Identification of root cause of fatal confined space incidents in Malaysia and strategies for prevention

Abstract Background The high number of confined space incidents in Malaysia suggests that working in a confined space exposes workers to a substantial risk of serious injury or fatality. The rapid development of industry and technology has increased the need to work in confined spaces and significantly impacted the risk management of confined spaces. Utilizing past incident data through investigation will help develop risk management and preventive measures related to confined spaces. As a result, this paper will conduct a fatal incident investigation associated with confined spaces from 2010 to 2020 in Malaysia. Methodology The incident investigation uses the improved systematic casual analysis technique (SCAT) to identify the immediate cause and the direct cause. From the identified fatal incidents immediate causes, the study will highlight the main hazard that causes fatal incidents in confined spaces. The preventive measure is developed based on the main hazard of confined spaces that cause fatalities. Result The result of the study has identified that physical and atmospheric hazards are the main factors that cause fatal incidents associated with confined spaces in Malaysia. Moreover, from the SCAT checklist, the study has revealed that failing to use PPE properly and hazardous environmental conditions are the main immediate cause of fatal incidents in confined spaces. Conclusion Effective risk management of confined spaces, with a particular focus on addressing atmospheric and physical hazards, is crucial for preventing accidents, especially those incidents resulting in fatalities. Future studies should expand their focus to include injuries and near-miss events in confined spaces, aiming to develop more effective and inclusive safety measures by analyzing a broader range of incidents.