Confined space safety in different industries: challenges and solutions

There are myriad risks and challenges in working in a confined space – defined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as “enclosed or largely enclosed and with a reasonably foreseeable risk to workers of fire, explosion, loss of consciousness or drowning.”

Larger sites, for example grain storage silos, can also count as confined spaces, despite their bigger size. Among the risks are noxious fumes, reduced oxygen levels, flooding and asphyxiation from a source such as dust, grain or another contaminant.

Confined spaces include, but are not limited to, tunnels, sewers, tanks, manholes and some areas within buildings such as plant rooms or vaults.

The restricted entry points can make it hard to exit a confined space in an emergency, e.g. following a structural collapse. Equally, labouring in a confined space is physically demanding, and can cause heat stress, exhaustion or dehydration.

So the dangers are clear for anyone who doesn’t know how to work in these spaces safely. (For that reason, they’re not open to the public.) Additionally, the HSE stresses that no one should work in a confined space if there’s an alternative. Nor should you ignore the risks, or allow anyone to enter a confined area unless you are confident they can do so safely.

Which industries are most affected?

Confined-space work is a critical, unavoidable element in a number of different sectors, including:

• Construction: Workers in this sector frequently have to complete tasks in places like underground tunnels or sewers. (Not to mention on scaffolding, ladders and bridges.)
• Utilities: Employees regularly carry out jobs in utility service lines or underground pipes while fitting new infrastructure or fixing systems that are already in place. Potential locations classed as confined spaces include power lines and water pipes, among others.

Other sectors where staff often need to operate in restricted areas include food processing, telecommunications, petrochemical, logging and mining, agriculture and grain storage, water and wastewater treatment plants and industrial plants.  

Potential solutions

Despite the potential risks and challenges, it is, of course, perfectly possible to work in a confined area completely safely. Here are some of the ways you can make that possible:

• Do a thorough risk assessment before starting work. For example, how will you deal with harmful fumes if you need to? If gases or liquids could flood the space, determine whether the relevant valves can be closed.
• Provide proper ventilation or breathing equipment if someone is entering a location where there will not be enough oxygen for proper breathing.
• Establish well-defined emergency plans as necessary. For example, how will you know whether a colleague is safe and hasn’t been overcome by fumes? If you need to, how will you evacuate people? (And, by the way, you can’t just rely on the emergency services to do this.)
• Due to the demanding nature of the work, build in proper breaks, supply enough drinking water and monitor employees to avoid heat-related injuries and illnesses.
• Understand the relevant legislation, including the Confined Spaces Regulations (1997) and, if you’re using machinery, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) and The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. In terms of equipment needed before entering a confined space, consider the PPE Regulations 2002 and 1992. 
• The 1997 regulations mentioned above makes it a legal obligation to give staff working in confined spaces proper training. The HSE also mandates this, and it must cover identifying hazards, safe entry procedures, control measures, emergency response and the correct use of equipment. Indeed, adequate training is one of the best ways of overcoming the challenges of confined-space work and giving staff the necessary expertise to spot dangers, follow safety instructions properly and keep themselves and others safe at all times.

Confined space training from Pragmatic Consulting

Pragmatic Consulting has a strong reputation for quality training across the energy and utilities sectors. We offer the City & Guilds 6160-09 Working in Medium Risk, Entrant & Entry Controller Confined Spaces two-day course at Stoneleigh, our Warwickshire-based training centre. This equips delegates to work safely in medium-risk confined spaces and serve as the operation’s entry controller. It combines classroom-based tutorials and practical sessions with a final exam and practical observation, before the candidate is certified by the awarding body.

Read more about Confined Spaces in our Navigating Confined Spaces Safely blog.

Finally, we offer City & Guilds one, two and three-day courses (respectively) In working in low, medium and high-risk confined spaces.

Interested in reading more about Confined Spaces? Read our blogs - Working In Confined Spaces - All You Need to Know and Understanding Confined Space Entry Regulations.

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