Health and safety hazards are common in the everyday lives of people working in various industries. However, confined space hazards seem to be the most underrated cause of fatalities among workers. This article presents a clear understanding of the risks involved when interacting with confined spaces and explains the emergency procedures and approaches to address emergencies.
What is defined as a confined space?
In general, any space that is small and hard to fit for an adult is confined. However, as defined by OSHA, a confined space is a completely or partially enclosed operational area that an employee is likely to enter in the line of duty. A confined space can be anything from bins to wells and is usually not designed for long-term human occupancy. A confined space is most likely to have limited or restricted access. In short, any enclosed space with the risk of injuries or death due to substance hazards or hazardous conditions such as lack of oxygen, fire, explosion, and structural collapse is classified as a confined space.
OSHA defines the criteria for a confined space as follows:
- Limited or restricted entry and exit access
- The space is not designed to facilitate continuous human occupancy.
- The space is intended to allow workers to enter and conduct work.
Types of Confined Spaces
The confined spaces are typically classified into three categories which are as follows:
Permit-Required Confined Space:
A permit-required confined space involves certain safety risks and must meet special entry protocols as mandated by OSHA. Such confined places must indicate the potential danger through signage and must only be entered with a clear understanding of the hazard and procedures to avoid, prevent, and respond to hazardous situations. Any space that meets one or more of the following criteria qualifies as permit-required confined space:
Hazard Atmosphere:
The space tends to contain a hazardous atmosphere that could harm the entrant's health. It includes an atmosphere with oxygen deficiency, flammable gases, vapors, dust, or toxic and hazardous gases e.g., hydrogen sulfide, and carbon monoxide.
Engulfment Hazard:
A space with materials like liquids or loose solids that could engulf or suffocate an entrant. This can happen rapidly, leaving little time for escape, and can occur in environments like grain silos or water tanks, where the material shifts unexpectedly.
Internal Configuration Hazard:
A space with internal configurations that can trap or asphyxiate occupants due to narrow, tapered, or irregular areas. These hazards make it difficult to escape quickly, especially in emergencies, and pose a significant risk in spaces like pipelines or poorly designed storage tanks.
Other Serious Hazards:
Other recognized hazards include mechanical or electrical equipment risks, extreme temperatures, high noise levels, and exposure to hazardous substances or chemicals. These hazards can cause immediate harm or create long-term health issues if not properly managed and mitigated.
Alternate Permit-Required Confined Space:
Non-permit-required confined spaces, while free of the hazards associated with permit-required spaces, should still be approached with caution. It’s essential to have a safety plan in place in case of unexpected incidents. Although these spaces do not mandate safety signage or the presence of attendants, it's crucial to inform employees of their existence. Despite lacking severe dangers, the restricted space still calls for careful safety measures. According to NASP, it's uncommon to encounter non-permit-required confined spaces.
7 Hazards Associated With Confined Spaces
The dangers associated with working in confined spaces are not to be overlooked which impresses upon the need to take a proper confined spaces training. In the case of hazardous encounters, it is significant to take necessary measures to combat the dangers to avoid fatal consequences. Here are 7 important confined space hazards to be mindful of.
Lack of Oxygen
In 2014, three employees tragically lost their lives while entering a cargo hold at the Google Docks. The investigation revealed that the timber cargo had dangerously low oxygen levels, highlighting how confined spaces can have oxygen concentrations as low as 5-6%, which can be fatal. This incident underscores the critical danger of oxygen-deficient environments in confined spaces. Naturally occurring reactions cause oxygen depletion into the environment which results in the production of carbon dioxide that is hazardous for humans.
Gases, Fumes and Vapours
Toxic gases and fumes can quickly accumulate in confined spaces, especially when there’s poor ventilation. These dangerous gases might enter through something like a burst gas pipe or contaminated soil. They can also be produced by the work being done, such as welding, or from materials like adhesives or paint. Without proper ventilation or extraction, the air inside can become poisonous, putting workers at serious risk.
Flooding
Confined spaces can flood rapidly, whether from liquids in sewer or drainage work or collapsing solids like in trenches. This can trap, drown, or bury workers with little time to react. Even small spaces can become life-threatening in seconds, emphasizing the need for quick evacuation routes.
Dust
Dust can accumulate from natural sources or tasks like drilling and grinding. Inhalation of excessive dust can cause severe respiratory issues or even death. In confined spaces, poor ventilation can also increase the risk of fires or explosions due to dust buildup.
Fire and Explosions
Flammable gases, vapors, and dust in confined spaces can ignite, leading to fires or explosions. The danger escalates with the use of hot tools or when oxygen levels are too high. It's important to prevent disaster through proper ventilation and monitoring of flammable substances.
Temperature
Enclosed spaces can quickly trap heat from hot work or strenuous activities, raising body temperature to dangerous levels. This can lead to heatstroke, collapse, or worse, especially when escape is difficult. Hence, it is crucial to ensure temperature control and proper ventilation in such environments.
Access Restrictions
Confined spaces often have limited or narrow entry points, which makes it hard to escape in an emergency and complicates rescue efforts. Before entering, employees should ensure that the work can be done safely and that proper emergency procedures and equipment are in place.
Wrap Up
Considering the confined spaces hazards it is important to encourage employees to take the OSHA confined spaces online training courses where they learn about all types of hazards. They can learn about the necessary precautionary measures and personal protective equipment or tools to safeguard their lives and health when working in such a hazardous environment.
