Afraid of suffocation accidents in confined spaces? NO, One Call Before Work is OK!

KOSHA Launches Full-Scale 'One-Call Service' for On-Site Asphyxiation Accident Prevention

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Yong-woo] “Wait! Are you going to work in a confined space? Please make a phone call first.”

With just one phone call, a comprehensive service is provided where experts visit before confined space work such as septic tanks, manholes, and livestock manure to help prevent asphyxiation accidents.

A confined space does not necessarily mean a completely sealed space on all sides, but refers to enclosed spaces such as septic tanks, storage tanks, manholes, and tanks where ventilation is difficult. Various gases or oxygen deficiency occurring there can cause asphyxiation accidents.

Over the past 10 years, there have been 316 casualties from confined space asphyxiation accidents, with more than half, 168 people (53.2%), having died.

Most workplaces conduct confined space work about once or twice a year, and many accidents occur due to lack of safety inspections or working without safety equipment. To proactively prevent this, the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) has prepared this service.

KOSHA (President Park Doo-yong) is expanding the “One-Call Service for Asphyxiation Accident Prevention,” which supports safe work by directly visiting hazardous sites nationwide.

Workplaces planning confined space work such as wastewater treatment, septic tanks, sewage manholes, and livestock manure treatment facilities can request the service by phone to KOSHA.

Experts visit the site to measure oxygen and harmful gas concentrations, provide worker safety education, and lend asphyxiation accident prevention equipment.

All services are provided at the time requested by the workplace. Requested equipment such as gas detectors, ventilation fans, and supplied-air respirators are delivered directly to the site and collected after the work is completed.

The service is free and can be requested nationwide by calling the representative number ‘1644-8595’.

This service was piloted last year in the Gyeonggi-do area and has been expanded nationwide this year.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor and KOSHA recently issued an asphyxiation risk alert as confined space asphyxiation accidents frequently occur in spring. They plan to conduct focused inspections on wastewater treatment facilities, septic tanks, sewage manholes, and livestock manure treatment facilities until June.

Park Doo-yong, President of KOSHA, said, “Once a confined space asphyxiation accident occurs, it is highly likely to result in death,” and added, “Through this comprehensive asphyxiation prevention service, workplaces are expected to secure safety in confined space work without the cost and management burden of purchasing safety equipment.”