HealthandSafety Executive

Safeworkinconfinedspaces

Safe work in confined spaces

Thisdocumentisaimedatemployersandtheselfemployedwhocarryout workinconfinedspaces,andformspartofHSEscommitmenttomake simpleandpracticalguidanceavailableforsmallfirms.Itwillhelpthemtake thenecessaryactiontomeettherequirementsoftheConfinedSpaces Regulations1997.Itwillalsobeausefulsourceofinformationtoanyone involvedincarryingoutworkinconfinedspaces.

Confinedspacescanbedeadly
A numberofpeoplearekilledorseriouslyinjuredinconfinedspaceseachyearin theUK.Thishappensinawiderangeofindustries,fromthoseinvolvingcomplex planttosimplestoragevessels.Thosekilledincludenotonlypeopleworkinginthe confinedspacebutthosewhotrytorescuethemwithoutpropertrainingand equipment.

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Whatisaconfinedspace?
Itcanbeanyspaceofanenclosednaturewherethereisariskofdeathorserious injuryfromhazardoussubstancesordangerousconditions(eglackofoxygen). Someconfinedspacesarefairlyeasytoidentify,egenclosureswithlimited openings:

storagetanks; silos; reactionvessels; encloseddrains; sewers.

Othersmaybelessobvious,butcanbeequallydangerous,forexample:

opentoppedchambers; vats; combustionchambersinfurnacesetc; ductwork; unventilatedorpoorlyventilatedrooms.

Itisnotpossibletoprovideacomprehensivelistofconfinedspaces.Someplaces maybecomeconfinedspaceswhenworkiscarriedout,orduringtheir construction,fabricationorsubsequentmodification.

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Whatarethedangersfromconfinedspaces?
Dangerscanariseinconfinedspacesbecauseof:
A lackofoxygen.

Thiscanoccur: wherethereisareactionbetweensomesoilsandtheoxygeninthe atmosphere; followingtheactionofgroundwateronchalkandlimestonewhichcan producecarbondioxideanddisplacenormalair; inshipsholds,freightcontainers,lorriesetcasaresultofthecargoreacting withoxygeninsidethespace; insidesteeltanksandvesselswhenrustforms.

Poisonousgas,fumeorvapour.

Thesecan: buildupinsewersandmanholesandinpitsconnectedtothesystem; entertanksorvesselsfromconnectingpipes; leakintotrenchesandpitsincontaminatedland,suchasoldrefusetipsand oldgasworks. Liquidsandsolidswhichcansuddenlyfillthespace,orreleasegasesintoit, whendisturbed.Freeflowingsolidssuchasgraincanalsopartiallysolidifyor bridgeinsiloscausingblockageswhichcancollapseunexpectedly. Fireandexplosions(egfromflammablevapours,excessoxygenetc). Residuesleftintanks,vesselsetc,orremainingoninternalsurfaceswhichcan giveoff gas,fumeorvapour. Dustmaybepresentinhighconcentrations,eginfloursilos. Hotconditionsleadingtoadangerousincreaseinbodytemperature.

Someoftheaboveconditionsmayalreadybepresentintheconfinedspace. However,somemayarisethroughtheworkbeingcarriedout,orbecauseof ineffectiveisolationofplantnearby,egleakagefromapipeconnectedtothe confinedspace.Theenclosure andworkingspacemayincreaseotherdangers arisingthroughtheworkbeingcarriedout,forexample:

machinerybeingusedmayrequirespecialprecautions,suchasprovisionof

dustextractionforaportablegrinder,orspecialprecautionsagainstelectric shock; gas,fumeorvapourcanarisefromwelding,orbyuseofvolatileandoften flammablesolvents,adhesivesetc; ifaccesstothespaceisthrougharestrictedentrance,suchasamanhole, escapeorrescueinanemergencywillbemoredifficult(seeEmergency procedures).

