Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (한국산업보건학회지)

Korean Industrial Hygiene Association (한국산업보건학회)
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Analysis of Suffocating Accidents in Confined Spaces in the Past 10 Years (2005-2015)

밀폐공간 질식재해 자료 분석을 통한 질식재해 요인 분석 (2005-2015)

  • Lee, Jung Wan (Department of Eco-Friendly Offshore Plant FEED Engineering, Changwon National University) ;
  • Kim, Tae Hyeung (Department of Environmental Engineering, Changwon National University) ;
  • Ha, Hyun Chul (Ventech Corp) ;
  • Piao, Cheng Xu (Ventech Corp) ;
  • Ahn, Kwangseog (Department of Occupational & Environmental Safety & Health, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater)
  • Received : 2016.11.09
  • Accepted : 2016.12.22
  • Published : 2016.12.31
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Abstract

Objectives: Despite recent efforts to prevent suffocation disasters, a number of confined space accidents still happen and each year deaths continue to occur. There have been insufficient studies on the dangers of various potential disaster sites, such as manholes, septic tanks, reactors, and other tanks according to type, characteristics, task-specific disasters, equipment specific disasters, etc. The purpose of this study was to analyze recent suffocation disasters based on place and properties. Methods: In this study, we analyzed confined space accident cases from 2005 to 2015 in Korea and grouped them by type, size, monthly occurrence, continuous service period, accident location, person-specific group, age, employment, structural work and subcontracting work. We studied examples of accidents developed in other countries. Results: (1) We reviewed confined-space accident statistics, compared legal standards and analyzed cases of suffocation accidents in the United States and Japan. (2) Using a case study report from the Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency, we specified confined-space accident statistics based on place, person-specific group, age, employment, structural work and subcontracting work. As a result we generated some precautions about confined-space accidents for the prevention of such accidents. Conclusions: Conclusions: Statistical analysis of recent suffocation disaster cases was performed to establish improvement measures, compare practices from developed countries, and develop precautionary measures accordingly. In this study, we presented the causes of disaster that occur in a confined space and proposed related preventive measures.

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