Protecting Workers from Suffocation Hazards and Intense Heat

Training provided by Jeju Area Office, KOSHA

August 2, 2011

Jeju Area Office of Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) provided training to workers to protect them from suffocation hazards and exposures to excessively high temperatures. The training aims to protect the health of workers by tacking some of the common hazards in summer.

Rising temperature and heavy rain in summer make an ideal condition for microorganisms to multiply quickly in confined spaces. Toxic gases, namely hydrogen sulfide accumulate in confined spaces and pose life-threatening suffocation hazards to workers working in the area. As there are higher fatalities resulted from asphyxiation in the months from June to September, special attention should be paid to prevent related hazards.

* Hydrogen sulfide is often produced by anaerobic bacteria. When inhaled in high volume in confined spaces like sewer facilities, the gas blocks the transfer of oxygen into a human body, causing affected worker to faint.

For the past 11 years from 2000 to 2011, a total of 200 workers died from suffocation in confined spaces. During the four-month period from June to September, 52% of the fatalities occurred. The workers must observe the following three safety measures when working in manholes, sewer facilities, storage tanks, or water tanks: measuring the level of oxygen and hazardous gases before and during operations; continuous ventilation in high-risk work sites; and wearing PPEs in rescue operations.

The recent fatalities resulted from asphyxiation in U-do (an island) is just one of the many examples. To prevent the reoccurrence of similar accidents, the trainers called on designers, installers, and managers of sewer treatment facilities and facility maintenance companies to observe the three safety measures.

In summer, the risks of health hazards increase due to excessive heat. Exposures to hot environment and intense physical labor in agricultural and cattle farms, construction sites, and outdoor worksites can lead to symptoms like muscle spasms, dizziness, vomiting, fatigue, dry kin, rash, erythema, blisters, fainting, comma, and in extreme cases, deaths. Director Eun-Hee Choi of Nursing Service in Halla Hospital explained to the trainees about the necessary measures to be taken to protect themselves from health hazards in hot summer, as well as first-aid treatments. Director Choi expressed her wish that there will be no more accidents or injuries caused by suffocation and hot weather this year in Jeju island.

To make sure no more health threats are posed to workers in Jeju Island, a special autonomous district, Jeju Area Office of KOSHA called on the leaders of towns and villages to pay special attention to workers’ health against suffocations hazards and high temperatures. Also, Jeju Area Office provided information about financial aid, workplace safety inspection, training, posters and so on, which can be provided to workplaces free of charge to protect workers’ safety and health, and encouraged to take full advantage of them.