In the past few days, it has rained heavily in Hong Kong, and an accidental murder has also happened quietly.
As we all know, Hong Kong is located in a tropical climate region with rainy summers and frequent typhoons and torrential rains. If the manhole (also known as the manhole in the mainland) is blocked, the pressure in the drainage system increases, and the poor drainage leads to water accumulation, which in turn can be triggered.
Source: HK01
So, for Hong Kong,.
And this murder happened in the manhole!
01
Tragedy happens!
On April 22, four workers were carrying out drainage works in a manhole, and two of them, Lee Hoi-wai (Ah Wei) and Kwok Tsz-yin (Ah Yin), fainted in the manhole!
It is reported that Ah Wei did not enter the manhole, but he found that his colleague Ah Xian fainted in the well, so he went down the well to try to save people, but himself!
The other two workers, aged 35 surnamed Ye and 23-year-old Huang, tried to go down to rescue their colleagues after they found them fainting in the well, but they were unable to rescue them after inhaling hydrogen sulfide and returning to the surface unwell.
Source: Sing Tao Headlines
Rescuers later arrived at the scene and rescued them in the manhole, but unfortunately two people!
And Ah Jun and Ah Qian, who once went into the well to try to save people, were sent to the hospital for treatment.
The family members of the two deceased went to the mortuary to identify the bodies and went to the scene of the incident to pay respects, and some family members hugged each other and cried, shouting "Go back to the house" and "Zixian stay, let's go back to the house", the scene is poignant.
The dead are gone, and the living are like this. While saddened by the tragedy, there is one point that has also attracted the attention of Hong Kong society!
According to the proposed working procedures for cleaning sewers, workers will clean from outside the manhole and work inside the manhole!
Source: HK01
Therefore, it has become the biggest mystery!
At the moment, there is a lot of speculation on the Internet.
02
The Biggest Mystery: Why Enter the Manhole?
Some netizens said that they didn't take the initiative to go in, but that the whole tragedy was an accident!
"I guess they should have opened the manhole cover and used a flashlight to look at the direction of the waterway on the side to the drawings. Who knew that there was biogas (containing hydrogen sulfide), a worker was dizzy and accidentally fell into the well, and then the second person fell into the well in a hurry to save people, and the third and fourth people tried to save people again and were injured!"
And the statement that "opening the lid is toxic" has also been supported by experts:
"There is a possibility of accumulating high concentrations of harmful gases in the manhole, and there is a chance to spray out and fall into the manhole as soon as the canal cover is opened, so it is necessary to do a good job of ventilation before entering the manhole. ”
Source: HK01
But some netizens said:
"No! they should, inhale too much biogas and die!"
Indeed, some industry insiders revealed:
"It is true that most of the obstacles can be cleared with a high-pressure drain, but it is not a panacea!, to unblock the pipe!"
However, due to the very high risk of the whole operation process, a rigorous risk assessment must be carried out before the work is carried out!
"For example, it is necessary to ensure that there is no unknown gas in the manhole, and instruments should be placed for long-term monitoring, and hair dryers and exhaust fans should be placed. Workers who enter the manhole must wear safety belts, lifelines and tripods to ensure timely escape!"
Source: HK01
However, as you can see from the pictures and videos of this incident, the scene is also!
In addition, 4 of them need to be resided, but there is no regulator in sight on site!
In addition to the reason for entering the manhole, there is another place that is also the focus of the investigation!
Exactly, are they actively entering? or are they passive?
03
Another mystery: voluntary or...?
Some netizens speculated:
"If it is implemented in accordance with the standard, although there is a high probability of reducing the risk, the procedure is so complicated, people and items need to be prepared,!
Could it be that the workers thought that the accident was a small probability event, so they took the initiative to go down? Or maybe they received instructions from the contractor?...
Source: Ming Pao
But no matter what the reason and purpose of the worker entering the manhole is, whether it is active or passive!
Following the accident, the Construction Industry Council (CIC) announced that the select committee had issued written notice to the contractors concerned of their eligibility for registration under the registration system.
At the same time, DSD indicated that a total of 25 projects were carried out until it was confirmed that the contractors and staff of all similar works had taken the necessary measures to ensure site safety.
In addition to investigating the cause of death and carrying out rectification, the society generally believes that !
It is recommended that the Hong Kong Government should conduct inspections so that contractors can be more vigilant and more likely to be held accountable in case of accidents!
Source: Ta Kung Wen Hui
In addition, there are also social groups that feel the accident!
Because 18 years ago, this tragedy happened!
In 2006, history repeats itself...
At about 10 p.m. on July 31, 2006, two workers, Huang Qiang and Zhang Shuxiong (both 46 years old) and another colleague surnamed Ye (49 years old), were present at the scene when a sewage drain was blocked and burst opposite the Yuen Wo Road Sports Centre.
3 people arrived at the pumping station between the Yuanhe Road Gymnasium and the Jockey Club swimming pool, and wanted to enter the sewage canal through the manhole for emergency repairs, but because.
Source: Sing Tao Headlines
Huang and Zhang then went to Yuanhe Playground.
In the early morning of August 1, Ye called Huang and Zhang, but no one answered. It wasn't until 4 hours later that Ye found himself lying in a coma in the sewage drain of Yuanhe Playground!
Firefighters rushed to the scene after receiving the report, tested it with an instrument, and found that Zhang was also unconscious and lying in the sewage!
The two were later rescued, but Huang Qikong was bleeding and unconscious, and Zhang was foaming at the mouth.
Police investigation believes that when Zhang entered the sewer and closed the inflatable sluice, he was suspected of being in a coma with biogas.
Source: HK01
DSD subsequently commenced an investigation and found that the main contractor had deliberately deceived and committed offences, including "imposing a sentence" on the works in violation of regulations, carrying out off-site works without permission and failing to take adequate safety measures. And just as puzzling:
"In the original project, workers were simply sent into the manhole to work!"
The same tragedy has to make people's hearts ache!
Is it true that history repeats itself and nothing can be done?
This is not necessarily, but the Hong Kong government is indeed taking action.
In recent years, fatal accidents in confined spaces have often occurred, such as: in 2021, workers fell into a manhole accident at Siu Ho Wan Sewage Treatment Works and Chek Lap Kok, and another industrial accident that killed two deaths in an underground closed pipeline last year...
Source: HK01
These tragedies have made the Labour Department compelled.
On 22 April, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, said:
The revised Code will be ready and published in the next month or two.
We also sincerely hope that this slightly "belated" guidance will prevent similar unexpected tragedies from happening again!