WORKING IN CONFINED SPACES THE
IMPORTANCE OF A RESCUE TEAM
Working within confined spaces is a dangerous activity, putting the lives of staff and contractors at risk of injury or asphyxiation from any gases that might have escaped into the area, as well as any number of additional scenarios or medical emergencies that may be present when working in these conditions.
WHAT IS A CONFINED SPACE? A confined space is classed as any space of an enclosed nature where any danger of death exists, this could be from lack of oxygen, exposure to hazardous substances or gases, or some form of serious injury exists from the conditions present. Some examples of confined spaces would be, silos, storage tanks, enclosed drains and sewers.
leaving the worker unconscious and in severe danger of suffocation, as gases and fumes can quite easily build up in these spaces causing asphyxiation. Certain kinds of storage tanks pose a risk of fire or explosion if not properly de-gased, as flammable vapours could escape into the area, again posing the risk of fire and explosion. Liquids can quite quickly fill the space causing drowning and of course work in enclosed, confined spaces causes any heat to be excessive and these hot conditions can lead to sharp rises in body temperature, posing a risk to health.
WHAT DO THE REGULATIONS SAY? It’s important that the dangers of working in confined spaces not be underestimated, the correct assessments should be carried out, procedures should be put in place and followed by staff and management, including having a rescue team in order to have competent and qualified personnel on site that can, if something disastrous happens, be in position to provide rescue and first aid.
In fact the ‘Confined Spaces Regulations 1997’ state that “no person at work shall enter or carry out work in a confined space unless there have been prepared in respect of that confined space suitable and sufficient arrangements for the rescue of persons in the event of an emergency, whether or not arising out of a specified risk.”
Before work in any confined space is carried out all of the hazards present, or that could possibly occur, should be identified fully, assessing the risk that is present and what safety measures need to be put in place.
These assessments must determine whether there is any need
Some places, upon first inspection, may not seem like confined spaces initially, such as vats or open topped chambers, but all present a possible hazard to the worker inside.
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS? Death or serious injury can happen not just to the individual working in the space, but also to the people who attempt to carry out any rescue without the proper training and equipment.
Work in these dangerous environments present many opportunities for serious injury or death, lack of oxygen can occur
to enter the space at all, if work can be completed successfully outside of the space then it should be. If entering the space is unavoidable, then safe systems of work must be put into place to ensure that all risks are minimised as much as possible and a means of escape and rescue is provided by fully trained and equipped rescuers.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THINGS GO WRONG? If things do go wrong, even after all the correct assessments of risk have been carried out and the necessary precautions taken, people may then be immediately compromised and in danger.
Only fully trained and equipped specialist personnel should attempt a rescue in this situation, as any ill prepared attempt to rescue someone from a confined space only serves to put more lives in danger, nearly two thirds of all deaths occurring in confined spaces are attributed to unprepared people trying to perform an urgent rescue.
Regulation 5 of the ‘Confined Spaces Regulations’ says “you must make suitable arrangements for emergency rescue which will depend on the nature of the confined space, the risks identified and the likely nature of an emergency rescue. You should not rely on the public emergency services.”
Having the correct persons, qualified and equipped for confined space rescue, present on any type of job where confined space entry takes place is vital. Spaces are often narrow and access far from ideal for rescuers, which is why most good rescue teams will have advanced rope rescue skills at their disposal, enabling them to react quickly to any situation that occurs.
WHAT WILL THE RESCUE TEAM DO? Entry rescues in confined spaces must be planned and executed meticulously and providing a demonstration rescue for workers before the job commences gives personnel a visible demonstration of the rescue strategy and techniques involved for any incident that could occur.
Rescue teams will have with them all the protective clothing needed for the type of confined space, along with any necessary breathing apparatus, protective headgear, any lighting that they may require and any other safety rescue equipment deemed necessary to the situation. They will also, more often than not, wear a full body harness attached to a safety line. To assist with vertical descents, mechanical winches and tripods may be set up over the access point, these can aid with removal of the injured party from the space.
WHAT CAN I DO FOR MORE INFORMATION?
In the UK confined space is governed by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) and the ‘Confined Space Regulations’ are available from their website.
Ensuring workers safety should be at the forefront of every company’s ethos and operating practices.
Paul Glister Abfad Limited
www.windenergynetwork.co.uk
79
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92