It is inevitable at some point in your career that you may need to enter a confined space. Understanding the dangers and being able to identify a confined space and any hazards you may encounter is critical to navigating this situation safely.
A confined space is defined as any space that is large enough to enter, is not designed for human occupancy, and has limited entry or exit points. A confined space permit is needed for any confined space with a hazardous atmosphere or some other type of hazard, such as an electrical or mechanical hazard.
All confined spaces present a serious hazard and require some prior planning before entering the space, as defined above. Some things to consider are the essential dangers of confined spaces which include:
Necessary safety precautions
Therefore — it is important to conduct a hazard assessment in all confined spaces and:
For a confined space permit, make sure the space is approved by the leadership on the project or client
In a confined space, the air must be testedβbut in the required confined space it must be subjected to a control, and therefore when testing, you must:
Confirm that confined space training is up-to-date for: entrance staff, present supervisors, rescue personnel
You should also have an assistant that:
Knows how to prevent heat stress: 1) Take breaks as needed in a cool environment, and 2) Don’t forget to consume a lot of liquids
Remember that a confined space can be deadly if the entrance is not carefully planned and executed.
Please contact the Weifield Safety department if you have any questions about a confined space. We can assist you and your team in pre-planning and executing entrance to a confined space safely.
Until next time…ππ¨π«π€ ππππβππβπ¬ ππ‘ππ πππ¬π²!