Whatthelawsays
Youmustcarryoutasuitableandsufficientassessmentoftherisksforallwork activitiesforthepurposeofdecidingwhatmeasuresarenecessaryforsafety(The ManagementofHealthandSafetyatWorkRegulations1999,regulation3). Forworkinconfinedspacesthismeansidentifyingthehazardspresent,assessing therisksanddeterminingwhatprecautionstotake.Inmostcasestheassessment willincludeconsiderationof:

thetask; theworkingenvironment; workingmaterialsandtools; thesuitabilityofthosecarryingoutthetask; arrangementsforemergencyrescue.

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HSEsfreeleafletFivestepstoriskassessment willhelpyoufurther.Youmayneed toappointcompetentpeopletohelpmanagetherisksandensurethatemployees areadequatelytrainedandinstructed(TheManagementofHealthandSafetyat WorkRegulations1999,regulation7). Ofcourse,youmaybethebestpersonto do this,however,youmayneedtotrainsomeoneelseorengagetheservicesofa competentpersonforadditionalhelp. Ifyourassessmentidentifiesrisksofseriousinjuryfromworkinconfinedspaces, suchasthedangershighlightedabove,theConfinedSpacesRegulations1997 apply.Theseregulationscontainthefollowingkeyduties:
avoidentrytoconfinedspaces,egbydoingtheworkfromoutside; ifentrytoaconfinedspaceisunavoidable,followasafesystemofwork;and putinplaceadequateemergencyarrangementsbeforetheworkstarts.

Theseduties,andwhatyouneedtodo,arefurtherdescribedinthisdocument.

Avoidenteringconfinedspaces
Youneedtocheckiftheworkcanbedoneanotherwaysothatentryorworkin confinedspacesisavoided.Betterworkplanningoradifferentapproachcan reducetheneedforconfinedspaceworking. Askyourselfiftheintendedworkisreallynecessary,orcouldyou:
modifytheconfinedspaceitselfsothatentryisnotnecessary; havetheworkdonefromoutside,forexample: blockagescanbeclearedinsilosbyuseofremotelyoperatedrotatingflail

devices,vibratorsorairpurgers;
inspection,samplingandcleaningoperationscanoftenbedonefromoutside

thespaceusingappropriateequipmentandtools;
remotecamerascanbeusedforinternalinspectionofvessels.

Safesystemsofwork
Ifyoucannotavoidentryintoaconfinedspacemakesureyouhaveasafesystem forworkinginsidethespace. Usetheresultsofyourriskassessmenttohelpidentifythenecessaryprecautions toreducetheriskofinjury.Thesewilldependonthenatureoftheconfinedspace, theassociatedriskandtheworkinvolved. Makesurethatthesafesystemofwork,includingtheprecautionsidentified,is developedandputintopractice.Everyoneinvolvedwillneedtobeproperlytrained andinstructedtomakesuretheyknowwhattodoandhowtodoitsafely. Thefollowingchecklistisnotintendedtobeexhaustivebutincludesmanyofthe essentialelementstohelpprepareasafesystemofwork. Appointmentofasupervisor Supervisorsshouldbegivenresponsibilitytoensurethatthenecessaryprecautions aretaken,tochecksafetyateachstageandmayneedtoremainpresentwhile workisunderway.

