Working in Confined Spaces

14 February 2006

Every year, a number of people are killed or seriously injured in the UK whilst working in confined spaces. These incidents occur across a wide range of industries, from those involving simple storage vessels through to complex plant. These incidents often kill not only the people working in the confined spaces but those who attempt to rescue them without the proper training or equipment.

A confined space is a place of an enclosed nature where there is a risk of death or serious injury from hazardous substances or dangerous conditions (eg lack of oxygen). Some confined spaces are fairly easy to identify, eg enclosures with limited openings such as storage tanks, enclosed drains or sewers. Others may be less obvious but can be equally as dangerous, for example open-topped chambers, vats, ductwork or unventilated or poorly ventilated rooms.

Some places may become confined spaces when work is carried out or during their construction, fabrication or subsequent modification.

What are the dangers from confined spaces?(Source HSE Website Jan 2006)

Dangers can arise in confined spaces because of:

• a lack of oxygen;
• poisonous gas, fume or vapour;
• liquids and solids that can suddenly fill the space, or release gases into it, when disturbed;
• fire and explosions (eg, from flammable vapours, excess oxygen etc);
• residues which can give off gas, fume or vapour being left in tanks, vessels etc, or remaining on internal surfaces;
• high concentrations of dust that may be present in, eg, flour silos;
• hot conditions leading to a dangerous increase in body temperature.

What the law says
You must carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks for all work activities for the purpose of deciding what measures are necessary for safety (The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Regulation 3). For work in confined spaces this means identifying the hazards present, assessing any risks and determining what precautions you need to take. In most cases the assessment will include consideration of:

• the task;
• the working environment;
• working materials and tools;
• the suitability of those carrying out the task;
• arrangements for emergency rescue.

If your assessment highlights risks of serious injury from working in confined spaces, such as the dangers highlighted above, the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 apply. These regulations contain the following key duties:

• avoid entry to confined spaces, eg by doing the work from outside;
• if entry to a confined space is unavoidable, follow a safe system of work;
• put adequate emergency arrangements in place before the work starts.

At The Health and Safety People Ltd, we are fully equipped to undertake your confined space risk assessments.  We can also advise of safe practices for conducting work in confined spaces.  Call us now on 08456 122144 for more information

(Source HSE Website Jan 2006)