After five deaths, govt lists sewer cleaning guidelines

The instructions stress that cleaning of enclosed spaces must primarily rely on machine-assisted methods; workers must only be involved in rare tasks

In the aftermath of recent fatal incidents related to the cleaning of sewer lines and septic tanks, the state government has issued a set of detailed guidelines aimed at preventing similar tragedies in the future. Within the BMC's jurisdiction, five people lost their lives in two separate such incidents reported recently.

As per the guidelines, the cleaning of enclosed spaces must primarily rely on mechanical or machine-assisted methods. Workers should only be involved in cleaning tasks under exceptional circumstances deemed unavoidable. It is mandatory to provide safety equipment to the workers to protect them from the presence of poisonous gases in sewer drains and septic tanks. An oximeter should be on a worker's hand to monitor gas levels and toxicity. Safety suits must offer adequate protection against water and sharp objects, said the guidelines.