Danger lurks in tight confines

A confined space can be described as an enclosed or partially enclosed space that is not intended or designed primarily as a workplace or is at atmospheric pressure during occupancy; and has restricted means for entry and exit.

It can also be defined as a space that has an atmosphere containing, or likely to contain, potentially harmful levels of gaseous contaminants; has or is likely to have an unsafe oxygen level; or is of a nature or likely to be of a nature that could contribute to a person in the space being overwhelmed by an unsafe atmosphere or contaminant.

Such areas can be found while working in basements, attic spaces or inside chimneys — for chimney cleaners. The size of the space is not often used to define the confines of a working area.

The main dangers that face a person working in a confined space are; electrical shock or electrocution; oxygen deficiency; exposure to toxic gases or fumes; engulfment or suffocation by solids; exposure to fire and explosions; drowning; falls from heights; and environmental factors such as noise, extremes of temperature, poor lighting, manual handling and exposure to dangerous radiation.

If ever you decide to work in one of the above described spaces to carry out domestic repairs, you should always make sure to have a person on standby in the immediate vicinity outside the designated confined space.

The person on standby will always be there to assist in case of accidents. Although it may not be possible to maintain a direct line of sight with the standby assistant, continuous communication with the worker inside the confined space must be maintained.

Dependent upon the location, communications may be achieved using: voice; radio (intrinsically safe one if used in flammable conditions); mobile phone (not to be used if flammable gas or vapour is present in sufficient concentration to cause explosion or fire); or hard wired communications.

Before work in a confined space can begin, a competent person must carry out a risk assessment. The assessment must be in writing and must take account of the hazards involved; work methods to be adopted; risk factors to be considered and the control measures to be adopted.

One of the risk factors to be considered is the arrangement for emergency response procedures, including rescue, first aid and resuscitation. A rescue plan needs to be put in place that can be implemented in an emergency.

All necessary equipment that may be required in an emergency (such as harnesses, respirators and stretchers) must be available and serviceable. The relevant members of the emergency response team required to use the equipment must be trained in its use.

The rescue members should be well-trained in first aid administration. The standby person may form part of an emergency response team by acting as the coordinator, but must remain outside the confined space.

Safety harnesses and safety lines should be worn where there is a risk of falling whilst descending into or ascending out of the designated confined space; or where rescue by a direct horizontal or vertical route is possible.

The use of hand-operated lifting equipment should be considered, where appropriate, to facilitate the removal of an unconscious person from a confined space.

A confined space should never be purged with pure oxygen. Where necessary, the space should be cleared of contaminants using a suitable purging agent. Gas mixtures used for this purpose should not contain an oxygen content of greater than 21 per cent.

Compressed clean air is economical and suitable for use. So whenever you have to clean your chimney, search for a faulty line in the attic or work in any other confined space, now you know how to go about it.