Confined Space Safety

Confined Spaces

Working in confined spaces can be highly dangerous and such work has given rise to a significant number of fatal accidents to both workers and  a rescue. There are a number of possible reasons for this the main one being a lack of knowledge and understanding of the hazardous nature associated with.
Typical hazards associated  include:
􀂄 presence of a hazardous gas, vapour or fume;
􀂄 lack of sufficient oxygen or air due to displacement by another gas e.g. carbon dioxide.
􀂄 oxygen has become depleted owing to corrosion over time.
􀂄 noxious fumes are generated as a result of disturbance of residues;
􀂄 plant or processes are not properly isolated.
􀂄 dangerous or hazardous conditions can arise directly as a result of the work activity itself.
􀂄 heat exhaustion is also a possibility.
It also be remembered that most gases or vapours are heavier than air and hence will tend to collect at the bottom of a container or collect in low lying areas.

Types of confined spaces
Most people will think of a confined space as that shown below. Other typical or similar examples include silos, chemical reactors, sewers etc. There are also other confined spaces which are not so obvious.

These include:
􀂄 open topped chambers
􀂄 combustion chambers in furnaces
􀂄 ductwork, silos etc
􀂄 rooms or areas where there is no ventilation or poor ventilation e.g. cable ducts.
􀂄 basements, vaults and cellars
􀂄 transformer tanks