Last week, the State Administration of Work Safety reported that since the beginning of this year, there have been 10 major accidents involving dangerous chemicals and hazardous substances across the country. These incidents resulted in 38 deaths and 55 injuries, many of which were linked to work in confined spaces. As summer approaches, the risk of confined space-related accidents is increasing. National and local safety authorities, along with industry experts, have issued warnings urging chemical companies to enhance awareness and implement stronger preventive measures.
The recent tragedies have highlighted serious lessons. According to Sun Guangyu, deputy director of the Supervision and Administration Division at the State Administration of Work Safety, various regions have introduced stricter safety protocols for confined space operations in recent years. Despite these efforts, similar incidents continue to occur. For example, on January 9th, a poisoning accident occurred at Anhui Kangzhou Chemical Co., Ltd., where four workers died after being exposed to toxic gases while working in a solvent tank. The incident was caused by unauthorized operations and improper rescue attempts without protective equipment.
Another incident happened on April 24th, when three employees from North Chemical Company were poisoned after entering an anaerobic tank during maintenance work. The cause was the accumulation of hydrogen sulfide gas, which was not properly detected or ventilated before entry. The lack of proper procedures and blind rescues led to more casualties.
Experts emphasize that most of these accidents stem from poor ventilation, inadequate monitoring, and insufficient personal protection. Additionally, improper rescue practices often worsen the situation. Gao Hong, director of the Industrial Security Production Research Institute under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, noted that summer is a peak season for confined space accidents due to increased construction activities and higher temperatures that hinder gas dispersion. Workers may also be more fatigued and less likely to follow safety protocols.
Gao Hong identified three main challenges in managing confined space operations: the expanding scope of such work, the involvement of high-risk tasks like welding, and the prevalence of subcontracting, which can lead to lower safety standards. To address these issues, she stressed the importance of strict compliance with safety procedures and improved oversight.
Sun Guangyu added that companies must focus on managing hot work, confined space access, and maintenance operations, as these are key areas for preventing explosions and poisonings. He urged businesses to adhere to the "Ten Provisions for Safeguarding Production Safety" for chemical enterprises.
To strengthen control, the State Administration of Work Safety has issued guidelines and circulars aimed at improving safety management for confined space operations. These include mandatory training, environmental assessments, and better supervision of operational procedures.
In response, several provinces have taken action. In Fujian, training sessions were organized for safety officers, while Hangzhou launched a two-month campaign targeting industrial and trade enterprises. Shanghai’s Chongming County also held meetings to reinforce the importance of confined space safety.
Lin Changyan, HSE manager at Fujian Southeast Electrochemical Company, emphasized that special operations like confined space work remain a critical part of corporate safety. The company has implemented internal training programs to ensure all staff understand and follow safety regulations.
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