Nakhon Pathom: 3 workers die going down waste treatment well to repair motor

[webfact]

Three workers die going down waste treatment well to repair motor

BANGKOK: -- Three workers died inside the waste water treatment well they went down to repair at a food flour factory in Banglen district of Nakhon Pathom province last night.

Three others were also sent to hospital suffering breathing difficulties after going down to rescue their colleagues.

Banglen police said they were alerted of the incident at 7.00 p.m. Tuesday night by the workers of a food flour factory that three workers going down the one metre wide and one and a half metre deep waste water treatment felt unconsciously at the bottom of the well.

Rescue workers also arrived to inspect the scene, and helped plug three bodies from the bottom of the well. They were all dead from suffocation inside the well which was covered with poisonous gas.

According to investigation, a mechanic of the factory identified as Sutin Yongyut, 47, went down the well to repair a motor which malfunctioned.

He fainted and fell to the bottom of the well shortly afterwards, due to suffocation. Two other workers seeing the incident went down to help also suffocated and fainted in the well.

Police said there was no oxygen inside the well which was filled with poisonous gas from rotten flour and waste of the factory.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/three-workers-die-going-waste-treatment-well-repair-motor/


-- Thai PBS 2014-09-10

[webfact]

Three workers killed, three others unconscious water treatment pond

BANGKOK: -- Three workers drowned when one of them climbed down to fix a water pump in a pond used for wasted water treatment of a flour factory in Nakhon Pathom Tuesday evening.

After the first worker fell into the pond, two others climbed down to help but all the three drowned. Three other workers became unconscious because of the gas from the pound when they tried to climb down to help their friends.

The injured workers were rushed to a hospital.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Three-workers-killed-three-others-unconscious-wate-30242948.html


-- The Nation 2014-09-10

[trainman34014]

RIP those men. Poor safety practices yet again take more lives. No point in discussing the reasons why these things happen time and again as all sensibility falls on deaf ears.

[Crazy chef 1]

will they ever learn?????

[DrLom]

will they ever learn?????

Too proud to such.

[burgdawg]

H2S...hydrogen sulfide...

happens with shocking regularity at waste treatment plants the world over.

They went fast. Supposedly the last sensation---from those rare enough to survive it---is an overwhelming sense of sweetness.

Then it is too late. Brain is starved for oxygen and lights out.

The hardest human attribute is for a human to ignore help to a buddy in need.

This same trait happens in lifeguarding. A potential drowning victim has enormous reserves of adrenalin to tap into, overpowering the rescuer as they both meet their demise.

All lifeguards the world over are instructed not get TOO near a drowning victim. Best to extend a long branch, a rope, a board, a cooler lid----anything but oneself. Best to cement this into one's memory bank while lucid.

Two years ago, I was swimming laps when an overweight Chinese woman took a mouthful of water and began panicking, with her head going under.

I extended my kickboard and at the same instant, kicked back, away from her. Smart move that saved my bacon as this woman pulled a "Jaws" maneuver and literally leapt out of the water.

She wasn't interested in some float, she wanted to stand on my head and almost did so.....

Prayers for the families of the lost crew...

[theslime]

will they ever learn?????

They are deceased, try reading before typing.

[NeverSure]

will they ever learn?????

They are deceased, try reading before typing.

I think he meant the Thais and their too-often lack of safety standards.

No need to be like that.

[theslime]

will they ever learn?????

They are deceased, try reading before typing.

I think he meant the Thais and their too-often lack of safety standards.

No need to be like that.

Yes you are probably correct, but I thought it showed scant regard for Dead Men. but who gives a Rat eh.

[WhizBang]

Once again, Thailand shows how safety conscious it is.

[cloudhopper]

will they ever learn?????

I was a laborer in a US oil refinery over 40 years ago and back then they wouldn't let us go into a tank or even a pipe trench until a safety officer gas tested it first with a small hand held device. So I guess not.

[chotthee]

Confined space training should be provided. But didn't.

[ChrisY1]

These people will never learn.........I don't know how many have died entering these pits........but it's almost a regular event......and these are the ones that are published!

The duty of care here is dreadful.....no-one cares!

3 people dead because they didn't have a simple gas detector...and no training!....their company should be dragged over the coals.......just plain rotten management!

[Artisi]

These people will never learn.........I don't know how many have died entering these pits........but it's almost a regular event......and these are the ones that are published!

The duty of care here is dreadful.....no-one cares!

3 people dead because they didn't have a simple gas detector...and no training!....their company should be dragged over the coals.......just plain rotten management!