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Arepersonssuitableforthework? Do theyhavesufficientexperienceofthetypeofworktobecarriedout,andwhat traininghavetheyreceived?Whereriskassessmenthighlightsexceptional constraintsasaresultofthephysicallayout,areindividualsofsuitablebuild? Thecompetentpersonmayneedtoconsiderotherfactors,egconcerning claustrophobiaorfitnesstowearbreathingapparatus,andmedicaladviceonan individualssuitabilitymaybeneeded. Isolation Mechanicalandelectricalisolationofequipmentisessentialifitcouldotherwise operate,orbeoperated,inadvertently.Ifgas,fumeorvapourcouldenterthe confinedspace,physicalisolationofpipeworketcneedstobemade.Inallcasesa checkshouldbemadetoensureisolationiseffective. Cleaningbeforeentry Thismaybenecessarytoensurefumesdonotdevelopfromresiduesetcwhilethe workisbeingdone. Checkthesizeoftheentrance Isitbigenoughtoallowworkerswearingallthenecessaryequipmenttoclimbin andouteasily,andprovidereadyaccessandegressinanemergency?For example,thesizeoftheopeningmaymeanchoosingairlinebreathingapparatus inplaceofselfcontainedequipmentwhichismorebulkyandthereforelikelyto restrictreadypassage. Provisionofventilation Youmaybeabletoincreasethenumberofopeningsandthereforeimprove ventilation.Mechanicalventilationmaybenecessarytoensure anadequatesupply offreshair.Thisisessentialwhereportablegascylindersanddieselfuelled equipmentareusedinsidethespacebecauseofthedangersfrombuildupof engineexhaust. Warning:carbonmonoxideintheexhaustfrompetrolfuelled enginesissodangerousthatuseofsuchequipmentinconfinedspaces shouldneverbeallowed. Testingtheair Thismaybenecessarytocheckthatitisfreefrombothtoxicandflammable vapoursandthatitisfittobreathe.Testingshouldbecarriedoutbyacompetent personusingasuitablegasdetectorwhichiscorrectlycalibrated.Wheretherisk assessmentindicatesthatconditionsmaychange,orasafurtherprecaution, continuousmonitoringoftheairmaybenecessary. Provisionofspecialtoolsandlighting Nonsparkingtoolsandspeciallyprotectedlightingareessentialwhereflammable orpotentiallyexplosiveatmospheresarelikely.Incertainconfinedspaces(eginside metaltanks)suitableprecautionstopreventelectricshockincludeuseofextralow voltageequipment(typicallylessthan25V)and,wherenecessary,residualcurrent devices.

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Provisionofbreathingapparatus Thisisessentialiftheairinsidethespacecannotbemadefittobreathebecause ofgas,fumeorvapourpresent,orlackofoxygen.Nevertrytosweetentheairin a confinedspacewithoxygenasthiscangreatlyincreasetheriskofafireor explosion. Preparationofemergencyarrangements Thiswillneedtocoverthenecessaryequipment,trainingandpracticedrills. Provisionofrescueharnesses Lifelinesattachedtoharnessesshouldrunbacktoapointoutsidetheconfined space. Communications Anadequatecommunicationssystemisneededtoenablecommunicationbetween peopleinsideandoutsidetheconfinedspaceandtosummonhelpinan emergency. Checkhowthealarmisraised Isitnecessarytostationsomeoneoutsidetokeepwatchandtocommunicatewith anyoneinside,raisethealarmquicklyinanemergency, andtakechargeofthe rescueprocedures? Isapermittoworknecessary? A permittoworkensuresaformalcheckisundertakentoensurealltheelements ofasafesystemofworkareinplacebeforepeopleareallowedtoenterorworkin theconfinedspace.Itisalsoameansofcommunicationbetweensite management,supervisors,andthosecarryingoutthehazardouswork.Essential featuresofapermittoworkare:
clearidentificationofwhomayauthoriseparticularjobs(andanylimitstotheir

authority)andwhoisresponsibleforspecifyingthenecessaryprecautions (egisolation,airtesting,emergencyarrangementsetc); provisionforensuringthatcontractorsengagedtocarryoutworkareincluded; trainingandinstructionintheissueofpermits; monitoringandauditingtoensurethatthesystemworksasintended.

Emergencyprocedures
Whenthingsgowrong,peoplemaybeexposedtoseriousandimmediatedanger. Effectivearrangementsforraisingthealarmandcarryingoutrescueoperationsin anemergencyareessential. Contingencyplanswilldependonthenatureoftheconfinedspace,therisks identifiedandconsequentlythelikelynatureofanemergencyrescue.

