Essential Equipment for Working Safely in Confined Spaces

Working in a confined space means undertaking work in a space that is enclosed or largely enclosed and poses a risk to the worker of:

• Fire
• Explosion
• Loss of consciousness
• Asphyxiation
• Drowning

Typically, we think of enclosed spaces as small and restrictive; however, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states that working in a confined space could include working in places such as a grain silo, which may have hundreds of cubic metres of capacity but still satisfies the criteria of being enclosed and posing a risk to workers. Other unventilated (or very poorly ventilated) rooms may also be defined as confined spaces.

You may have to work in a confined space if you work in industries such as construction, search and rescue, firefighting, mining and agriculture. Enclosed spaces where workers may have to go to undertake their duties include mines, cave systems, sewers, manholes, tanks, silos, pipelines, crawlspaces, underground vaults etc.

According to information published by the HSE:

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

It is not only the people working in the confined space that are at risk but also people who are tasked with rescuing them if they get into difficulty. 

Working in a confined space is risky due to hazards such as noxious fumes, reduced oxygen levels, extreme heat or the possibility of a fire breaking out. Additional dangers may be present depending on the location of the confined space, for example:

• Flooding
• Drowning
• Asphyxiation from dust, grain or another contaminant

Earlier this year, an NHS trust received a fine of £480,000 after a worker was found unconscious in a manhole and suffered a brain injury due to acute sulphate intoxication. They pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and had to pay £4,286.15 costs in addition to the fine. After the incident, a HSE investigation found that the trust:

• Failed to identify the manhole as a confined space
• Failed to identify a safe system of work
• Failed to identify any precautions to reduce the risk of injury

It is likely that the serious failings highlighted by the HSE investigation stemmed from a failure to conduct a proper risk assessment. When you carry out a risk assessment for working in a confined space, ideally you will want to reduce the risks by avoiding carrying out tasks in confined spaces completely. When this is not possible, it is important to take steps to assess risk, make a plan and decide what you need to do to control the risks, for example:

• Provide training
• Have a rescue plan in place
• Ensure workers have all of the equipment that they need
• Provide ventilation, breathing apparatus or personal protective equipment (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Anyone working in confined spaces should have access to appropriate PPE to protect them from hazards such as dust, chemicals or toxic fumes. 

The type of PPE needed will depend on the nature of the work and the potential hazards that are identified in the risk assessment. It may include: 

• Breathing apparatus – respirators or self-contained breathing apparatus
• Protective clothing – coveralls or chemical-resistant suits
• Hand protection – gloves
• Eye protection – goggles
• Face protection – face shields
• Head protection – helmets or hard hats

All PPE should be suitable, well-fitting and fit for use. There should be no gaps where fumes or toxic substances could enter the body. Any damaged, old or unsuitable PPE should be discarded and the job should only be done when workers have all of the appropriate protective equipment that they need. 

PPE, especially respiratory or breathing apparatus, can be bulky and heavy and reduce mobility, so it is always important to think about how using PPE could adversely affect safety in confined spaces. 

As well as providing PPE to workers it is important to take other steps to uphold the safety of the work site, for example taking precautions around fire safety, or only performing tasks that you are fit and trained for. 

Atmospheric Monitoring Equipment

Atmospheric monitoring is used to check the quality of the air and to test for potential hazards and to make sure that it is fit to breathe. 

Air quality testing should only be carried out by someone who is competent to do so and has the appropriate equipment. In some cases, it may be necessary to continuously test the air while the work is carried out to check there are adequate oxygen levels and to make sure the air has not become unsafe due to toxic gases or other hazards. 

Fires also pose a significant risk to workers in confined areas as making a quick exit may be difficult. Fire safety needs to be thought about at every point during the job:

• Avoid storing flammable or combustible material in confined spaces as far as possible
• Use fire-resistant containers if you need to store flammables in confined areas
• If there is a risk of any potentially explosive atmospheres, take precautions such as cleaning areas prior to starting work to remove chemical residues or dust, using adequate ventilation, and remove ignition sources
• Practise fire evacuation procedures at each work site so that everyone knows what to do in the event of an emergency

Some confined spaces will require mechanical ventilation to ensure that the workers have sufficient oxygen to breathe while working. Mechanical ventilation can be used to replace the oxygen that is being used up by the workers in the confined space to make sure they have enough air, as well as to dilute fumes and gases that are released during works. 

