Safety Flash
Major injury suffered in confined space incident
Major injury suffered in confined space incident
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 02/12
- Confined SpaceEmergency ResponseEvacuation, Escape and RescuePermit to Work
- Confined space hazardsOxygen deficiency
- Confined space entry
- Gas detector
- Evacuation, escape and rescueAtmospheric gas testing
Summary
A meter reader sustained severe brain damage after entering a water meter chamber without testing its atmosphere, later measured at six percent oxygen. A colleague attempted rescue but had to withdraw because he could not breathe. The flash stresses atmospheric checks and appropriate confined-space entry and rescue procedures.
Classifications: Confined space hazards; confined-space hazards.
Classifications: Oxygen deficiency; oxygen deficient; oxygen displacement; oxygen depletion.
Classifications: Confined space entry; tank entry; enclosed space entry.
Classifications: Gas detector; gas monitor; gas detection instrument.
Classifications: Evacuation, escape and rescue; EER; escape and rescue.
Classifications: Atmospheric gas testing; gas testing; atmosphere testing.
Summary
A worker suffered severe brain damage after entering a chamber without checking its oxygen-deficient atmosphere, followed by an unsafe rescue attempt.
IMCA SF 02/12. Themes: confined space, emergency response, evacuation, escape and rescue, permit to work.