ARCHIVED - Roquetas: one worker in intensive care as three rendered unconscious painting underground tank
The three men were working inside an underground tank at a Roquetas water park in Almería province, Andalusia
Image: 112 Andalucía
The dangers of working in unventilated spaces using toxic materials were highlighted on Monday when three workers painting the walls of an underground tank with waterproofing materials lost consciousness and had to be rescued by firefighters when they were overcome by toxic fumes.
The incident occurred at 11.10 am, when other staff members called the coordination center of the regional emergencies service requesting assistance for the three workers who were working in an underground area in Camino Salinas.
The Fire Service donned breathing equipment to enter the site and remove the three workers, aged 23, 27 and 31, all of whom were unconscious.
The 27-year-old woman and 31-year-old man were taken to the Poniente hospital, and the 23-year-old young man to the Torrecárdenas University Hospital in Almería, where he remains in an intensive care unit.
The 112 services have also alerted the necessary protocols for reporting a work-related accident and an investigation will now take place to ascertian how the accident occurred and how the three individuals were exposed to the fumes without wearing sufficient protective equipment to prevent such an incident taking place.
Rubberised paint, which is routinely used in storage tanks, is particularly toxic and protective breathing equipment should always be used during its application if working inside an enclosed space.