HealthandSafety

Executive

Safeworkinconfinedspaces

Safe
Thisdocumentisaimedatemployersandtheselfemployedwhocarryout

work in
workinconfinedspaces,andformspartofHSEscommitmenttomake
simpleandpracticalguidanceavailableforsmallfirms.Itwillhelpthemtake

confined
thenecessaryactiontomeettherequirementsoftheConfinedSpaces

spaces
Regulations1997.Itwillalsobeausefulsourceofinformationtoanyone
involvedincarryingoutworkinconfinedspaces.

Confinedspacescanbedeadly

A numberofpeoplearekilledorseriouslyinjuredinconfinedspaceseachyearin
theUK.Thishappensinawiderangeofindustries,fromthoseinvolvingcomplex
planttosimplestoragevessels.Thosekilledincludenotonlypeopleworkinginthe
confinedspacebutthosewhotrytorescuethemwithoutpropertrainingand
Thisisawebfriendly equipment.
versionofleafletINDG258

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 INDG258 Reprinted09/06 7 of7pages