During cleaning og underground water tank having 10 meter depth, a diesel pump was being used for dewatering. The carbon monoxide CO emissions caused death of 5 persons. CO is color less and odorless. Molecular weight is similar to air. CO got more affinity (300 times) to blood compared to oxygen.
Generally, persons will be careful during the cleaning of septic tanks and hazards of water tanks are not considered much. Due to bacterial action, rusting, oxygen deficiency is expected. However, use of diesel pump in the tank led to emissions and exposed the persons working inside leading to their deaths. With colourless and odorless CO, they will not be even aware of the hazard. In industrial jobs, hazard assessment would have revealed the issues. Being a residential area work, it appears this assessment didn't take place.
Regulations for compulsory use of self contained breathing air sets, buddy system, gas monitors, easy access and egress, ventilation, multi gas detectors, location of dewatering pumps outside can help to save workers.
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