2024 Spring Meeting and 20th Global Congress on Process Safety

(188d) Lessons learned in confined space entry management after a gas poisoning accident in China

Author

Willey, R. J. - Presenter, Northeastern University


On April 21, 2021, four workers died because of gas poisoning while attempting to maintain an agitator in a reactor at Heilongjiang Kailunda Technology Co., Anda, Heilongjiang Province, China. The event was characterized as a major incident occurring within a confined space. This article analyzes the incident by comparing China's and the US's safety regulations and standards regarding entry into confined spaces. The article concludes with the lessons learned and puts forward suggestions for the prevention of such incidents and for safety improvements in China.