Investigation of the Cases of Farmers Died from Working in a Mushroom Cultivation House, Ubolratchathani Province

Abstract

On 12 August 2013, Ubonratchathani Provincial Public Health Office informed the Bureau of Occupational and Environmental Diseases and the Bureau of Epidemiology, Department of Disease Control that there were four of farmers died in mushroom cultivation house in Nam Yuen District, Ubonratchathani Province. An investigation team comprising of experts from the two bureaus together with officials from Ubonratchathani Provincial Public Health Office, the surveillance and rapid response team (SRRT) from Nam Yuen District and the Office of Disease Prevention and Control 7 traveled to site to investigate the cause of the deaths and find way to prevent further illness or death from a similar situation. Investigation methods included the study of autopsy results, walkthrough survey at the mushroom cultivation house and inspection of workplace environment. The results of the investigation confirmed that the cause of the deaths was asphyxia from working in confined space due to asphyxiants generated from the fermentation of mushroom cultivation materials. It was recommended that farmers and officers should be trained and the general public be informed on occupational hazards and safety, as well as the practice relating to work safety in confined spaces.