Confined Space Safety: Workers Burnt in Sewage Chamber Explosion

Extracted from wsh_bulletin@wshc.gov.sg

Six workers were tasked to seal two sewer pipes inside an unused sewage chamber by filling the two pipes up with a cement compound. When they were preparing the worksite for this work, an explosion followed by a fire occurred in the sewage chamber. All six workers were injured. Preliminary findings revealed the presence of flammable gases in the sewage chamber. Investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the explosion, the source of the gases and the possible source of ignition.

Recommendations*

1. Conduct Risk Assessment: Adequate risk assessments must be conducted before starting any work. Through risk assessment, all potential hazards can be identified and appropriate actions taken to eliminate these hazards or reduce the risks involved. One possible hazard in this incident was the presence of a hazardous atmosphere in the sewage chamber.

2. Entry Permit and Permit-To-Work: The supervisor of the person who is to enter or work in the confined space must apply for an entry permit. The entry permit must be approved by the authorised manager, and should be validated on a daily basis if work in the confined space needs to be continued. Additionally, a Permit-to-Work system must be put in place implemented to ensure that hazardous works such as hot works are properly assessed for safe execution.

3. Continuous Monitoring of Atmosphere: A competent person such as the confined space safety assessor must test the atmosphere of a confined space for oxygen, flammable and toxic gases or vapour, and certify that the space is safe for entry before work commences. The atmosphere needs to be monitored constantly to ensure it remains within the safe limits to carry out the work. Among other criteria, the confined space should only be certified safe for entry if:

• The oxygen level is within 19.5% to 23.5% by volume.
• The level of flammable gas is less than 10% of its Lower Explosive Limit (LEL).
• The level of toxic substances is less than the Permissible Exposure Levels (PEL).

4. Provide Adequate Ventilation: Suitable and adequate ventilation should be provided at all times. It is important to provide fresh air and/or to dilute and remove any contaminants to a safe level. A combination of forced or supplied and exhaust ventilation can be used to ensure adequate ventilation of the space.

5. Emergency Response Plan: For work involving confined spaces, an emergency response plan (ERP), including rescue equipment, has to be put in place. Among other requirements, the plan should include the following:

• Ensure line of communications is available at all times during the work.
• Ensure quick means of escape that are suitable for use by every person who enters the confined space.
• Make retrieval devices and “breathing apparatus” (BA) sets readily available for use in case of an emergency.
• Remind workers that they must follow the ERP and not rush in to rescue co-workers as by doing so, they might endanger their own lives.
• Train supervisors, workers and other personnel on the actions to be taken during an emergency.

Safety Issue (Malaysia): Written OSH policy a must if there are over five staff

Extracted from Borneo Post Online News: Wed, October 28, 2009

Employers having more than five employees without a written Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) policy could be slapped with a RM50,000 fine or jailed not exceeding two years or both.National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Niosh) chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, who stated this yesterday, said this was provided for under Section 16 (duty to formulate safety and health policy) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (Osha) 1994 (Act 514).

Citing the act, Lee said: “Except in such cases as may be prescribed, it shall be the duty of every employer and every self-employed person to prepare, and as often as may be appropriate revise a written statement of his general policy with respect to the safety and health at work of his employees and the organisation and arrangements for carrying out that policy, and to bring the statement and any revision of it to the notice of all of his employees.”

He, however, clarified that Section 16 of the act shall apply to every employer and every self-employed person, except those who carry on an undertaking with not more than five employees.

Lee said this in an email interview when asked whether it was a legal requirement for employers to formulate a written Safety and Health policy.

The chief executive officer of Klia Professional and Management College Major (rtd) Kamarulzaman Musa explained yesterday that even a small firm such as a private clinic with more than five workers needed to have a written OSH policy.

The policy was a written commitment from the management to ensure the safety and health of their staff, Kamarulzaman said.

To a question, the former serviceman believed that awareness about the policy was still low and many companies are yet to have one.

On acquisition of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety harness, hard hats and others, Lee stressed that for the first purchase it was the responsibility of the employer to do so.

In fact, according to the chairman, there is a provision for such matter in Section 15 of Osha 1994 - general duties of employers and self-employed persons to their employees.

“Employer to ensure safety and health, including making arrangements for ensuring safety and risks to health in connection with the use of substances,” he said.

In this respect, employees should not be made to foot the bill of PPE, he added.

Errant employers, he said, would be liable to a fine not exceeding RM50,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both.

He, however, explained that for any subsequent purchase due to employees’ negligence, the responsibility now fell on the workers. Kamarulzaman, meanwhile, voiced out that it was unfair to make employees pay for their PPE as employers had the responsibility to keep them (employees) safe as far as was practicable.

“Some PPE such as safety harness come with a high price tag of about RM350, while a good one can easily cost more than RM1,000,” he added.

On employees’ part, Lee stressed that they must also have a responsibility to wear or use at all times any protective equipment or clothing provided by the employer for the purpose of preventing risks to their safety and health.

Asked further, he said penalty could be meted out to employees, who failed to comply under Section 24 (2), General Duties of Employees at Work of Osha 1994.

“A person who contravenes the provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding RM 1,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both,” he warned.

Among other things, Kamarulzaman reckoned that organisations should also set their own ground rules to penalise workers who disregarded their own safety while at work.

Towards this end, Lee advocated that the safety culture should be inculcated to become part and parcel of every employee at the workplace.

In order to achieve this, Lee pointed out that the total promotion of safety and health at work, organisational measures for accident prevention, motivation and behavioural change must be adopted.

He added: “It is the responsibility of the management to ensure that safety is a culture at their organisation, not just a priority.”

Lee said in this time of global competition and sweeping change, it was not enough for companies to make safety a priority.

He added that while priorities might change, cultures would stand the test of time. Kamarulzaman emphasised that the top management needed to instil a safety culture among their staff and be weary of cost- cutting as it might compromise with safety and health of employees.