Plumping problem leaks blood from embalming service

Tuesday, February 8th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- State officials are investigating a sewage backup that caused blood to spill from an embalming service. The blood was filling pot holes three- to four-inches deep andd raining into a storm sewer, said Michael Sager, who owns property near the Fransisco Ray Embalming Service. "I looked at the color of this water very closely, and I was very disturbed," Sager said.

Photos he took Jan. 6 show the liquid flowing into the storm sewer at Detroit Avenue and First Street, which drains into the Arkansas River. Terry McEnany, the executive director of the Oklahoma State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, is investigating the incident today in Tulsa. "A check will be done to make sure it was cleaned properly and the problem was fixed," McEnany said this morning.

Bill Osmond, an attorney for the embalming business, said a plumbing company was contacted as soon as the business owner became aware of the problem. "This was not an intentional violations of any city, state or federal law. Everything was cleaned. They removed the waste and disinfected," Osmond said.

The morning after he found the blood, Sager contacted county health officials, who checked the site with a storm water management team. Investigators did not find an obvious appearance of blood but found residual where the liquid had been and a stain near the storm sewer grate, said John Baker, a division manager with the Tulsa County Health Department.

The mortuary owner confirmed that a sewage backup had caused the spill. He was instructed to disinfect the area using an extra heavy bleach solution, Baker said. "Mr. Fransisco responded in a positive, cooperative manner," Baker said. McEnany said the embalming service has been periodically inspected and found to be compliant. "This appears to be an isolated, unexpected event, and our preliminary investigation indicates they took the appropriate steps," McEnany said.