Confined Spaces
A confined space can be any space of an enclosed nature where there is a risk of death or serious injury from hazardous substances or dangerous conditions.
For a space to be classified as Confined Space one or more of the following hazards must be present:
- Flammable or explosive atmosphere
- Poisoning due to harmful gas, fume or vapor
- Free flowing solids or increasing levels of liquid
- Excess of oxygen
- Excessively high temperature
- Asphyxiation due to lack of oxygen or foreseeable lack of oxygen
- Risk of serious injury from contact with moving parts or fall of materials
- Electrocution from unsuitable equipment
The key characteristics of a ‘confined space’ are:
- The space must be substantially enclosed.
- There must be a risk of at least one hazard of the type, listed in the definition above, occurring within space.
- The risk of serious injury from the hazard must be created by virtue of the enclosed nature of the space.
- The potential injury must be serious and be such as to require emergency action to rescue the person involved.
Examples of confined spaces include Storage tanks, Silos, Reaction vessels, manholes, Combustion chambers in furnaces and Ductwork.
According to the code of practice for working in confined spaces, confined spaces are significantly more hazardous than normal workplaces. Thus, Confined risk assessments are essential to prevent fatalities and serious injuries. Employers are required to carry out risk assessments under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. This assessment ensures the safety of workers and others who may enter or work in confined spaces and a thorough risk assessment helps identify, evaluate, and mitigate the risks.
What are the main Components of a Confined Space Risk Assessment? What are the control measures?
Since work in confined spaces is a high-risk work activity, a risk assessment is essential.
First, the confined spaces need to be identified. Confined spaces have difficult access and egress, which can make escape and rescue more difficult. Confined spaces can also be identified based on their characteristics and the potential hazards present within them.
The following items should be included in the assessment:
- The task
- The working environment
- Working materials and tools
- The suitability of those carrying out the task
- Arrangements for emergency rescue
A safe system of work for working inside the space must be developed and adequate arrangements should be put in place before the work starts. These controls will depend on the nature of the confined space, the associated risk and the work involved.
The work in a confined space should be continually monitored by a supervisor to ensure that the existing safety arrangements remain realistic. The competence and experience required of the workers in the confined space is of highly importance. Workers must be familiar with confined space procedures, such as air quality monitoring, safe entry and exit protocols, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Rescuers should also be trained in all aspects of the emergency procedures and relevant first-aid procedures. For particularly hazardous confined space working a permit-to-work may be required.
If you require consultation on any confined space safety issues, reach out to our team of consultants here