Safety Flash
Confined space – multiple fatalities
Confined space – multiple fatalities
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 06/11
- Confined SpaceEvacuation, Escape and RescuePermit to Work
- Confined space hazards
- Confined space entry
- Personal protective equipment
- Evacuation, escape and rescueAtmospheric gas testingOperating and work proceduresPermit to work
- Upstream oil and gas
- Onshore facility
Summary
An onshore oil-well incident involved four workers collapsing after entering a water tank containing water mixed with nitrogen, including attempted rescuers. Three subsequently died. The flash identifies failures in procedural compliance, confined-space permitting, pre-entry multi-gas testing, appropriate protective equipment and rescue planning.
Classifications: Confined space hazards; confined-space hazards.
Classifications: Confined space entry; tank entry; enclosed space entry.
Classifications: Personal protective equipment; PPE; personal protection equipment.
Classifications: Evacuation, escape and rescue; EER; escape and rescue.
Classifications: Atmospheric gas testing; gas testing; atmosphere testing.
Classifications: Operating and work procedures.
Classifications: Permit to work; PTW; work permit.
Classifications: Upstream oil and gas; oil and gas extraction; upstream petroleum.
Classifications: Onshore facility; onshore plant.
Summary
IMCA has received information about a confined space incident in which there were multiple fatalities.
IMCA SF 06/11. Themes: confined space, evacuation, escape and rescue, permit to work.