Confined spaces are inherently dangerous, so risk assessing each space prior to entry is essential to protecting health. Confined spaces are present in a great many industry sectors and all are unique in their nature and risks, so it is impossible to apply one risk assessment to a number of different spaces.
Why each space is different
The only common factor that all confined spaces share is that they are not designed for continuous human occupancy. Some may have limited access or egress routes, others may be liable to flood. Some may pose an intoxication risk while toxic gasses are present in others.
Because each space poses a unique threat to the health and safety of the workers that are required to enter it, a bespoke risk assessment should be performed for each space and each planned entry to ensure confined space safety.
What risk assessments must cover
Risk assessments are a legal requirement under occupational health and safety legislation and a robust assessment will identify and evaluate the hazards that each space poses. Each risk analysis will investigate the unique characteristics of each space, the reason for entry and the type of work that is to be conducted by the person(s) entering it.
Each hazard must then be characterized based on the likelihood of its occurrence and the severity if it does. This enables appropriate control measures to be put in place. For example, if there is a severe risk of intoxication, personnel should be equipped with breathing apparatus and consideration given to ventilating the space while it is occupied. These actions may trigger secondary risks, which must also be considered to ensure that the proposed measures are appropriate, adequate and beneficial.
Businesses should consider atmospheric, biological and physical hazards. The experience and health of the personnel to be deployed, as well as the rescue team on standby, should also be included in the assessment. Health and safety regulations require that personnel deployed into a confined space are appropriately trained and equipped to perform their role safely. They must also understand how to raise the alarm should emergency evacuation be necessary.
How to minimize the risk
One way in which confined space safety can be enhanced is by implementing targeted training. Businesses will be held liable for death or injuries to personnel resulting from negligence, so investing in a rigorous training program that adequately prepares workers for the job they are to perform is a necessity, particularly when the job involves entering confined spaces.
Training, like risk assessments, will only be fully effective when it is tailored to the unique situation into which a worker will be placed. Simulated entries into confined spaces help identify threats, propose mitigation measures and allow workers to practice emergency evacuations. This not only boosts workers’ ability and confidence, but also emphasizes the critical role of risk assessments in helping raise awareness of potential hazards.
Training should be refreshed regularly and workers confirmed to be fit and well prior to entering a confined space. Workers should also be reminded before every entry that aborting the entry and evacuating safely is always preferable to performing work that they are ill-prepared for or unable to do safely.