UK
US
What is Confined Space?
A confined space in the UK is described in the Confined Space Regulations 1997 as "any place in which, by virtue of its enclosed nature, there arises a reasonably foreseeable specified risk".A number of people are killed or seriously injured in confined spaces each year in the UK. This happens in a wide range of industries, from those involving complex plant to simple storage vessels. Those killed include people working in the confined space and those who try to rescue them without proper training and equipment.
Examples of Confined Spaces
Some confined spaces are fairly easy to identify e.g. enclosures with limited openings. Work areas commonly defined as Confined Spaces include:
- Tunnels
- Pipelines
- Large machinery
- Manholes
- Silos
- Tanks
- Pits
- Sewers
- Trenches
- Storage Bins
- Ductwork
- Shafts
- Building Voids
What are the hazards of working in a Confined Space?
- Serious injury from fire or explosion
- Loss of consciousness from an increase in body temperature
- Loss of consciousness from gas, fume, vapour or the lack of oxygen
- Drowning arising from an increase in the level of liquid
- Asphyxiation from a free flowing solid or the inability to reach a respirable environment due to entrapment by a free flowing solid
What Equipment is required when working in a Confined Space?
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers must ensure the safety of their workers and others; a duty which is regulated in further detail by the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997. These regulations require the employer to avoid confined space entry where possible and following safe working systems in cases where the work is unavoidable. If confined space work is being conducted, employers must ensure that emergency arrangements are put in place before commencing operations.
In addition to the specific requirements of working in confined spaces, regulations for managing health and safety at work also require employers/self employed individuals to carry out a thorough risk assessment of the area, in order to accurately identify which measures need to be taken in order to prevent injuries. This may result in the need to manage certain hazards by using specialised equipment such as breathing apparatus and harnesses.
Is a Confined Space Rescue Plan required?
A rescue plan is a fundamental part of confined space entry planning. Without it, how will people know how to respond if a worker is stuck in a confined space, and what equipment will they use to get them out? If there is no plan, this could make the situation worse.
It could also be life-threatening if there is a significant delay in emergency response or if fellow workers carry out the rescue without appropriate equipment and training.
Rescue plans can be generic or specific. The type required will depend on the complexity of the rescue from the confined space and the anticipated emergency. A generic plan will not be sufficient for more complex situations. Therefore, rescue plans must contain enough information to execute a safe rescue.
There are three main types of rescue:-
- Self-rescue – A worker can get themselves out of the confined space, e.g. by using self-contained emergency breathing apparatus.
- Non-entry rescue – A worker is rescued by a trained team who don’t need to enter the confined space, e.g. the worker is winched out by a tripod and lifeline.
- Entry rescue – A rescuer or team enters the confined space to retrieve the worker, e.g. in a complex confined space where it isn’t just a vertical entry.
The above is a kind of hierarchy, with self-rescue being the best option. It is the best option as it doesn’t put anyone else at risk, and it is a quicker form of rescue. Entry rescue should be the last option, as it puts other people at risk and exposes them to the hazards in the confined space.