Man dies after collapsing in island resort's septic tank

Confined space management. Sewer gas is a complex mixture of toxic and nontoxic gases produced and collected in sewage systems by the decomposition of organic household or industrial wastes, typical components of sewage.  Sewer gases may include hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, methane, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides.  Exposure to low levels of this chemical can irritate the eyes, cause a cough or sore throat, shortness of breath, and fluid accumulation in the lungs. Prolonged low-level exposure may cause fatigue, pneumonia, loss of appetite, headaches, irritability, poor memory, and dizziness. High concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (>150 ppm) can produce olfactory fatigue, whereby the scent becomes undetectable. At very high concentrations (>300 ppm), hydrogen sulfide can cause loss of consciousness and death- (from Wikipedia for those technical people).

For common people like us, the gases mentioned above displaces oxygen in confined spaces such as septic tanks. One may be able to survive for only a couple of minutes without oxygen. I assume the first victim was overcome by this no oxygen environment and his co-worker responded (a human thing to do) he also got into trouble.

In the petroleum industry where I am involved, there are specific Standard Operation Procedures for entering and working in confined spaces. It involves at least having testing-meters to test the level of oxygen to assure it is safe to enter the septic tank and to identify level of other toxic gases present. It also involves constant ventilation to assure that oxygen is kept at a safe level for workers.

As a kid, once or twice a year, my dad would lower me 20 feet down with a rope to clean our water well in our 'api 'uta named Tapuvao, by Sia'atoutai. Each time (after he is satisfied with the cleaning) I am pulled up, vomiting and with a terrible head ache for the rest of the day...and told that I was lazy and am just trying to get out from working in the plantation that day.  My first task when I visited Tapuvao many years later when I had the final say was to "bury" this well so that I no longer had to clean it.

Those were the days, and I was hoping that the attitudes had changed, but with this unfortunate incident -I may be wrong.  The owner of the property should be informed that most likely the amount and type of toxic gas in a septic tank will not change regardless whether work was done at night or day.

I hope the government is taking steps to improve safety at work sites with mandated procedures.

My condolences to the family of the deceased.
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