"Preventing Manhole Asphyxiation Accidents"... Seoul Mandates Use of Gas Concentration Meters

Applied to 38 City-Affiliated Workplaces Starting in September
Confined Space Work Manual Revised to Strengthen Prevention
Emergency Rescue Equipment to Be Permanently Installed for Safer Operations

From now on, all confined space operations conducted under the Seoul Metropolitan Government will require the mandatory use of a gas concentration meter. This measure aims to achieve "zero asphyxiation accidents," which have the highest fatality rate among industrial accidents.

On August 21, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that starting in September, it will make it mandatory to wear both a gas concentration meter and a body camera (a camera attached to the body) during all confined space operations at all workplaces under its jurisdiction.

Manhole inspection site. Photo by Asia Economy

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labor, there have been a total of 298 confined space accident victims over the past 10 years, with 126 fatalities, resulting in a fatality rate of 42.3%. The fatality rate for asphyxiation during manhole operations is even higher, at 54.5%, with 36 out of 66 accident victims losing their lives.

In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will first apply this measure to all 38 workplaces with confined space operations and then expand it to all 25 district-operated workplaces. Among city-operated workplaces, there are 2,399 confined spaces across 38 business offices and 98 workplaces, including the Arisu Headquarters, Water Reclamation Centers, Park and Leisure Centers, Road Offices, and City Hall.

The body cameras, which are attached to workers' safety helmets, will record essential pre-work procedures on video, including gas concentration measurement, operation of ventilation devices, wearing of safety protective gear, and approval of work permits by supervisory agencies. This will fundamentally prevent entry into confined spaces without safety authorization. The gas concentration meter allows real-time monitoring of oxygen and hazardous gas levels and automatically sounds an alarm when dangerous concentrations are detected, enabling workers to immediately stop work and evacuate quickly.

To ensure a swift rescue in the event of an accident, Seoul will require that emergency rescue equipment such as air respirators, supplied-air masks, and tripods be kept on-site at all times. The city also plans to further strengthen its safety management system for preventing asphyxiation accidents by refining detailed confined space work rules and permit procedures tailored to each workplace and by revising and implementing manuals that clearly define the roles of those responsible for carrying out these operations.

Han Byungyong, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Disaster and Safety Office, stated, "Confined space asphyxiation accidents can be prevented and damage can be reduced by checking the work environment in advance and adhering to basic safety rules. Along with these new measures, Seoul will implement systematic preventive strategies to create safe and accident-free worksites."

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