Checkpoints

Ken Smith fro m Arco discusses t h e procedures

and t rai ni ng that will help prevent accidents and injuries
when working in confined spaces.
A
si gni fi cant n umbe r o f pe ople substances or conditions within the space In May 2013, a bath restoration company
are ki lled or seriously i njured or nearby" I Despite this clear definition, we was fined for safety failings after an employee
in confi ned spaces each year still see numerous tragic accidents making died as a result of inhaling toxic fumes as he
wo rk i n g in t h e UK. This happens in a headline news, with fatalities occurring as worked in a residential bathroom. The man
wi de range o f i ndust ri es, fro m man u- a result of poor training and an ignorance was using an industrial paint and varnish
fac t uri n g, sewage wo rk t o agri cult ure. of the dangers involved in confined space remover to strip a resin coating from a bath
Those ki lled i nclude people wo rk i n g in working. when he was overcome by fumes. >
t h e c o n fi n e d space an d t h o s e wh o t ry
t o rescue t h e m, o f t e n wi t h o ut p ro p e r
t rai n i n g an d e qui p me n t . In fac t ,
aro un d 60% o f c o n fi n e d spaces de at h s
i n vo lve p e o p le t ryi n g t o rescue t h o s e
alre ady t rap p e d o r i n jure d^
A confined space is "a place which is
substantially (though not always entirely)
enclosed and there is a reasonably foresee-
able risk of serious injury from hazardous
peo,
already trapped..."
The RoSPA Occupational Safet y & Health Journal January 2014 15
Checkpoints
"Some confined spaces
will develop during
construction work..."
The stripping agent contained dichlorometh-
ane, also known as mthylne chloride, a
carcinogenic toxic chemical. Fumes rapidly
built 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 common bathroom
and not a confined space, therefore he was
unprepared and ill-equipped for work.
To ensure that such accidents are preven-
ted, employers need to ensure that their
employees can identify a confined space, are
correctly trained in safe working practices and
are provided with suitable safety equipment.
Confined space identification
The existence of a confined space in some
workplace environments is reasonably easy
to identify and understand. Tanks, vessels,
sewers and the like are known t o be confined
spaces to people in the industry; however
the existence of confined spaces in com-
mercial or non-industrial premises is less well
known. Service ducts, loft and void spaces,
plant rooms or poorly ventilated rooms are
examples of confined spaces often found in
commercial buildings, hospitals, universities
and residential dwellings.
Some confined spaces will develop during
construction work or when work such as
welding or cleaning is being carried out.
These spaces are equally as hazardous as those
found in industrial environments and demon-
strate that systems of safe working must be
put in place in every environment.
Legislation
In the UK, the Confined Space Regulations
1997 is the legislation specifically pertaining
to the identification and management of con-
fined space working. The regulations and the
Approved Code of Practice must be considered
before any attempt to enter a confined space.
The requirements of the Health and Safety
at Work etc Act 1974 and the Management
of Health and Safety at Work Regulations
1999 would also have to be considered in the
"...employers need
to ensure that their
employees can identify
a confined space..."
16 January 2014 The RoSPA Occupati onal Safet y & Healt h Journal
Checkpoints
Confined space risk assessment
Factors t h at should be considered:
Supervision
Competence
Testing and monitoring the atmosphere
Gas purging
Ventilation
Removal of residues
Isolation from gases, liquids, other
flowing materials
Isolation from electrical and mechanical
equipment and stored energy
Selection of suitable equipment
Gas supplied by pipes and boses
Gas cylinders and
engines
Personal Protective Equipment and
Respiratory Protective Equipment
(PPE and RPE)
Safe way in and out
Fire prevention
Lighting
Static electricity
Smoking
Emergencies and rescue
Limiting working time
Each hazard should be addressed in t urn and reasonably practicable control
measures developed and applied In each case.
preparation of any risk assessment and safe
system of work, including training. Otber
legislation may also be relevant depending
on tbe work to be carried out in the confined
space, where hazards such as bazardous
substances, manual bandling, electricity and
work at beigbt may be present.
Personal protective clotbing and equipment
along witb respiratory protective equipment
may be specified and used in confined spaces
and tbis will mean tbe relevant regulations
surrounding tbe supply of PPE/RPE, mainte-
nance and use will also have to be considered.
Safe systems of work
One of the key requirements of the Confined
Space Regulations 1997 is for employers to
identify the measures needed so that work in
confined spaces can be avoided. If it cannot be
considered reasonably practicable to carry out
tbe work witbout entering tbe confined space,
then the Approved Code of Practice (ACoP)
which accompanies tbe regulations states
it Is necessary to determine what measures
need to be taken to secure a safe system for
working witbin tbe confined space.
