While cleaning a tank container one man lost his life and another is hospitalized.

Upon receiving emergency call medical personnel and fire fighters rushed to the scene for rescue and found one man unconscious and another semiconscious on top of the tank. The tank had previously carried UN 3082 ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE, LIQUID, N.O.S. (Fatty Alcohol), Class 9. As per emergency response team victims might have inhaled vapours rising from the manhole of the tank. Incident happened at a cleaning station in Malaysia. Read full news here

Dangers lurking in cargo transport units

Cargo transport units shall be approached with caution. Before opening the doors, the nature of the contents and the possibility that leakages may have caused an unsafe condition, concentration of toxic or flammable vapours, or an oxygen-enriched or oxygen-depleted atmosphere, shall be considered.

IMDG Code 39-18, 7.3.6.1

Any space which has limited openings for entry and exit, inadequate ventilation and not designed for continuous worker occupancy is an Enclosed Space.

Cargo transport units including tanks are enclosed spaces. Read about Entry into enclosed spaces