The Delhi Public Works Department (PWD) has made it mandatory for contractors of sewage workers to provide protective gear and technical equipment, and test the air inside manholes before the latter begin the maintenance work.
The new rules were listed in a standard operating procedure document (SOP), released by the government recently. The SOP comes after several sewage workers died in separate incidents while cleaning manholes across Delhi. The Delhi PWD’s official X handle had also uploaded photographs of workers entering manholes without any protective gear.
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According to the SOP, respirators or air purifying systems should be used if there are risks of hazardous gases or low oxygen levels inside the manhole. Oxygen levels should be at least 19.5% inside the manhole, it said.
In addition, work in manholes should only be carried out by personnel who have been specifically trained in confined space entry and rescue procedures, with the contractor ensuring that a competent safety officer is present for supervision.
