FEATURE TRAINING
WHY CONFINED SPACE TRAINING IS CRITICAL Nick Marshal, general manager at Arco, explains the critical
very year, a significant number of people are killed or seriously injured in confined spaces in the UK. This not only accounts for employees conducting a job in a confined space, but also for those who attempt to rescue colleagues without proper training and equipment.
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WHAT IS A CONFINED SPACE? A confined space is a place which is substantially enclosed (though not always entirely), and where serious injury can occur from hazardous substances or conditions within the space or nearby Before approaching a training
programme, it is vital employers complete a comprehensive risk assessment to determine if they require confined spaces training. Common confined spaces found in industrial environments include utility vaults, pipes, access shafts and sewers, however; some confined spaces aren’t always that recognisable and can even be created after the initial risk assessment has been completed. One of the major problems in managing safe confined space entry is where circumstances change during the work, there are many recorded instances of unsafe situations arising, often with tragic consequences. Examples of changing
conditions could be the release of toxic or flammable gases into the area that were not identified before entry; this could be carbon dioxide from wet chalk in an excavation, the introduction of cleaning chemicals, sealants or paints and commencement of processes that use up oxygen such as welding.
REGULAR HAZARDS TO CONSIDER Before entering a confined space, an employee needs to have completed a sufficient training programme to ensure they are not putting themselves and others at risk. The reason training is so vital for confined spaces is because the level of potential hazards is extremely high. Being aware of these and understanding how to react if a potential hazard arises is critical to staying safe. These hazards include: Reduced physical dimensions –
Workers should be experienced in how to effectively handle the potential scenarios and hazards that they may be faced with in confined spaces
Entry and exit into the hazardous space becomes difficult to negotiate. Movements inside the confined space also become restrictive, increasing exertion levels. Lack of oxygen – 20.9 per cent is a
normal oxygen level, with 19.5 per cent being the minimum. Anything below this can quickly affect the functioning of the brain, causing drowsiness and reducing a person’s ability to respond to their environment. Excess of oxygen – Conversely, excess oxygen over 23.5 per cent, usually caused by leaking oxy/fuel gas cutting and welding equipment, also presents a serious threat to workers by increasing the risk of fire in otherwise safe materials, such as clothing. Flammable substances – Gases,
fumes, vapours and dusts can also build up, causing fire or explosion if ignited. Where there is a possibility of flammable substances being present,
26 AUTUMN 2017 | INDUSTRIAL COMPLIANCE WHY CONFINED SPACE TRAINING IS CRITICAL importance of suitable confined spaces training to workplace safety
then suitable equipment should be specified to eliminate any risk of a spark or ignition source. Toxic gases fumes and vapours – Toxic gases can be formed in the process of cleaning, welding or painting, which in an unventilated space can poison or suffocate the worker. In excavation work, contamination can come from hazardous substances previously deposited in the ground or from natural sources such as limestone producing carbon dioxide. Some gases may also be trapped in residues and sludge, scale or animal waste which may not be identified by initial atmospheric testing but could be easily disturbed and released by workers.
REALISTIC TRAINING Every worker, whether directly entering the space, providing support or preparing safe systems of work, should be experienced both in confined space entry and how to effectively handle the potential scenarios and hazards that they may be faced with. It is essential that all individuals undergo a thorough practical ‘scenario’ training programme to ensure that they are prepared to respond to these scenarios and are familiar with the expected safety standards and processes. Scenario training should cover the
recognition and identification of possible hazards, evaluation and control procedures, and the setup, use, and restrictions of any equipment used in the confined space rescue process. Arco offers a variety of training
solutions to meet businesses’ individual requirements. These include a fleet of mobile confined space training units that simulate hazardous environments and offer employees a realistic and practical training experience. Arco’s team of experts provide hands-on guidance and support, developing and delivering a bespoke training programme that is tailored to the specific requirements of a businesses’ own environment. As well as mobile training units, Arco has a national network of confined space training facilities at Total Access and CSTS, which offers attendees a true representation of various scenarios and difficult situations. Additionally, the training provided by the family run business also includes specialist courses for managers and supervisors who are responsible for either supervising or managing confined space entries. There is no room for error in confined space environments, so effective training and gaining access to specialist support is critical for businesses to ensure that they keep their employees safe at work.
Arco
www.totalaccess.co.uk
/ INDUSTRIALCOMPLIANCE
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