confined space entry - norwichdistrictsafetygroup.org.uk · definition of ‘confined space it must...
TRANSCRIPT
My Experience so far
❖ Complacency to Confined Space working
❖ Is the area a Confined Space
❖ No company procedures
❖ Poor risk assessments
❖ A lot of confusion Staff & Contractors
❖ Lack of Emergency Arrangements
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Confined Spaces can be
deadly!
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 simply storage vessels. Those
killed include not only people working in the
confined space but those who try to rescue them
without proper training and equipment.
Over 60% of people killed in confined space incidents
are trying to rescue
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Definition of ‘Confined Space
❖ It must be a space which is substantially (though not always entirely)
enclosed and
❖ One or more of the specified risks must be present or reasonably
foreseeable
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Confined Spaces Regulation
1997
❖ The Confined Spaces Regulations
1997 were made under the Health &
Safety at Work Act 1974
❖ L101 Safe work in Confined Spaces
contains Approved Code of Practice
& Guidance on the duties in the
Confined Space Regulations
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What is the meaning of
“Confined Space”
Any place, including any chamber, tank, vat, silo, pit,
trench, pipe, sewer, flue, well, or other similar space
in which, by virtue of it’s enclosed nature, there
arises a reasonably foreseeable specified risk
Confined Spaces Regulations 1997
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Preventing the need for entry
work in confined spaces
Confined Spaces Regulations 1997
Regulation 4
No person at work shall enter a confined space to carry
out work for any purpose unless it is not reasonably
practicable to achieve that purpose without such
entry
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Preventing the need for entry
always ask these question
❖What measures can be taken to enable the work to
be carried out without the need to enter the confined
space?
❖ Can we test the atmosphere or sample the contents
from the outside?
❖ Can we clean from outside?
❖ Can we clear the blockage remotely?
❖ Can we view what’s happening inside without going
in?
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Emergency ArrangementsConfined Spaces Regulations 1997
Regulation 5
Without prejudice to Regulation 4 no person at work
shall enter or carry out work in confined space unless
there have been prepared in respect of the confined
space suitable and sufficient arrangements for the
rescue of persons in the event of an emergency,
whether or not arising out of a specified risk
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Specified Risks
❖ Serious injury to any person at work arising from a
fire or explosion;
❖ The loss of consciousness of any person at work
arising from an increase in body temperature;
❖ The loss of consciousness or asphyxiation of any
person at work arising from gas, fume, vapor or the
lack of oxygen;
❖ The drowning of any person at work arising from an
increase in the level of liquid; or
❖ The asphyxiation of any person at work arising from
a free flowing solid or the inability to reach a
respirable environment due to entrapment by a free
flowing solid;www.rockfieldcss.co.uk
Oxygen Deficiency
❖ 21% Oxygen in the air we breath
❖ 19.5% Oxygen is the minimum safe entry level
Lets consider some of the causes of oxygen deficiency
❖ Biological processes
❖ Corrosion inside steel tanks and vessels
❖ Chemical reactions
❖ Purging of the confined space with an inert gas
❖ Burning operations
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ACCIDENTEntry into rusty chamber kills two !
❖ Two persons collapse after entering a buoyancy
tank on a barge
❖ The tank had not been ventilated or gas tested prior
to entry
❖ They suffocated due to low oxygen levels in the
tank caused by corrosion of the steel structurewww.rockfieldcss.co.uk
ACCIDENTConsider all types of hazards when
planning a job
Pipe opening where a confined space was
inadvertently created
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Oxygen Enrichment ≥ 23%
❖ There is an increased risk of fire and explosion from
high oxygen levels, at these levels, they can be
expected to be more violent and intense
❖ Higher than normal oxygen levels can result from
oxygen leakage during oxy/acetylene welding
operations
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Flammable atmospheres
UEL Upper Explosive Limit
A gas mixture is flammable when the concentration
of flammable material in air is within the Lower and
the Upper Explosive Limits
LEL Lower Explosive Limit
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Flammable Atmospheres (continued)
What can cause such atmospheres to occur
❖ Previous processing or storage
❖ Leaks from adjoining plant or processes
❖ Leak from oxygen cylinders
❖ Ignition of airborne flammable contaminants
❖ Residues left in tanks, vessels etc, or remaining on
internal surfaces which can give off gas, fume or
vapour www.rockfieldcss.co.uk
Toxic Atmosphere (continued)
❖ Previous processing or storage
❖ Sludge or other deposits disturbed
❖ Adjoining plant not being isolated
❖ Leaks into trenches and pits in contaminated land,
“old refuse tips and old gas works
❖Welding, flame cutting, brush and spray painting
❖ Adhesives and solvents
❖ Hot works on exterior surfaces, exhaust fumes from
mobile plant
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ACCIDENTSmall semi confined space!