Safety ignorance, lack of understanding, call it what you like but doesn't help these poor guys and until there is proper OH&S in this country it will keep happening.

[belg]

rip the guys for not having propper equipment or knowledge ...

name of the company please?

food manufactering with poison gas ?

[Nuddy]

RIP the guys.

I imagine they have Mothers, Fathers, maybe sisters and brothers or maybe they even have wife's and children

How sad is that, that potentially their wife and children will live a paupers state because their employer failed them.

Can u imagine the difference it would make to a workers family when the breadwinner died? Maybe even died needlessly, thats the rub.

[Sena Dave]

Thats the classic scenario that you are trained for when you prepare to work in confined spaces , man goes down and others die trying to get to him out. Carbon Monoxide is the biggest danger , cant see or smell it

[ggt]

Sewage treatment maintenance for dummies...waste products produce methane gas...a well known lethal by product of decaying organic material...

Survivalist capture the gas and use it for cooking...

Safety is a result of education...

Lets hope they use this unfortunate incident to educate the other workers...

[Doc46]

will they ever learn?????

They are deceased, try reading before typing.

I think he meant the Thais and their too-often lack of safety standards.

No need to be like that.

Yes you are probably correct, but I thought it showed scant regard for Dead Men. but who gives a Rat eh.

Very nice,,,But nobody seems to care about Health and Safety ,,so who is going to stand up and Teach the bosses and workers (who don't care ) the importance of Health and Safety

[Sena Dave]

They will never "Learn" until it costs more money to kill people than it does to cut corners. This will be a backhander for the families nothing more. The lawmakers need to take the initiative. Once you start million dollar fines and time behind bars , you'll be amazed what an incentive that is for companies to work safe and make sure their employees work safely

[Brian Robson]

will they ever learn?????

I was a laborer in a US oil refinery over 40 years ago and back then they wouldn't let us go into a tank or even a pipe trench until a safety officer gas tested it first with a small hand held device. So I guess not.

And you had to sign a Confined Space Entry Permit.

The minimum would be a Trigas device to measure Oxygen, Flammables and H2S (Rotten egg smell). There are 4 and 5 gas models available too.

Don't ever go into a confined space without confirming the air quality. Even an old rusty tank or ship bilge can be low in Oxygen, due to rusting of iron!

[Artisi]

Sewage treatment maintenance for dummies...waste products produce methane gas...a well known lethal by product of decaying organic material...

Survivalist capture the gas and use it for cooking...

Safety is a result of education...

Lets hope they use this unfortunate incident to educate the other workers...

"Lets hope they use this unfortunate incident to educate the other workers"

Not this week, too busy with more important things than worrying about saving lives of a few workers.

[Fat Haggis]

Lost 2 friends to a similar accident in Scotland a few years ago, when they failed to vent the area properly, the company they worked for was fined by the HSE as well for neglect just recently..

[mercman24]

history repeating itself, didnt we all read about 2 months ago, the same scenario, was it 3 dead ? that time, one after another and they had the safety equipment on there vehicle, as poster before say, a great shame they never seem to learn, r.i.p.

[oneday]

will they ever learn?????

No, it appears the Thai government will not learn. This is the third incident in a year I have read where people have died in confined spaces. It is incredibly simple to understand WHY it is dangerous. It's called "Confined Spaces" and they are very dangerous without breathing apparatuses. When Thailand finally starts to really care about it's people then they may consider doing something about this well known hazard.

It's called EDUCATION and SAFETY...real safety...instead of insincere words coming out of the mouth with no real intention to actually practice safety.

RIP...a little education and they NEVER would have gone down.

[rickirs]

Simplest safety device known to miners since beginning of time - canary in a cage.

[outsider]

Health and safety is a joke in this country. From motorcyclists without helmets to no harnesses for workers on high floors in construction sites... do these people feel they are immortal, or what?

[Paulzed]

They all should have been trained in the use of one of these.

http://www.draeger.com/sites/en_aunz/Pages/Chemical-Industry/Draeger-X-am-5000.aspx

[Paulzed]

Simplest safety device known to miners since beginning of time - canary in a cage.

They don't have canaries in Thailand o they use people instead

[Sena Dave]

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Simplest safety device known to miners since beginning of time - canary in a cage.

They don't have canaries in Thailand o they use people instead

They have plenty of Elephants though and judging by the one that collapsed in a market yesterday the Thais think they are 10 a penny. Lowering an Elephant in a cage into a confined space may well lead to back injuries though