【Haichuan Safety News】Another confined space accident: 3 workers in Nanchong, Sichuan, suffered poisoning from gases in underground pipelines while conducting inspections

Hehe, it’s the human factor; violation of rules is the conclusion.

If something can be solved through technical means, there’s no need to have people do it

What can be resolved through strict control of procedures is closely related to one’s own actions!

The previous one is very important; none of them were recognized

It’s also a solution, but if this risk is identified and measures are taken, it should be possible to avoid it

Several such confined space accidents have occurred recently

The five major problems associated with exposure in confined spaces are, first, the failure to implement an approval system for work in such spaces, along with inadequate identification of safety risks. Various confined spaces such as sewage tanks, septic tanks, biogas digesters, pickling tanks, pulp tanks, municipal pipelines, and basements are prone to incidents of poisoning by toxic and harmful gases like hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide, as well as suffocation due to lack of oxygen, during operations for dredging, cleaning, inspection, and maintenance. The accident-affected unit failed to conduct a comprehensive identification and assessment of the risks associated with work in confined spaces; it did not implement an approval system for hazardous operations, and it did not adhere strictly to the working procedure of \"ventilate first, then test, and only afterward proceed with work\". Work was carried out without ensuring that safety conditions such as testing, protection, and supervision were met, which led to the accident. Secondly, the on-site emergency rescue efforts were inadequate. Due to the lack of basic emergency knowledge and skills for self-rescue and mutual rescue among the personnel at the accident site, as well as the absence of personal protective equipment and emergency gear, rescue attempts were carried out blindly without first identifying the causes of the incident or implementing proper protective measures, which led to an increase in casualties. Third, there is a lack of emphasis on emergency management and work safety; the relevant management systems and operating procedures in the accident-prone units are inadequate or not properly implemented. Protective equipment and emergency gear are insufficiently provided, and there are no emergency plans or on-site response measures that are tailored to specific situations. Emergency drills for work in confined spaces are not conducted, and the primary responsibilities regarding work safety are not fulfilled. Fourth, safety education and training efforts are inadequate. Some enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized ones, have not provided training on knowledge related to confined spaces, or the quality of such training is poor. Employees lack a sufficient awareness of safety procedures when working in confined spaces and are not familiar with these procedures; moreover, supervisors lack the knowledge and skills necessary for supervision and rescue tasks. Ignorance leads to recklessness, which is a major cause of accidents. Fifth, there are weak links in supervision and management. In some areas, insufficient attention is paid to the supervision of confined space operations in related industries; there is inadequate dissemination of relevant regulations as well as training on safety knowledge and skills. Supervision, inspection, and enforcement actions are too lenient and insufficiently strict. Confined spaces have always been an \"invisible killer\" threatening the lives of employees. The repeated occurrence of accidents in such spaces serves as a serious warning to us. Summer is particularly a high-risk period for accidents in confined spaces; due to the high temperatures and high humidity, toxic and harmful gases tend to evaporate and accumulate. If people enter such poorly ventilated confined spaces without proper protection, they are very likely to suffer from poisoning or asphyxiation – with mild cases resulting in unconsciousness and severe cases posing a threat to life.

We always say we learn from our mistakes, yet those mistakes keep happening. . . . . .