Four Indian expats working at a labor camp in Shahaniya were killed yesterday while cleaning a septic tank, the Indian Embassy in Doha has confirmed.
Speaking to Doha News, an embassy representative said details about the tragedy remain unclear, and that they are awaiting more information from the police.
But sources told the Gulf Times that the men had been subcontracted to clean the tank and suffocated after becoming trapped inside yesterday afternoon, around 3:30pm:
“Two of the four workers who went into the manhole fell unconscious and the others had followed them in a bid to bring them out, sources said.”
The incident raises questions about worksite safety, as septic tanks are poorly ventilated, making it difficult for anyone inside to breathe due to poisonous fumes.
The embassy has already informed the men’s relatives of the tragedy, an official told Doha News. They have been identified as Faisal, 30; Ishaq, 26; Muneer, 20; and Mohamed, 57. All were single and from the southern state of Kerala.
Their bodies are currently in the Hamad Hospital mortuary, and when the necessary paperwork is signed, they will be sent home, the official added. He declined to name the men’s employer.
Does anyone know more? Thoughts?
Maybe this labor camp and work site would be a good stop to add to the UN human rights delegation’s itinerary next week…
Fat chance they’ll get within 10 miles of that place. Why do they not have the power to just show up? All these choreographed visits show nothing unless they have the will to strike out on their own like the last group. Sanitized work sites do not tell the story.
Another awful tragedy. How very sad for their families. When are health and safety going to be taken seriously.
Most likely an entirely avoidable tragedy with the correct safety equipment and training, condolences to the families. RIP.
A set of breathing apparatus would have stopped this tragedy, four dead to save a company a few hundred dollars. It also shows the lack of safety training given to staff, no-one should have entered after the first two men fell unconscious. An entirely preventable and disgraceful tragedy.
This is a very sad story and like all such accidents, probably avoidable. In the UK this year a farmer and his two sons died in a slurry pit whilst working, overcome by fumes. This was on their own farm and they knew all the Health and safety requirements, but tragically circumstances created the tragedy. My point being that accidents do happen regardless of locality
The difference is that occurred on personal property, the farmer chose to increase his risk level, by pursing his dog into the pit, he was not forced to do it. These guys are working for a company that should be responsible in its training of staff and providing them with appropriate safety equipment. This tragedy should never have happened.
I would also say this is not an accident, purely negligence, the risks of working in confined spaces are well known and the risks reduced very easily. Deaths such as these have been near eradicated in the North Sea. The UK has had a code of practice of working in confined spaces since 1999. I can remember this happening in Dubai in 2002.
Sorry to rain on your parade, but as a Health and Safety Practitioner all hazards and risks are foreseeable, and therefore preventable and/or controllable.
Working in confined spaces requires special training (and equipment). Obviously these guys were exposed to very dangerous working environment. Did their supervisors knew the risks ?
It appears regardless of how many times State officials say workers are safe, time and time again their words fall hollow. When will they learn denial does not make it safe.
This is sad. No one in Qatar would want this to happen.It has to come back to Company and supervisor(s).And while it might be easy to point at sponsorship system, I think it is those that take advantage of the system,the sheer numbers of projects going on and chances they can cut corners without much change a or any Govt. inspector will show up.
safety stander in qatar is very very low. this is not a accident this is negligence of safety rules this murder
How could they be allowed to carry out such work in such a careless manner or is it okay just because they happen to be from one of those labour camps. Where are all those people who make all those loud noises about safety at the work place. Where are the surprise inspections that should be taking place at the work sites. This is a case of pure and simple careless and criminal negligence