A workman was relaying the floor tiles in a small cupboard
in an office corridor using a solvent based quick setting
adhesive.
Overcome by the fumes he fell face down into the adhesive
where his face stuck and unconscious he died.
❖ Small spaces such as cupboards etc. are not always
recognised as confined spaces
❖ Remember that “entry” is the action by which a person
passes through an opening into a permit required
confined space and it does not have to be a complete
body entrywww.rockfieldcss.co.uk
ACCIDENTOperator killed checking the oil !
Operator put his head into the tank opening of a barge
to check the oil level.
He was overcome by the fumes and fell into the tank
and was killed
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Ingress or presences of liquids
❖ Is the confined space empty
❖ How deep is any standing liquid in the space
❖What type of liquids are present in the space
❖ Is the space directly or indirectly at risk of flooding
❖ Could changes in weather conditions result in
flooding
❖ Is there a means of escape in the event of flooding
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Solid materials which can flow
❖ Engulfment can occur when a person works amid
large quantities of fine solids such as salt sugar,
catalyst and grains
❖ Free flowing solids have the potential to bury and
drown individuals
❖ The risk is more acute in storage compartment that
have sloping floors
❖ Uneven floors can cause a person to trip triggering a
cave in with disastrous consequences
❖When digging through fine solids, take care that no
high walls are left ready to collapse when disturbed
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Presence of excessive heat
❖ Poor ventilation
❖ PPE
❖ Steam Cleaning
❖ Hot Works
❖Weather Conditions
❖ Plant not being allowed to cool
excessive heat can cause
❖ Heat Stress or Heat Stroke
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Other Hazards
❖ Slippery, corroded or uneven walking surfaces
❖ Obstacles within the space
❖ Poor lighting and visibility
❖ Electricity an mechanical plant
❖ Excessive noise
❖ Falling objects
❖ Falling from height
❖ Bacteriological risks (Legionnella etc)
❖ Animals (Rats, Snakes in pits, tunnels etc)
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Gas Characteristics
HSE Workplace Exposure Limits EH40
❖ LEL = Lower explosion limits
❖ UEL = Upper explosion limits
❖ LTEL = Long-Term exposure limits 8-hours
❖ STEL = Short-Term exposure limits 15 minutes
❖ TWA = Time waited average
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The Management of Health and
Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Regulation 3
States that 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 risk assessment will include consideration of
❖ The Task
❖ The Working Environment
❖Working Tools & Materials
❖ The Suitability of those carrying out the task
❖ Arrangements for emergency rescue
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Regulation 3 (continued)
❖ The assessment will need to identify the risks to
those entering or working there, and also any others,
for example, other workers including contractors
and the general public in the vicinity who could be
affected by the work to be undertaken.
❖ The assessment must be carried out by a competent
person
This is someone with sufficient experience of, and
familiarity with the relevant processes, plant and
equipment so that they understand the risks involved
and can devise necessary precautions to meet the
requirements of the confined space regulations.
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Emergency Arrangements
Regulation 5 ACOP
❖Rescue and resuscitation equipment
❖Raising the alarm and rescue
❖Safeguarding the rescuers
❖Fire safety
❖Control of plant
❖First aid
“reliance on the emergency services alone
will not be sufficient to comply with these
regulations”www.rockfieldcss.co.uk
First Aid
❖Managing an incident
❖ The priorities of first aid
❖ Treatment of an
unconscious casualty
❖ Resuscitation
❖ Shock
❖ Choking
❖ Seizures
❖ Bleeding
❖ Common workplace
injuries.
Have you provided for the appropriate emergency
first aid equipment and trained first aiders to deal
with
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Public Emergency Services
❖ You will need arrangements in place for rapid
notification of the emergency services
❖ They will need all known information about the
conditions and risks before entering the confined
space
❖ This information must be available at the scene of
incident
❖ Is clear access to site available www.rockfieldcss.co.uk
Rescue Training
❖ Consider the likely causes of an emergency on your
own site
❖ Testing the site or other local emergency procedures
including the initiation of emergency response
❖ Use of rescue equipment
❖ Emergency first aid
❖ Liaison with local emergency services
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