Tbe safe system of work sbould begin wi tb
a competent and experienced person com-
pleting a risk assessment. The ACoP ( www.
h s e .go v.uk /p ubn s /p ri c e d/l101.p df)
states that, "the priority when carrying out
a risk assessment is to identify the measures
needed so that work in confined spaces can
be avoided"^. Wbere confined space work-
ing cannot be avoided, "tben it is necessary
to determine wbat measures need to be
taken to secure a safe system for working'"*.
Tbrougb assessing tbe risks connected wi th
entering or working in a confined space, the
employer or self-employed worker can then
make an informed decision on wbat specific
training, PPE and safety equipment will 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 physical dimensions.
Entry and exit into the hazardous
space becomes difficult to negotiate.
Movements inside the confined
space also become
restrictive, increasing
exertion levels.
"Confined spaces
undeniably pose
a wide variety of
potential hazards."
Likewise, the use of breathing apparatus,
rescue stretchers and equipment
becomes mucb more difficult in areas of
smaller dimensions.
Lack o f o xyge n . 20.9% is a normal
oxygen level, witb 19.5% the minimum
working level. Anything below tbis can
quickly affect the functioning of the
brain, causing drowsiness and reducing
a person's ability to respond to tbeir
environment. Oxygen levels below 16%
put employees at risk of unconsciousness
and eventually, deatb.
Excess o f o xyge n . Conversely, excess
oxygen over 23.5%, usually caused by
leaking oxy/fuel gas cutting and welding
equipment, also presents a serious tbreat
to workers by increasing tbe risk of fire
in otberwise safe materials, sucb as
clothing. >
%
nsl Safety & Health Sow nal Jjnuoi y 2014 17
Checkpoints
Flammable substances. Gases,
fumes, vapours and dusts can build
up, causing fire or explosion if ignited.
Where there is a possibility of flammable
substances being present, then suitable
equipment will have to be specified to
eliminate any risk of a spark or ignition
source.
Toxic gases fumes and vapours.
Toxic gases can be formed in the process
of cleaning, welding or painting, which -
in an unventllated space - can poison or
suffocate the worker. In excavation work,
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 animal
waste which may not be identified by
initial atmospheric testing but could be
easily disturbed by workers and released.
Additionally, toxic gases, fumes and
vapours may contaminate the confined
space from outside, such as vehicle
exhaust fumes.
Excessive heat. Excessive heat can
cause heat stress, leading to heat stroke,
unconsciousness and death. Heat levels
can rise through inadequate ventilation,
incorrect clothing and the use of steam
cleaners or hot water jets. Residual heat
may also linger in spaces such as ovens
or boilers.
The unintended ingress of
materials. Liquids unintentionally
entering the confined space may
cause drowning or the liquid may have
corrosive or toxic properties. Powders
and granulated materials such as sugar,
grain and sand can also submerge
someone in a confined space and prevent
them from breathing.
Competence & Training
Personnel involved in confined space work,
whether those entering or those in support
or preparing safe systems of work, should
be experienced and competent, both in
confined space entry and the task to be
undertaken. If not, it is essential that they
undergo a full practical training programme.
Confined space training should equip
all personnel with the competency and
understanding of:
"Some gases may also
be trapped in residues
and sludge..."
the need for preventing entry into
confined spaces, as far as is reasonably
practicable;
the hazards and the control measures
and precautions;
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 not doing so.
Training should also include a practical ele-
ment to realistically simulate confined space
conditions and working. This should be
practised thoroughly to ensure competence.
The practical training will also confirm a per-
son's suitability for work in confined spaces;
whether they are physically fit and able to
enter the space and also if they suffer from
conditions such as claustrophobia.
Refresher training will be required periodi-
cally and its timing will depend on the contin-
ued experience after initial training. Addition-
ally, personnel will need training on the use
of equipment 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.
References
1. www.iosh.co.uk/pdf/Andy%20
Bagworth%20-%20Confined%20
Spaces.pdf
2. www.hse.gov.uk/confinedspace/
3. www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/
l101.pdf
4. www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/
l101.pdf
Arco has developed a Working in
Confined Spaces Expert Guide designed
to provide guidance on confined space
hazards and safe systems of work.
www.arco.co.uk
18 January 2014 The RoSPA Occupati onal Safet y & Healt h Journal