Confined Space
Safety Standby Cover

A number of people are killed or seriously injured in confined spaces each year in the UK.

This happens in a wide range of industries, from those involving complex plant to simple storage vessels. Those killed include not only people working in the confined space but those who try to rescue them without proper training and equipment.

The Confined Space Regulations 1997 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require that you must carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks for all work activities for the purpose of deciding what measures are necessary for safety.

For work in confined spaces this means identifying the hazards present, assessing the risks and determining what precautions to take.

In most cases the assessment will include consideration of:

the task
the working environment
working materials and tools
the suitability of those carrying out the task
arrangements for emergency rescue

The definition of what constitutes a confined space is very wide, but as a guide, it is a confined space if:

It is any space of an enclosed nature where there is a risk of death or serious injury from hazardous substances or dangerous conditions.

Any space not intended for permanent occupation.

Any space (with or without an enclosed top, where access and egress may be impaired.

Any unventilated or poorly ventilated room where activities are taking place that may cause changes in the atmosphere.

Any restricted space containing liquids or solids that act like liquids (powders, grains etc).

A confined space rescue emergency occurs whenever the person operating within the designated confined space is unable to remove themselves from the area.

Reasons will vary, but may include a physical accident, a medical emergency or the presence of a hazardous atmosphere.

Confined spaces are often narrow and constricting preventing easy access by confined space rescuers. They are usually either unlit or poorly lit so rescuers must provide their own lighting. Often the access is far from ideal and therefore confined space rescue teams often require advanced rope rescue skills as well.