Definition:
The confined space that has limited access and limited egress hence it is not designed for permanent human occupancy.
It is large enough for a human to enter bodily and perform work.
There are so many confined space dangers that will cover down the line and it is the most dangerous place to work.
What are Confined Space Dangers
- Untrained Crafts
- Oxygen deficient and oxygen-enriched
- Electromechanical
- Fire
- Noise
- Falling objects
- Wet Surface
- Fall hazard
- Electrical hazard
- Hot or Cold Surfaces
- Caught in between moving parts of the equipment
What Is the Mitigation’s from Confined Space Dangers?
1.Competent Workforce:
The first and foremost criteria for anybody prior to the startup of work inside space is he or she must be having confined space training to prevent them from confined space dangers.
2.The Crafts Must be Well & Competent:
All the entrants must have at least three pieces of training, a line of fire, work at height, and confined space.
3.The Level of Oxygen Must be Up to the Standards:
You need to ensure that the level of oxygen must be between 19.5 % to 23.5 % in order to avoid confined space dangers.
4.Follow Set Standards:
It is a general convention that to enter inside the confined space level of oxygen must be between 19.5% and 23.5%, CO should be 0, H2S and LEL must be zero in order to save the concerned from confined space dangers.
5.Blind the Lines:
Blind all the lines connected to the confined space in order to avoid confined space dangers.
6.De-Energize all Power Sources:
De-energize all the energy sources and apply LOTO in order to avoid confined space hazard.
7.Purge with Nitrogen:
Purge the Space and clean it with nitrogen prior to the start of the work to avoid confined space dangers.
8.Perform Gas test:
The confined space must be free from all toxic hazards and H2S because H2S is a highly poisonous gas.
It smells like rotten eggs and if anybody from the workforce comes in contact with it he or she must be given proper medical treatment.
9.Engage Competent and Required Crafts:
Personnel required prior to entry inside the space are entry supervisor, confined space attendant, and rescue member depending on the size and volume of the space.
10.Double-Check All the Requisite Stuff’s Prior to Entry:
Check and verify isolation, ventilation, testing of the atmosphere, and completion of the work permit to save the workforce from confined space dangers prior to entry.
11.Ensure Satisfactory Result of Gas test:
In order to avoid confined space dangers, you need to allow the workforce to work inside the confined space only after the satisfactory result of the gas test.
12.Do Periodic Gas Test during Hot Work:
One needs to take special care during hot work activity inside space.
Place the firefighting equipment outside the space to avoid confined space dangers and do an hourly gas test or periodic gas test in order to avoid imminent dangers.
13.Perform Continuous Gas Test:
There must be continuous checks for hazardous substance and the gases by an authorized gas tester.
The certified gas tester will check it with a certified and calibrated multi-gas detector depending upon the client’s requirement.
14.Fans and Blowers Must be in Running Condition:
Keep all the fans and blowers in running condition during work and check it for its soundness.
15.Check the Numbers of Ventilation Equipment:
Installation of a number of fans and blowers depends upon the design, vent point, volume, and earlier content of the confined space.
16.Use SABA in Extreme Condition:
Use SABA (supplied air breathing apparatus) if there are circumstances where it is difficult to achieve satisfactory results of the Gas test in order to save the workforce from hidden hazards.
17.Wear Earplugs in the Noisy Area:
All the personnel working in the area need to wear complete PPE and where the noise value is more than 85 DB, they need to wear earplugs.
18.Be Attentive during Work:
Ideally, it is the most dangerous place to work so one needs to be very careful during work.
19.Contain the Materials in the Fire Blanket:
Contain all the materials outside the space in the fire-retardant blanket or containment box in order to avoid falling objects.
20.Make the Surface Free from Slips and Trips:
Make the surface free from slips and trips hazard because if it is wet it poses danger so soak it with dry clothing.
21.Provide Proper Means of Access to Space:
Utilize proper means of accessories in the form of ladders and scaffolds inside the confined space in order to avoid fall hazards.
22.Shut off all the Equipment Connected to Space:
All the equipment connected to the confined space which runs on electricity must be shut off and a certificate needs to be taken in order to avoid an electrical hazard.
23.Make the Surface in Normal Condition:
This is to ensure prior to work that surfaces are not too hot or cold in order to avoid dangers to the workforce.
24.Switch-off all the Connected Machinery:
The competent craft need to turn off all the machinery which is connected to the lines in order to avoid dangers to the workforce.
FAQ
Ans: -No, it is very dangerous to enter a confined space without a valid work permit.
Ans: -A person who has confined space training can enter inside the confined space.
Ans: –1. Training 2.LEL must be zero 3. Lines must be blinded 4. Continuous Gas test is required 5. Level of oxygen must be in between 19.5 % to 23.5% 6. Exhaust ventilation is required and 7. Confined space lights
Ans-1. A space which has limited access and egress 2. Oxygen deficiency 3. Oxygen enrichment
Ans: –1. Untrained Crafts 2. Oxygen enrichment and deficiency 3. Electromechanical 4. Fire 5.
Chemical 6. Wet surface 7. Fall hazard 8. Hot and Cold surface 9. Caught-in between moving parts of the equipment.
Ans: -1. Oxygen 2. Carbon mono-oxide 3. H2S and explosive gases are checked, that is why LEL is checked and it must be zero.
Conclusion
Ideally, it is the most dangerous place to work so a breach in the above-mentioned rules of safety can be very lethal.
That’s the reason it is a advice to be in your eyes and ears by following all the rules of confined space including the basic safety standard to avoid imminent dangers.
Last Updated: -9 March 2022