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Related Experiment Videos

Compressed air tunneling and caisson work decompression procedures: development, problems, and solutions

E P Kindwall1

  • 1Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA.

Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine : Journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc
|January 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary

Current air decompression schedules for caisson and tunnel workers are inadequate, causing dysbaric osteonecrosis and potential brain damage. Oxygen decompression is a safer alternative, successfully used internationally and recommended for preventing decompression sickness (DCS).

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Area of Science:

  • Occupational Health
  • Hyperbaric Medicine
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Existing air decompression schedules for caisson and compressed air tunnel workers are insufficient.
  • Current methods, including OSHA tables, lead to dysbaric osteonecrosis and underreported decompression sickness (DCS).
  • Neurological damage, such as brain damage, can occur in compressed air workers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the inadequacy of current air decompression schedules.
  • To highlight the risks of dysbaric osteonecrosis and neurological damage.
  • To advocate for oxygen decompression as a safer alternative for tunnel workers.

Main Methods:

  • Review of multinational experience and existing decompression schedules.
  • Comparison of U.S. Navy Exceptional Exposure Air Decompression tables with U.S. and Great Britain caisson tables.

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  • Analysis of case studies and reported outcomes of DCS treatment.

    • Main Results:

    • All current air decompression schedules, including OSHA tables, are inadequate and cause dysbaric osteonecrosis.
    • Decompression sickness (DCS) is often underreported, masking the true incidence of harm.
    • Oxygen decompression has proven effective and is standard practice in countries like Germany, France, and Brazil.

    Conclusions:

    • Oxygen decompression is the only viable method for safely decompressing tunnel workers.
    • Empirical data-based tables, like U.S. Navy tables 5 and 6, appear safer than formula-based ones for treating DCS.
    • There is a critical need to adopt safer decompression protocols to prevent long-term health consequences for compressed air workers.