Four workers dead after going down to clean the drains at Bangkok market

[webfact]

Four workers dead after going down to clean the drains at Bangkok market

 

Picture: Thai News Agency

 

BANGKOK: -- Four workers have died after they went down to clear some drains at a market in Sai Mai district of Bangkok.

 

At first it was thought that the workers had died from electrocution but now police think they inhaled gases in the drain and passed out and drowned in the filthy water.

 

Metropolitan police chief Sanit Mahathavorn was at the scene of the tragedy yesterday in Sai Mai Soi 15, Bang Khen, next to the AC Market area, reports Thai News Agency.

 

Rescue personnel who attended the scene said that the electrical supply had to be turned off before they could go down into the drains.

 

There they found four men. Three were still alive and given CPR but died later at a nearby hospital.

 

The other was pronounced dead at the scene.

 

Sai Mai police chief Ekthanakorn Konkaew said that all the men worked for the AC Market and were doing regular cleaning of the drains. He said that electrocution was thought likely at first but there were no electrics in the drain. Police now believe that the men passed out from inhalation of gas buildup in the drain.

 

It was reported that three men had gone down the drain while the foreman remained at the surface. When he realized that his team were in trouble he went down too only to become another victim.

 

Police are continuing to investigate the tragedy.

 

Source: Thai News Agency

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2017-01-27

[clockman]

Never mention safety, and Thailand. In the same breath!

[Titan1962]

H2s

should have used a gas detector first. This sort of shit happens all over the world especially in countries where the safety standards are so relaxed. 

[Encid]

Confined space entry procedure/permit and training - none!

Gas testing procedure/permit and training - none!

 

What a sad waste of human life that could have been so easily avoided.

[Ralf61]

15 minutes ago, Titan1962 said:

H2s

should have used a gas detector first. This sort of shit happens all over the world

Yes, H2S, I think so, too. Happened in my home country to 2 really expert guys exploring medieval silver mines. Humans make errors, sometimes fatal ones.

 

Sad story, anyway...

[jerojero]

Confined space? Huh, wat dat? (RIP)

[Boycie]

Lessons never learned. Same same but different

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/759205-nakhon-pathom-3-workers-die-going-down-waste-treatment-well-to-repair-motor/

 

RIP

 

 

[zorro1]

Never mention safety, and Thailand. In the same breath!

Even the mighty USA was slim in safety back in the day. In a developing country these things happen

[Thaiwrath]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

He said that electrocution was thought likely at first but there were no electrics in the drain.

 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Rescue personnel who attended the scene said that the electrical supply had to be turned off before they could go down into the drains.

 

Contradiction ?

[heybuz]

52 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

 

Contradiction ?

A canary might have been handy, condolences

[Classic Ray]

Could have borrowed some breathing apparatus from the fire brigade. Thai firemen do have BA, right?

[spermwhale]

3 hours ago, Titan1962 said:

H2s

should have used a gas detector first. This sort of shit happens all over the world especially in countries where the safety standards are so relaxed. 

And it happens in first world countries too. Confined space work is one of the most dangerous of all types of work. Numerous safety precautions need to be carried out before entering a confined space and a gas detector is defintely on the top of the list. 

[yellowboat]

http://www.pksafety.com/bw-hw-gas-alert-clip-extreme-h2s-monitor.html  

 

Would a B3000 device like this have saved their lives ?

[Seismic]

2 hours ago, yellowboat said:

http://www.pksafety.com/bw-hw-gas-alert-clip-extreme-h2s-monitor.html  

 

Would a B3000 device like this have saved their lives ?

Quite possibly but there is no certainty that H2S was the cause (although it is present in sewers), it may be that there was insufficient oxygen and this caused the fatalities. Or it could have been the mixture of gases known colloquially as sewer gas which may include hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, methane, esters, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Either way Gas detectors, blowers and respirators were not available or used and this was a preventable tragedy. RIP to the families of the victims.

[Sphere]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

...there were no electrics in the drain...

 

Better turn on the power supply and send somchai down the drain, just to make sure....

[gomangosteen]

4 hours ago, zorro1 said:

Even the mighty USA was slim in safety back in the day. In a developing country these things happen

Still happening, and not just 'developing countries' - less than two weeks ago, 16 January 2017, a very similar situation to this one took place in Florida

 

Quote

An unimaginable tragedy struck in a small community of a few dozen homes on Long Key Road in the Florida Keys Monday morning, when three workers from a private contractor tasked with fixing a roadway climbed into a hole in the ground and, ultimately, to their deaths.

By the time a Key Largo firefighter climbed into the same hole near Lake Surprise in a desperate attempt to save the men, they were dead. And within seconds, the firefighter was also overcome by poisonous gas and was fighting for his life.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/florida-keys/article126799319.html#storylink=cpy

 

 

[fordguy61mi]

I work in skilled trades for Ford Motor Company and have to work regularly in confined spaces. So noted by others there are many safety procedures put in place because of these kind of tragedies. It's sad that Thailand hasn't learned from other countries and adopted safety practices instead of learning the hard way like the other countries had to. I feel for these men and their families. Let's all be safe in what we do.

[Tonawatchee]

If these were guys pulled off the street to clean the drains, I can understand how they might be in the dark about oxygen depletion in enclosed areas. If they were fellas with experience doing this type of work, I would think they had some basic ideas about the situation they were entering into.

[SiSePuede419]

Overconfident Humans, who overestimate their skills and intelligence make errors, sometimes fatal ones. ?

[Retiredandhappyhere]

1 hour ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Overconfident Humans, who overestimate their skills and intelligence make errors, sometimes fatal ones. ?

A bit like the electricians who refuse to turn off the mains supply when doing a repair because they "know what they are doing", including some who don't believe in earth wires because "Thai electricity is different". 

[performance]

Safety reforms were not old Prayuts priority. Big money projects. Happiness can wait lol. Sad story but this country needs a caring operations department. Not men intent on glorifying themselves like the current puppets.

[jacko45k]

15 hours ago, Encid said:

Confined space entry procedure/permit and training - none!

Gas testing procedure/permit and training - none!

 

What a sad waste of human life that could have been so easily avoided.

Yes  agreed. I have seen similar happen when workers went into an enclosed space where gas from a CO2 discharge test had seeped and collected via cable conduits.  Not knowing the likelihood of sewer gas is particularly stupid!

[spidermike007]

One of these years Thailand will start to take public safety seriously. For now, nothing is being done. Nothing. The safety of the average person here has never meant much to those in power. Only the rich, powerful, influential, and connected are of concern. This is especially apparent when it comes to traffic safety. There are literally a hundred different things that could be done, and a hundred programs that could be put into effect, if only someone cared.

 

The apathy is astonishing. The lack of concern is frightening. The incompetence is staggering. 

[RareDingo]

On 1/27/2017 at 3:06 PM, clockman said:

Never mention safety, and Thailand. In the same breath!

Not in that breath anyhow, RIP, off to work never come home... sad really

[sioux2012]

On 1/27/2017 at 6:10 PM, fordguy61mi said:

I work in skilled trades for Ford Motor Company and have to work regularly in confined spaces. So noted by others there are many safety procedures put in place because of these kind of tragedies. It's sad that Thailand hasn't learned from other countries and adopted safety practices instead of learning the hard way like the other countries had to. I feel for these men and their families. Let's all be safe in what we do.

What..... Thailand do something that works in other countries that they didn't think of first........oh please ....unless there's another place called Thailand.
 

In seriousness I agree with your post...RIP and condolences to the families of the workers