the school, said that one carbon monoxide detector in a different area of the building chirped on Monday, but that was due to a low battery. Ferguson said those batteries were replaced on Monday.

Since the incident, the Syracuse Code Enforcement division has determined that the school violated eight different city codes and deemed the building unfit for human occupancy. The Syracuse Police Department has taken over the investigation into Deforge’s death and the carbon monoxide leak, officials said. Deforge’s cause of death has not been officially determined.

At a monthly meeting for the Science Academy’s board, officials released a follow-up statement in regard to Deforge’s death.

“We mourn the loss of a valued member of our staff, Brian DeForge, who passed away last week. Brian was a dedicated and hard-working member of our school family for over three years,” the statement said. "We are remaining focused on ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and staff while working diligently to reopen the school."

Since his death, friends, family members and school staff have held a vigil for the worker, and set up a GoFundMe account. So far the account has raised $1,640 to assist with Deforge’s burial.

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