Man dies after falling into Henrico sludge vat

A contractor died yesterday after he fell into an eastern Henrico County sludge vat that was being re-roofed, officials said.

Henrico police were called to the county wastewater plant in the 9100 block of WRVA Road at 8:47 a.m. for a medical emergency, said Lt. D.D. Engels.

Engels said a man who was working at the plant had fallen into a vat used to hold semisolid sludge.

"He was pulled out and there were attempts to revive him, but they were unsuccessful," Engels said.

Authorities did not release his name or the company for which he worked, referring questions to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which they said was investigating.

OSHA officials could not be reached for comment.

The contractor was installing a roof on the two-story cylindrical tank, which was not in operation at the time, said Arthur D. Petrini, county public utilities director.

The tank was "mostly filled with water with a little bit of sludge floating on top," he said.

The facility treats residential and business wastewater. Sludge -- organic solids removed from wastewater -- is a byproduct of the treatment process, Petrini said.

The identity of the victim was being withheld until family could be notified, Henrico police said.

The plant remained open after the incident.

Contact Wesley P. Hester at (804) 649-6976 or .

Staff writer Emily C. Dooley contributed to this report.