Deaths in confined spaces

Offlate, I started reading persons overcome by the atmosphere while working inside the septic tanks, underground water storage reservoirs / tanks, chemical storage tanks, etc. In some cases, persons while working in trenches, were buried alive by the soil heaps next to the trench. In one case a person was working only about at a meter depth, but he was buried when the soil was disturbed.

Some of the deaths were like this;

1. A Person want to see what is inside a tank from the top, to plan for the work. While looking down, he lost consciousness, fell down and died. Sometimes, to rescue the unconscious persons, others who tried for him also became victims.
2. A person went inside a rice brawn mill discharge storage tank. After some time, he became unconscious and was found dead.
3. A person went inside a water storage tank in the underground for cleaning and was found dead.
4. A person went inside a concrete mixing plant for cleaning. Not knowing this, soon after, the operator operated and the person inside died. Though in this case, it is not the hazardous atmosphere, but it is a confined space and a different type of hazard (Maintenance person's presence inside is not known to the operator).
5. Two persons were working in a trench and were buried alive by the loose soil heap that slid due to some disturbance.

There are many more such cases, mostly involving cleaning jobs inside waste storage tanks of rice brawn mills or septic tanks.

Earlier, while reading such news items, I used to think that my work place is safe and that I need not bother about confined space works. However, as I learn more and more deaths of people like above, whenever I get a work permit for work in a basement or tank, though it is fairly open to atmosphere, I get wild thoughts and sometimes I think whether I am thinking too much in visualizing the hazards. However, I stick to my wild thoughts and accordingly prepare precautions to be taken for the work.

Normally, the oxygen level in the work place will be checked before entry into such places. People say that it is fine if oxygen levels are between 19.5 % and 23.0%.

But in an article, the author advised to verify and find out the reasons for change in oxygen level from the normal levels. Though the general guideline says above 19.5% O2 levels are acceptable, but what are the other pollutant that brought down the O2 level from 21% to 19.5%? For example, if the pollutant is say CO, then we all know that CO is fatal at 0.5% (5,000 ppm) and it is not acceptable. Similarly, it may by H2S which is also a toxic gas.

Sometimes, our instrument may be wrong. In that case we can't depend on the values measured by it, because we do not know the error %. Sometimes, persons check O2 level at the entrance and then give clearance for the work. But, we should check O2 levels at the actual place of work and the measurement time should be reasonable. Instantaneous values may give us wrong picture. Again for checking O2 levels at work place, we should not enter and endanger our lives. Portable hand held instruments with suction pumps and connected hoses (even upto 100 ft) are availalbe at about Rs 30,000/- in the market.

We have to flush the work area continuously till we get O2 levels are as good as open atmposhere and should continue air supply till the work is over and all persons come out. If the work is to be carried for a long time with tea / lunch breaks, then the flushing and air supply should be continued during the breaks and before every entry, the O2 levels should be checked and ascertained that the work atmosphere is safe for work.

Sometimes, there may not be much head room available for free movement of the persons inside. In case of work inside chimneys or furnaces, the lining material may be loose and it may fall on the persons. There may be toxic gases (generated by the process) that are trapped in these lining material and if persons are working on these, they will be exposed to these toxic gases and may be overcome.

When persons work in open trenches, we know that the adjacent heaps of soil can be disturbed by heavy winds or from vibrations due to vehicular movement nearby. It is normally suggested to dispose the soil immediately to an earmarked place. Atleast, the soil should be kept atleast 1.5 m away from the trench and angle of repose should be considered for the soil. Again, as we go deep in the trenches, they should be supported on the sides to avoid collapse due to loads on the adjectent area by proper shoring. If long trenches are made, then for every 30 m, emergency escape ladders should be provided. Care should be taken that these trenches are not flooded by water / sewage lines and workers in it are taken by surprise. Earth moving equipment should be properly supported by outer rigs with proper base supports so that they do not topple due to loose soil and in the process endanger persons nearby.

With the availability of radio sets, workers inside should be in constant touch by the supervisor outside and buddy system should be followed on one-to-one basis i.e for every one person inside, there should be another person outside to monitor the condition and to provide immediate help. People may think it is waste of money, but in the event of some eventuality, the compensation claims and payments will put a big hole in the finances of the executors of the work and then they will regret for not taking protective measures.

However, the story repeats in the next job. BECAUSE, OUR MEMORY IS SHORT AND WE THINK THAT THOSE INCIDENTS ARE OF ONCE IN LIFE TIME AND THEY WILL BE CAREFUL THIS TIME.

Such persons should be put behind bars, with all their propery seized and utilized for helping the families of the victims.

Road Rage - Control

For the last three months, I am commuting between office and residence on my vehicle. Before that I utilized department transport facility. Though the route is same, I am finding it difficult to control my anger at the way others on the road ride their vehicles. I may be getting every month Rs 4,000/- for coming on my own but I think this road rage of others is creating mental tension and is leading to health problems for me.

