The paper analyses the causes and mechanisms of death, the possibilities of providing effective emergency assistance, and the regulations for work safety on the basis of two lethal accidents at work in storage equipment. The death mechanism, i.e. asphyxia due to respiratory tract obstruction by a loose foreign substance prevents effective emergency assistance unless aspiration has not yet occurred. The deciding factor is how soon the rescue procedure begins. The safety-at-work regulations should emphasize the need for worker protection by the assistance of another person.