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Emergencyarrangementswilldependontherisks.Youshouldconsider: Communications Howcananemergencybecommunicatedfrominsidetheconfinedspaceto peopleoutsidesothatrescueprocedurescanstart?Dontforgetnightandshift work,weekendsandtimeswhenthepremisesareclosed,egholidays.Also, considerwhatmighthappenandhowthealarmcanberaised. Rescueandresuscitationequipment Provisionofsuitablerescueandresuscitationequipmentwilldependonthelikely emergenciesidentified.Wheresuchequipmentisprovidedforusebyrescuers, trainingincorrectoperationisessential.

Capabilitiesofrescuers
Theyneedtobeproperlytrainedpeople,sufficientlyfittocarryouttheirtask,ready athand,andcapableofusinganyequipmentprovidedforrescue, egbreathingapparatus,lifelinesandfirefightingequipment.Rescuersalsoneed tobeprotectedagainstthecauseoftheemergency. Shutdown Itmaybenecessarytoshutdownadjacentplantbefore attemptingemergency rescue. Firstaidprocedures Trainedfirstaidersneedtobeavailabletomakeproperuseofanynecessaryfirst aidequipmentprovided. Localemergencyservices Howarethelocalemergencyservices(eg,firebrigade)madeawareofanincident? Whatinformationabouttheparticulardangersintheconfinedspaceisgivento themontheirarrival?

Relevantlaw
TheConfinedSpacesRegulations1997; TheManagementofHealthandSafetyatWorkRegulations1999; TheControlofSubstancesHazardoustoHealthRegulations2002(as

amended); ThePersonalProtectiveEquipmentatWorkRegulations1992(asamended); TheProvisionandUseofWorkEquipmentRegulations1998; ElectricityatWorkRegulations1989; Workplace(Health,SafetyandWelfare)Regulations1992.

Someoftheabovelawisrelevantbecauseofthenatureoftheworktobecarried outinsideaconfinedspace,egwheretherearerisksfrommachinery,electricityor fromhazardoussubstances.

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Furtherguidance
Safeworkinconfinedspaces.ConfinedSpacesRegulations1997.ApprovedCode ofPractice,Regulationsandguidance L101HSEBooks1997ISBN0717614050 Guidanceonpermittoworksystems: Aguideforthepetroleum,chemicaland
alliedindustries HSG250HSEBooks2005ISBN0717629430.Therelevanceof
thisguidanceisnotrestrictedtothepetroleumindustry.Itwillbehelpfulinany
industryorworkactivitywherethepreparationandapplicationofpermitstowork
arebeingconsidered.
5 stepstoriskassessment LeafletINDG163(rev2)HSEBooks2006(singlecopy
freeorpricedpacksof10ISBN071766189X)
HSEpricedandfreepublicationsareavailablebymailorderfromHSEBooks,
POBox1999,Sudbury,SuffolkCO102WATel:01787881165Fax:01787313995
Website:www.hsebooks.co.uk(HSEpricedpublicationsarealsoavailablefrom
bookshopsandfreeleafletscanbedownloadedfromHSEswebsite:
www.hse.gov.uk.)
ForinformationabouthealthandsafetyringHSEsInfolineTel:08453450055
Fax:08454089566Textphone:08454089577email:hse.infoline@natbrit.comor
writetoHSEInformationServices,CaerphillyBusinessPark,CaerphillyCF833GG.
Thisdocumentisavailableinpricedpacksof20fromHSEBooks,
ISBN0717614425. SinglefreecopiesarealsoavailablefromHSEBooks.
Thisdocumentcontainsnotesongoodpracticewhicharenotcompulsory butwhichyoumayfindhelpfulinconsideringwhatyouneedtodo. Crowncopyright Thispublicationmaybefreelyreproduced,exceptfor advertising,endorsementorcommercialpurposes.Firstpublished10/97.Please acknowledgethesourceasHSE.

PublishedbytheHealthandSafetyExecutive

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Reprinted09/06

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