OCCUPATION AND HEALTH ›› 2023, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (7): 970-976.

• Treatise • Previous Articles    

Systematic analysis of risk factors of poisoning,oxygen deficiency or asphyxia in confined spaces

GONG Quan-quan, XIE Lian-ke, DOU Dan-dan, WANG Kun, ZHANG Guo-ying   

  1. Electric Power Research Institute,State Grid Shandong Electric Power Company,Jinan Shandong 250003,China
  • Received:2022-07-17 Revised:2022-08-08 Published:2026-03-06

Abstract: Objective To systematically review the risk factors of poisoning,oxygen deficiency or asphyxia during operation in confined spaces. Methods With the keywords of "confined space","poisoning"," oxygen deficiency" and "asphyxia",the databases of Sinomed,CNKI,Wanfang,VIP,Pubmed,Embase and Cochrane Library were systematically searched for the literatures about risk factors of poisoning,oxygen deficiency or asphyxia in confined spaces from inception to March 1st,2021,with all types of research design. The limited space characteristics and accident risk factors reported in the qualified documents were extracted and analyzed. Results A total of 164 case reports were included,which reported 156 poisoning accidents involving 722 workers and 97 oxygen deficiency or asphyxia accidents involving 327 workers. The pool,tank,well and pipeline were the most common confined spaces where accidents happened. The hydrogen sulfide,nitrogen,carbon monoxide were the most common substances that cause poisoning,hypoxia or suffocation. A total of 36 risk factors have been sorted out,which can be divided into four types of factors related to management,equipment and facilities,personnel and environment. The most common risk factors were "no personal respiratory protection","insufficient safety awareness of workers","no ventilation or incomplete ventilation before working","no gas detection before working". Conclusion The risk factors of poisoning,hypoxia or asphyxia exists through all periods of working in confined spaces,and the common risk factors could be avoided by sufficient training,education,standardized management and other measures.

Key words: Confined spaces, Poisoning, Oxygen deficiency, Asphyxia, Risk factors

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