Songpa-gu Develops Nation's First Device to Prevent Manhole Asphyxiation Accidents

Development of Air Inlet Devices for Confined Spaces like Manholes and Sewage Boxes... Revolutionary Improvement in Oxygen Concentration by Introducing Fresh Outside Air... Patent Pending

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) has developed the nation's first "air circulation system device" that can prevent suffocation accidents during work in confined spaces such as sewage boxes and manholes.

Confined underground spaces generate large amounts of harmful gases but have poor ventilation, posing a high risk of suffocation accidents during work. According to statistics from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, there were 312 suffocation accidents in confined spaces over the past 10 years as of 2019, with 53% resulting in death.

To prevent accidents, currently, blowers are installed inside sewage box repair sites to expel harmful gases from confined spaces to the outside.

However, there was a limit to securing sufficient oxygen concentration needed for workers to continue working for several hours.

Recognizing this problem, the district office sought to improve ventilation methods during confined space construction.

Since August last year, the responsible department, the Water Management Division, conducted repeated research and meetings, and in November last year developed the "air circulation system device."

This device introduces fresh air from outside into the confined space and spreads it throughout the work area. It can be continuously installed in multiple manholes, significantly increasing the inflow of outside air and dramatically improving the internal oxygen concentration.

Also, it is installed in manholes on the road rather than inside the narrow sewage box, so no separate space is needed for the device.

The district office is currently applying for a patent for the developed device and plans to gradually install it at sewage box repair sites in the area starting this year.

Park Seong-su, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, "Suffocation accidents in confined spaces often lead to death, so prevention is of utmost importance," adding, "With the development of this device, we will protect precious lives at construction sites and further strive to improve construction quality to create a safer city, Songpa."

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This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.