BUILDING MAINTENANCE
The person in charge of the proposed work in the confined space needs to ascertain whether flammable substances or oxygen enrichment is present. They need to: check for excessive heat; monitor for the presence of toxic gases, fumes and vapours; assess the risk of oxygen deficiency; and assess the possibility of the space filling with any liquid during entry, and the possibility of entrants becoming engulfed in free- flowing solids. Consideration must always be given to the need to deal with an emergency during a confined space entry.
PROTECTING STAFF The saying ‘failing to prepare
is preparing to fail’ is pertinent to confined space working as advanced planning is crucial, and employers must adequately protect their staff.
Comprehensive training is essential to prepare employees for confined space working. Options include accredited courses and bespoke programmes to suit individual businesses. It is important to remember that anyone assessing, managing and supervising confined space work also needs to be suitably trained to carry out their part of a safe confined entry. The regulations identify the ‘competent person’ as being the person making the critical decisions about entry and the protective measures to be taken. Employers must select personnel who are ‘suitable’ to enter and work in confined spaces, and adequately prepare them.
A wide range of solutions are available for businesses, including advice on the identification of confined spaces from experienced specialists, help and advice with developing safe systems of entry, developing training packages, and advising on the selection, supply and use of all the necessary equipment.
Employee training to deal with everything from preparation to emergencies is always required if confined space entry is to take place. The training must include a theoretical understanding of all the confined space hazards, risks, methods of protection and keeping safe in confined spaces, including safe-systems of work and permits to work, etc.
Realistic practical training is also required which safely simulates the conditions likely to be experienced during entry into the confined space. This training could include: observational suitability checks (i.e. for claustrophobia); developing a safe working system; and selecting, checking and using equipment, including monitoring and respiratory protection equipment. Training can also include the initiation of hazard response, remembering that organisations cannot just rely on the emergency services.
Specialist accredited training courses for workers cover areas such as: entry methods, hazard identification, safe systems at work, and rescue. Additionally, consultancy advice at management level, employee medicals, face-fit testing and equipment maintenance are all solutions available to businesses.
The Specified Risks identified in the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 are: • Serious injury arising from a fire, explosion or excess of oxygen • Loss of consciousness arising from an increase in body temperature
• Loss of consciousness or asphyxiation arising from gas, fume, vapour or the lack of oxygen
• Drowning arising from an increase in the level of liquid
• Asphyxiation arising from a free flowing solid or the inability to reach a respirable environment due to entrapment by a free flowing solid
TRAINING Confined space environments can
be overwhelming, so adequate preparation is of paramount importance to avoid tragedies. Providing a safe way to condition workers in what to expect in confined spaced environments prior to entry is an effective training method.
Practicing working in a simulated industrial environment that represents real-life working conditions, such as industrial and environmental noise, simulated smoke and gas release, varying temperatures and environmental smells, will help to prepare workers for that type of hazard and risk. This method is beneficial to help to build employee confidence and awareness before tackling hazardous situations.
As part of the confined spaces training solutions provided at Arco, we have Mobile Confined Spaces Units that provide a flexible training method at a location of your choice.
The Unit can be fully-configured to a business’ requirements on-site and is an effective training tool. As well as bespoke configurations, the unit features live-monitoring and videoing that can be viewed as part of the training process. Learning through experience is often a powerful training tool and the mobile units provide a safe environment to do this.
Additionally, the unit can be used for face-fit testing checks and breathing apparatus maintenance on-site, providing a convenient one-stop-shop solution for businesses.
www.arco.co.uk.
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