On January 7, 2024, three workers in Foshan, Guangdong Province, were involved in an underground dredging accident suspected of inhaling unknown gases, resulting in one death and two people being treated. This is the first confined space accident in 2024, which coincides with the beginning of the implementation of the "Safety Regulations on Confined Space Operations of Industry and Trade Enterprises", so it has attracted much attention in the industry. Although the accident is still under further investigation, butDownhole, dredging, inhalation, unknown gasesThese key words are enough to see the clues of the accident.
Is it ventilated and inspected before working in a confined space?
Is the protective equipment (gas mask) used correctly during the operation?
Is there regular or continuous monitoring and ventilation during operation?
Behind the frequent accidents in confined space, is it the imperfection of the system, the lack of management or the lack of safety awareness? I have seen a lot of accidents in a limited space, and seeing a limited space is like seeing a tiger with a bloody mouth, waiting for a sloppy person to walk in by himself.
Of course, I hope that everyone sees the limited space as carefully as a tiger. However, in real operations, the limited space for the operators is just a stinky ditch and a small cellar, which is not worth the trouble ......As everyone knows,The most dangerous thing is not knowing the danger
From 2013 to 2022, there were 95 major accidents in confined space operations and 357 deaths in the industry and trade industry
Judging by the type of accident, 92 poisoning and suffocation accidents, 346 deaths, accounting for 96 of the total number of accidents8% and 969%。
From the point of view of risk factorsThere were 76 accidents and 294 deaths caused by hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide poisoning, accounting for 80% and 82% of the total accidents, respectively4%。
From the site of occurrenceThere were 41 accidents related to the sewage treatment system and 156 deaths, accounting for 43 of the total accidents1% and 437%；There were 27 accidents related to equipment and facilities such as furnaces, tanks, pulp pools, and salting pools, and 107 deaths, accounting for 28 of the total accidents4% and 299%。
From the point of view of the operation linkThere were 35 accidents and 129 deaths in the cleaning and dredging process, accounting for 36 of the total number of accidents8% and 361%；There were 26 accidents and 98 deaths in the inspection and maintenance operations, accounting for 27 of the total accidents4% and 274%。
From the point of view of the reason for the expansion of the real number **,There were 83 accidents related to blind rescue and 310 people, accounting for 87 of the total accidents4% and 868%。
Statistical analysis of the limited space accidents in the industry and trade industry in the past ten years, from the accident type, risk factors, occurrence parts, operation links, rescue conditions, etc., sort out the common problems exposed by the accident, and further clarify the key links of governance. The bloody data shows that the main types of accidents in the limited space of the industry and trade industry arePoisoning and suffocation, most commonlyHydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide poisoning；Therefore, in gas detection and protective equipment, these two types of toxic gases must be necessary.
In addition, the most significant reason for the expansion of limited space** is:Blind rescue。Among the 95 confined space accidents, 83 involved blind rescue, which led to the expansion of the death number. How similar these cases are, how heart-wrenching!
On February 15, 2019, a gas poisoning accident occurred during the cleaning operation of the sewage regulating tank in Zhongtang Town, Dongguan City, resulting in 7 deaths and 2 injuries due to blind rescue.
On July 11, 2022, during the construction operation of a fattening farm in a company in Heilongjiang, one person accidentally fell into the septic tank, and three people fell into the septic tank during the rescue process, resulting in four deaths.
On March 10, 2023, a company in Ma'anshan City, Anhui Province, was carrying out tank overhaul operations, causing 6 people to be trapped in the tank and 5 people died due to improper rescue.
On March 23, 2023, in the sewage treatment pond of a pharmaceutical factory in Xiaoyi City, Shanxi Province, one person fell into the sewage treatment pond of a pharmaceutical factory, and two people went down to rescue and were trapped without wearing protective equipment, and finally three people were unfortunately killed.
At about 17:40 on May 18, 2023, a large poisoning accident caused by a fall from a height occurred in Zhanjiang Chenming Pulp & Paper, Zhanjiang City, Guangdong, resulting in 4 deaths. One person fell into the collection tank in the operation channel, and three people entered the pool for rescue without any protective measures, resulting in a poisoning accident.
BlindThe consequences of an act of rescue can only be at the cost of lifeAccording to incomplete statistics, every 10 casesThe occurrence of confined space accidents, among themBlind rescue accidents accounted for at least 8 casesEvery one is blindThe proportion of deaths caused by the rescue of the eyes is exceeded
When encountering people trapped in a limited space, the correct way to save people is:
Shout out for help to the outside world! When there is a lot of strength, someone will help find the company's professional rescue team, or help find professional rescue equipment, or you can directly seek professional rescue, call 110 119 120.
We must ensure that we are fully protected when saving people.
Returning to the theme, we look for the truth from many accidents, not to pursue responsibility, but to find out the key to prevent similar accidents from happening again. Behind the frequent accidents in confined space, is it the imperfection of the system, the lack of management or the lack of safety awareness?
In the continuous improvement of the system, from the "Five Regulations on the Safe Operation of Confined Space" to the "Interim Regulations on the Safety Management and Supervision of Confined Space Operations of Industry and Trade Enterprises" to the "Safety Guidance Manual for Confined Space Operations" and four special series of foldouts, and then to the current "Safety Regulations on Confined Space Operations of Industrial and Trade Enterprises", in the course of ten years, the implementation, revision, and improvement of these regulations have been more detailed, more comprehensive and more implemented, and they have been written again and again by bloody accidents;
In the face of limited space, we must be vigilant, stay afraid, stay awake, and keep learning.