Element C1

Element C1.3

Confined Spaces

Confined Spaces Regulations 1997

CSR definition

Any place, including any chamber, tank, vat, silo, pit,

pipe, sewer, flue, well, or other similar space, in

which, by virtue of its enclosed nature, there arises a

reasonably foreseeable specified risk

Element C1

Confined Spaces Regulations 1997

Specified risk

Serious injury from fire or explosion

Loss of consciousness

From increase in body temp

From gas, fumes, vapour, lack of oxygen

Drowning from increased level of liquid

Asphyxiation from free flowing solid, or unable to move due to being trapped by free flowing solid

Employer

Must ensure employees comply with regs

Also SFAIRP – work of others not in employment, but under their control

Element C1

Assessing Risk

Consider

If entry to space is only way to carry out task

Risk must be determined by analysis of each hazard and control

Also take account of

Need for safe access

Provision and maintenance of safe atmospheres

Task, materials, equipment

Persons at risk

Reliability of safeguards

Emergency arrangements

Element C1

Assessing Risk

Safe access / egress

Openings – sufficiently large and free from

obstruction

Allow passage of persons wearing necessary PPE

Also allow emergency access / egress

Practice drills

Special equipment for emergencies

Hoists, additional access points

Element C1

Assessing Risk

Safe Atmospheres

Contents, removed or not, residues, properties

Oxygen deficiency / enrichment

Cleaning chemicals to be used – may react with

contents, tasks – welding etc

Ambient temperature

Ease of breathing, control of body temperature

Temperature changes may cause toxins to be

released

Ingress of fumes / substances from adjacent work

Failure of forced ventilation

Element C1

Assessing Risk

Safe Atmospheres

Testing of atmosphere

Personal gas detectors

RPE

Suitable for purpose intended – matched to task and person

BA

Element C1

Assessing Risk

Task, Materials, Equipment

Clearly ID all 3

Assess individually and collectively

Persons at risk

Those that enter the space

Supporting staff

Rescue

Medical conditions

Physical / mental attributes

Understanding of risks and controls – Info, Instruct, Train

Element C1

Designing Safe Working Practices

Operating Procedures

Written

For all confined space work

SSOW

Formal document control system PTW

Describe and restrict work to be done

Process to determine hazards

Define controls to reduce risk to acceptable level

Consider Who is authorised to issue PTW

Signed by all parties to reinforce gravity of SSOW

PTW is cancelled when work finished Completion, redefine task, hand over to others

Element C1

Designing Safe Working Practices

Emergency Arrangements

CSR Reg 5

Prohibits any person to enter or carry out work in a confined

space unless suitable and sufficient rescue arrangements are

in place

Ventilation systems

Backup should exist or SSOW

i.e. alarm and air reservoir, evacuate

Element C1

Designing Safe Working Practices

Emergency Arrangements

Suitable and sufficient

Provisions and maintenance of resuscitation equipment

Provision and maintenance of equipment to enable

effective rescue

Restrict SFAIRP the risks to rescuers

Be immediately put into operation in emergency situations

Special arrangements with emergency services

Other arrangements

First aid, fire fighting, safeguard 3rd parties, raising alarm

Element C1

Designing Safe Working Practices

Training for work in confined spaces

HASAWA

Info, instruct, training, supervision

Awareness of CSR

The need to avoid entry unless not reasonably

practicable to do so

Understand the work and related hazards /

precautions

Understand SSOW, PTW

Emergency situations and procedures

Element C1

Flammable Atmospheres

Found in workplace

Paints, solvents, welding gases, petrol, dusts from

wood, flour, sugar

Necessary for quantity of substance to be present in

proportion with oxygen to make it a flammable

atmosphere

Element C1

Flammable Atmospheres

Purging

Forced ventilation to eliminate flammable atmosphere

Air or inert gas, such as nitrogen

On entry

Control all sources of ignition

Electrical equipment must be suitable

Non sparking tools

Anti static clothing

Element C1