Confined Spaces

Brian E Grunes

Confined Spaces

Regulations 1997

Common Misconceptions

• One way in /out

• Small - confined

• Needs a rescue team

• Below ground

• Has hazards

Definition of a Confined Space

The Confined Space Regulations define the term as being:

“Any space, including chamber, tank, vat, silo, pit, trench, pipe, sewer, flue, well, or other similar space

in which, by virtue of its enclosed nature, there

arises a reasonably foreseeable specified risk.”

Decision making process flowchart (19) Figure 1

• Serious injury to any person at work arising from a fire or explosion

• Loss of consciousness of any person at work arising from an increase

in body temperature

• Loss of consciousness or asphyxiation of any person at work arising from

gas, fume, vapour or the lack of oxygen

• Drowning of any person at work arising from an increase in the level of

liquid

• 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

Is the area a

Confined

Space?

Regulations apply even if specified risk

is controlled

Specified risksExamples

Serious injury to any person at work arising from fire or

explosion

Worker badly burned after firm ignores safety

risks

• Hired to remove three disused oil

tanks.

• Angle grinder to cut a hole in one of the

tanks.

• Inserted a high pressure water lance

into a pipe opening caused a blow-

back of flames.

• Hartwell Manufacturing Ltd, of Milner

Way, Ossett, was fined £10,000 and

ordered to pay £7,885 in full costs

Loss of consciousness of any person at

work arising from an increase in

body temperature

Oven death firm Pyranha Mouldings guilty of

manslaughter

Alan Catterall, 54, tried to escape using a crowbar but suffered severe

burns at the Pyranha Mouldings factory in Runcorn

Loss of consciousness or asphyxiation of any person at

work arising from gas, fume, vapour or lack of oxygen

• Freon R22

• Oxygen less than 6%

• 3 enter to rescue not following procedure

Trawler (Sunbeam)

Crewmember Killed in

Confined-Space Accident 14/08/2018

Asphyxiation of any person at work arising from a free

flowing solid or inability to reach a respirable atmosphere

due to entrapment in a free flowing solid.

• 19yr old Zach Dean Fox was trying to

clear blockage

• Seamore Farming, Denholm, Hawick

• £45k

A teenager worker died in an “entirely avoidable

tragedy” involving a grain silo, according to HSE.

ACoPThe Approved Code Of Practice

• Meaning of confined space

• Application of regulations

• Duties under the regulations

• Risk assessment (factors to be assessed)

• Preventing the need for entry.

• Duties with regard to design and construction of CS

• Safe working in confined spaces (precautions, suitability)

• Emergency procedures

• Plant and equipment

• Training

Safe work in confined spaces Confined Spaces

Regulations 1997.

Approved Code of Practice, Regulations and Guidance

L101 HSE

Books 1997 ISBN 0 7176 6622 5

NC2

NC3

NC4

National Categories OGN

NC1

6150

City & Guilds Scheme-Confined

Spaces Entry

Atmospheric Hazards

• Oxygen Deficient

• Oxygen Enriched

• Flammable

• Toxic

Oxygen Levels

Normal, safe oxygen levels

At 17% you'll start developing symptoms

like apathy, loss of balance, drowsiness

and possible nausea.

At 14% you could be unconscious

At 12% you might be dead

Flammable, explosion risk,

Spontaneous combustion.

0%

19%

23%

20.9%

At 16% you’ll probably fall over

Safe Working in Confined Spaces

• Supervision

• Competence

• Communications

• Testing /monitoring

• Gas purging

• Ventilation

• Removal of residues

• Isolation of gases, liquids, M&E

• Selection of equipment

• PPE & RPE

• Portable cylinders & IC engines

• Gas supplied by pipes and hoses

• Access & Egress

• Fire Prevention

• Lighting

• Static electricity

• Smoking

• Emergencies & Rescue

• Limited Working Time

Emergency Arrangements

• Self Rescue

• Non Entry

• On Site Rescue• Basic Casualty Extraction

• Full Rescue

• Emergency Services

Mobile and Relocatable

unit capability

Thank you