For ensuring better protection at work place, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to procure breathing apparatus for its sanitation workers who are engaged in works where they are exposed to harmful gases. The apparatus would be provided to workers who are primarily tasked with cleaning of sewage chambers that are choked and need repairs. There have been reports of several incidents where sanitation workers had fallen to death due to inhalation of methane gas while being tasked with clearing choked sewage chambers.

Dr Gajendra Mahalle, Deputy Commissioner, Solid Waste Management, NMC, said the airline breathing apparatus ensures enhanced safety for the workers deputed for such critical tasks. Normally most of the complaints about choked sewage chambers are dealt with by machines. However, at times a place is not accessible for a machine; such chambers require manual cleaning. The sanitation workers need to physically enter into the chambers and it is well known that there is presence of methane inside such closed places. Now, whenever there is need for manual intervention in cleaning of chambers, the sanitation workers would use the small airline breathing apparatus fitted with tiny machines. The machine filters the air helping the workers safely carry out the allotted work, and rules out any danger to life and safety of those engaged in the task, he said, while talking to ‘The Hitavada’.

At NMC, the Liquid Waste Management unit under the Public Health Engineering (PHC) deals with such complaints relating to cleaning of sewage chambers. After much deliberation, it was decided to procure the breathing apparatus, which are quite light weight. The machines are quite like normal machines and do not require much technical know how for using, and its maintenance is also easy, Dr Mahalle added.