Confines Spaces

8/11/2019 Confines Spaces

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Checkpo in ts

en Smith

f ro m Arco d iscusses thep ro c e dure s

a i n i n g

that will help prevent accidents and injuries

rkinginconfined spaces.

significant number of people substances or conditions within the space In May 2013, a bath restoration company

are killed or seriously injured

or nearby I Despite this clear definition, we was fined for safety failings after an employee

in confined spaces each year still see numerous tragic accidents making died as a result of inhaling toxic fumes as he

headline news, with fatalities occurring as worked in a residential bathroom. The man

a result of poor training and an ignorance was using an industrial paint and varnish

sewage work to agriculture. of the dangers involved in confined space remover to strip a resin coating from a bath

working. when he was overcome by fumes. >

and

t h o s e

wh o try

re s c ue t h e m o f t e n w i t h o u t p r o p e r

and

e q u i p m e n t .

In

f a c t

60 of

c o n f i n e d s p ac e s d e a t h s

v e p e o p l e t r y in g

to

re s c u e t h o s e

or

i n j u r e d ^

A confined space is a place which is

peo,

already trapped...


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Checkpo in ts

Some confined spaces

will develop during

construction work...

The str ipping agent contained dichlorometh-

ane,

also kno wn as mthylne chlor ide, a

carcinogenic toxic chemical. Fumes rapidly

bui l t up in the confined space the man

was working in. He died at the scene as

a result. The Health and Safety Executive

(HSE) investigated the death and found that

there was insufficient natural ventilation in

the bathroom and that the man's employer

should have provided mechanical ventilation

equipment to compensate for this.

This tragic example demonstrates that cas-

ualties often occur as a result of the inability

to recognise a confined space. The worker in

this instance saw only a com mo n bath room

and n ot a confined space, therefore he was

unprepared and i l l -equipped for work.

To ensure tha t such accidents are preven-

ted, employers need to ensure tha t their

employees can iden tify a confined space, are

correctly trained in safe wo rking practices and

are provided with suitable safety equipment.

C on fi ned space iden t i fi ca t io n

The existence of a confine d space in some

workplace environments is reasonably easy

to identify and understand. Tanks, vessels,

sewers and the l ike are kno wn t o be c onfined

spaces to people in the industry; however

the existence of confined spaces in com-

mercial or no n-indu strial premises is less well

known. Service ducts, loft and void spaces,

plant rooms or p oorly venti lated rooms are

examples of confined spacesof t en f ound in

commercial buildings, hospitals, universities

and residential dwellings.

Some confined spaces will develop during

construct ion wo rk or when w ork such as

welding or cleaning is being carried out.

These spaces are equally as hazardous as thos e

foun d in industr ial environments and demon-

strate that systems of safe wo rking mu st be

put in place in every environment.

Legis lat ion

In the UK, theConfined

pace

Reg ulations

99 7 is the legislation specifically perta ining

to the identi f icat ion and management of con-

f ined space wo rkin g. The regulat ions and th e

Approved Code of Practice must be considered

before any attemp t to enter a confined space.

The requirements of theHealth and Safety

at Work etc Act

974

and the Management

of Health and Safety at Work Regulations

99 9wou ld also have to be considered in th e

...employers need

to ensure that their

employees can identify

a confined space...


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Checkpo in ts

C on fi ned s pace risk assessmen t

Factors th a t sh ould be con s idered:

Supervision

Competence

Testing and monitor ing the atmosphere

Gas purg ing

Venti lat ion

Removal of residues

Isolation from gases, liquids, other

f lowing materials

Isolation from electrical and m echanical

equipment and stored energy

Select ion of suitable equipment

Gas supp lied by pipes an d boses

Gas cylinders a nd

engines

Personal Protective Equipment and

Respiratory Protective Equipment

(PPE an d RPE)

Safe way in and o ut

Fire prevention

Light ing

Static electricity

Smoking

Emergencies and rescue

Limi t ing work ing t ime

Each h azard sho uld be addresse d in turn and reason ably p rac t i cable co n t ro l

mea sures dev e l o p e d a n d a p p l i ed I n ea ch ca se .

wh ere hazards such as bazardous

Personal protect ive clotbing and e quipme nt

relevant regulat ions

ance and use will also have to be considered.

Safe systems of w or k

One of the key requirements of the Confined

Regulations 1997 is for employers to

denti fy the measures needed so that w ork in

spaces can be avoided. If it canno t be

witb out entering tbe confined space,

h accompanies tbe regulat ions states

it Is necessary to determine what measures

need to be taken to secure a safe system for

Tbe safe system of wo rk sbould begin w itb

competent and experienced person com-

pletin g a risk assessment. The ACoP w w w .

h s e . g o v . u k / p u b n s / p r i c e d / l 1 0 1 . p d f )

tates that, the prior i ty wh en carrying out

a risk assessment is to iden tify th e m easures

needed so that work in confined spaces can

be avoided ^. Wbere con fined space work-

ing canno t be avoide d, tbe n it is necessary

to determine wbat measures need to be

taken to secure a safe system for w orking ' * .

Tbrougb assessing tbe risks connected with

entering or wo rking in a confined space, the

employer or self-employed worke r can then

make an informed decision on wba t specif ic

train ing, PPE and safety equ ipm ent w ill be

needed to keep workers safe.