Most of the persons do not give directions, which way they will be turning. Some intelligent pillion riders keeping waving their hands in the air and we do not know whether to take it as a signal or he is talking. Other fellows, do not bother about the blinking indicators of their vehicles. They do not even bother to see that the indicator lamp is blinking. Then vehicle parking at the T joint roads. People park their vehicles right at the corners of T joints and those coming from side road to main road have to take a long turn with the possibility of collision with other vehicles plying on the main road.

Then, the cell world. With benk necks, keeping the mobile between the shoulder and the ear, it has become a fashion statement for the so called youth to start the vehicle after putting the mobile in above manner. It is unnerving to see such people on the road, particularly when they cross the road at 90 degrees from other roads. Then there are some people who slow down after joining the road from side roads and are undecided to go which way.

One day, when I was driving my bike, suddenly an elderly person (about 60 years, appears retired from service) started crossing the road, by waving the fingers in threatening manner. Not waiting for traffic to ease, he even wants to hold moving motorists responsible his safe road crossing.

Two days ago, I was going down the rail-over-bridge. I was driving the bike parallel to a bus, on its right side. I am not able to see what is on the other side of the bus. As I reached the end of the bridge and about to speed up the bike on the level road, suddenly a old man in his car appeared in front of me crossing the road at 90 degrees. I could not see the car as the bus on my left blocked my view on that side. Car driver could have seen the bus coming down the bridge. But he did not bother. My heart stopped a moment. But, as I observed, the old man was cool. I think he does not have any desire to live also, the way he appeared, the way he crossed the road though a bus was coming down at speed.

Then, there are other cool guys who drive their vehicle almost at the middle of the road at a slow speed. It is good that they are going at slow speed. But, by their action they are occupying the entire road. Common sense that we should drive at LEFT does not occur to them.

Then, the urgent masters. They seem to be in hurry always. Even when ambulances are coming behind with the siren, they do not want to give side. A life is at stake. But, if other motorists in their front are giving way for the ambulance behind to sped past, these hurry masters will use this and keep going forward.

Next come the cut masters. The road will be plain without obstructions or pits. Still, these fellows sometimes with more than one person in pillion, rush their vehicles with sharp cuts increasing B.P. of the other drivers on the road.

I find one of the solutions for these types of problems, is not to allow roads to intersect directly at 90 degrees. Side roads can join the road and then U turns should be provided 1/2 KM away from the point of joining of side road to main road, so that with some discipline, motorists can go along the road and take turn to the other road. This will avoid direct crossing of the road.

Similarly, there should not be any side roads at both ends of flyovers or road over bridges so that speeding vehicles do not hit those trying to cross to side roads at these places.

Then shops / business establishments / eateries at the corners of T joint should not be permitted if they do not have fenced parking place. If any vehicles is parked at the T joints where side roads join main roads, all these vehicles should be towed away and seized. Heavy penalties like Rs 5,000/- for first offence should be imposed so that they remember it for their life and may even spread the message among their friends and known persons. This will create awareness on road safety. It will start slowly, but I am sure, in a short time it will spread every where.

Similarly, penalties should be implemented strictly. Those who use mobiles on the roads, ride the vehicles without helmets / safety belts, go in wrong direction, go at excessive speed, do not stop at the signals, etc should be fined. The penalties should be excessive and targets should be given to the road traffic police. This will avoid corruption, else, with excessive penalties, violators will be willing to pay a fraction of the fine as bribe and escape. More people can be recruited in this regard and I am sure the penalties will be suffice to fund the salaries of these inspectors. If any body repeats his mistake, then, the vehicle / equipment (mobile) should be seized and should be sold by auction. This can be another income for the department.

Any body digging the road should be made to pay twice / thrice the cost of repairs to a road safety fund in addition to repairing the road immediately after his work is completed. This will avoid mindless digging of the roads for functions / cable laying one after another / etc.

If any person by his road movements causes injury / death, 10 - 50 % of his property value, with a minimum of Rs 5.0 lakhs should be collected from him towards the road safety fund. Apart from this, his licence should be cancelled forever, all vehicles under his possession should be seized and sold by auction. Such persons are not fit to drive the vehicles on the roads and it is better for them to use other transport methods.

Rules should be made such that, buyers of vehicles should watch road safety video and go through pamphlets and give under taking that they watched the road safety video and read the reading material and give under taking that they will not violate road safety rules (video and study material to be made specially for this purpose by transport department).

Though one may feel these types of penalties are stringent, reading the number of deaths every day because of road rage, I feel it is appropriate. Danda (stick) only will work in this world. Saama, Daana, Bhedha will not work.

I have some thing to say about road dividers also. With every relaying of the road, the height of the road divider comes down and after some time, the road divider is nothing but a small curb which is taken to their advantage by rule breakers by jumping over the roads on other side. The road divider should in fact be like a parapet wall of 1.5 m height so that road crossing becomes difficult illegally and then the high beam lights of opposite side coming vehicles will not cause momentary blindness to the drivers and thus will avoid accidents due to this cause.