Hazards to consider

Confined spaces undeniably pose a wide

variety of potential bazards. Tbe main haz-

ards that workers should consider are:

Reduced phys ica l d imens ions .

Entry and exit into the hazardous

space becomes dif f icul t to negotiate.

Movements inside the confined

space also become

restrictive, increasing

exertion levels.

Con fined spaces

undeniably pose

a wide variety of

potential hazards.

Likewise, the use of breathing apparatus,

rescue stretchers and equipm ent

becomes mucb more dif f icu l t in areas of

smaller dimensions.

L ac k o f o x y g e n .20 .9% is a normal

oxygen level, wit b 19.5% the min imu m

wor king level. Any thing below tbis can

quickly affect the funct ioning of the

brain,

causing drowsiness and reducing

a person's ability to respond to tbeir

environm ent. Oxygen levels below 16%

put employees at risk of unconsciousness

and eventually, deatb.

E xc e s s o f o x y g e n . C onversely, excess

oxygen over 23.5%, usually caused by

leaking oxy/fuel gas cutt ing and we lding

equipment, also presents a serious tbreat

to workers by increasing tbe risk of fire

in otber wise safe materials, sucb as

c lo th ing. >


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Checkpoints

Flammable substance s.

Gases,

fumes, vapours and dusts can b uild

up,

causing fire or explosion if ignited.

Where there is possibility of flamm able

substances being present, then suitable

equipment w ill have to be specified to

eliminate any risk of spark or ignition

source.

Toxic gases fumes and vapo urs.

Toxic gases can be form ed in the process

of cleaning, welding or painting, which -

in an unventllated space -c npoison or

suffocate the worker. In excavation w ork,

contamination can come from hazardous

substances previously deposited in the

ground or from natural sources such as

limestone producing carbon dioxide.

Some gases may also be trapped in

residues and sludge, scale or an imal

waste which may not be identified by

initial atmospheric testing but cou ld be

easily disturbed by workers and released.

Additionally, toxic gases, fumes and

vapours may contaminate the confined

space from outside, such svehicle

exhaust fum es.

Excessive heat.

Excessive heat can

cause heat stress, leading to heat stroke,

unconsciousness and death. Heat levels

can rise throu gh inadequate ventilation,

incorrect clothing and the use of steam

cleaners or hot waterjets.Residual heat

may also linger in spaces such as ovens

or boilers.

The un in t en ded i ngress o f

mater ia ls .

Liquids unintentionally

entering the confined space may

cause drowning or the liquid may have

corrosive or toxic properties. Powders

and g ranulated materials such

ssugar

grain and sand can also submerge

someone in

confined space and prevent

them from breathing.

C omp e t e nc e & Train ing

Personnel involved in confined space work,

whether those entering or those in support

or p reparing safe systems of work, should

be experienced and competent, b oth in

confined space entry and the task to be

undertaken. If not, it is essential that they

undergo full practical training programme.

Confined space training should equip

all personnel with the competency and

understanding of:

S om e gases may also

be trapp ed in residues

and sludge...

the need for preventing entry into

confined spaces,

s

far

s

is reasonably

practicable;

the hazards and the control measures

and p recautions;

safe systems of work

and,

if appropriate,

the use of permits to work; and

how emergencies

arise,

emergency

procedures, how to follow them and the

dangers of n ot doing so.

Training should also include

practical ele-

ment to realistically simulate confined space

conditions and w ork ing. This should be

practised tho roughly to ensure competence.

The practical training w ill also confirm a per-

son's suitability for work in confined spaces;

whe ther they are physically fit and able to

enter the space and also if they suffer fro m

conditions such as claustrophobia.

Refresher training will be required period i-

cally ndits timing will depend on the contin-

ued experience after initial training . A ddition -

ally, personnel will need training on the use

of equipmen t involved in safe confined space

entry

such

as gas monitors, breathing appa-

ratus and personal protective equipment.

The importance of identifying and

under-

standing the risks of confined spaces, com-

pleting risk assessments and implementing

regular realistic training cannot be underesti-

mated when it comes to protecting workers.

Refe r ences

1 . www.iosh.co .uk/pdf /Andy 20

Bagwor th 20- 20Conf ined 20

Spaces.pdf

2.

www.hse .gov .uk / con f i nedspace /

3 . www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/pr iced/

l101.pdf

4. www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/pr iced/

l101.pdf

Arco has developed a Working in

Confined Spaces Expert Guide de signed

to provide guidance on confined space

hazards and safe systems of w ork .

www.arco.co.uk


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C o p y r i g h t o f R o S P A O c c u p a t i o n a l S a f e t y & H e a l t h J o u r n a l i s t h e p r o p e r t y o f R o y a l S o c i e t y

f o r t h e P r e v e n t i o n o f A c c i d e n t s a n d i t s c o n t e n t m a y n o t b e c o p i e d o r e m a i l e d t o m u l t i p l e s i t e s

o r p o s t e d t o a l i s t s e r v w i t h o u t t h e c o p y r i g h t h o l d e r ' s e x p r e s s w r i t t e n p e r m i s s i o n . H o w e v e r ,

u s e r s m a y p r i n t , d o w n l o a d , o r e m a i l a r t i c l e s f o r i n d i v i d u a l u s e .

Confines Spaces

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