Communication and Rescue Equipment

To help keep workers safe, it is important that communication equipment is provided so that they can let others know how the job is going and can raise the alarm if there is an accident, incident or emergency.

The main purposes of communication when working in a confined space are:

• To enable communication between workers within the confined space
• To enable communication between workers inside and those on the outside
• To raise the alarm in case of an emergency

Various communication systems may be used such as two-way radios, phones, signals (for example pulling on a rope a certain number of times to convey messages) or speech. When deciding on communication methods to be used it is important to consider:

• Are they effective and easy to use?
• Is everyone trained on how to use them?
• Are they suitable to raise the alarm in case of emergency?
• Are there any special considerations or precautions (such as fully charging devices in advance, having spare batteries available or protecting devices from ignition)?
• Can the chosen communication methods be used consistently by everyone in the work area (both inside and outside)?
• Does wearing PPE pose a barrier to using this communication method?

In many confined spaces, especially those underground, it is important to consider that there may be no (or a very limited) phone signal and in these cases alternative communication methods will be needed. 

In the event of an emergency, it is important that all workers involved in working in a confined space know what to do:

• Call 999 to get help from emergency services, such as fire and rescue teams
• Perform first aid, including life-saving measures, if possible
• Evacuate the area if necessary

Additional steps to keep workers safe may include:

• Having multiple trained first-aiders on-site
• Provide life-saving and/or resuscitation equipment on-site

One major cause of injury during confined space work is when people make attempts to rescue others without the proper training or planning. It is important that rescue workers are competent, properly trained and have access to the right equipment. In many cases, it is safest to call for help and wait for professionals to perform rescue operations. 

Entry and Egress Equipment

Some confined spaces will be easier to access than others. A high risk area is usually one where access and egress is difficult and/or there is a restricted working space that may cause hazards to workers.

All workers will require ways to safely enter and exit their working space and may need specialist equipment to do so. This will depend on the nature of the task in hand and the location of the confined space but may consist of:

• Tripods
• Davit arms
• Manhole guards
• Ladders
• Platforms
• Fall protection systems
• Harnesses

All entry and egress equipment must be fit for purpose, used correctly and regularly inspected for wear or damage. Failing to use the correct equipment (or improper use) could result in falls, entanglement, workers becoming stuck or isolated or other accidents and injuries.

Often, confined spaces may suffer from a lack of artificial light which can add an additional layer of danger if workers cannot navigate their way in, out or around a work area. You will need to consider how to provide adequate and suitable lighting for all workers who are working in confined spaces. You will need to consider:

• Whether the lighting poses a fire hazard and how to control it
• How to waterproof the lighting
• Where to position lighting
• Whether lighting is bright enough
• How the lighting is controlled and stored
• Whether the atmosphere makes using lighting risky and how to mitigate these risks (for example using special protection in flammable or potentially explosive spaces)

Law and Legislation on Working in Confined Spaces

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 sets out key employer responsibilities for ensuring the safety of workers and the general public. Working in hazardous or confined spaces is reinforced by further regulations.

The most relevant piece of legislation that relates to working in confined spaces is:

Confined Spaces Regulations 1997

These regulations set out key duties including:

• Avoid making entry to the confined space (such as doing the work from outside)
• If entering a confined space to work is unavoidable, you should follow a safe system of work
• Make sure you have adequate emergency procedures in place before work commences

Additional legislation may apply depending on the location of the confined space and the nature of the work that is being carried out. If you are using machinery in a confined space, relevant legislation includes:

• Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER)
• Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992

When using machinery for confined space work it is vital that you keep fire safety in mind, regularly inspecting equipment and not exposing workers to any other hazards arising from machinery or tools. 

Legislation relating to protective equipment required before you enter a confined space:

• Personal Protective Equipment Regulations 2002
• Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended)

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 state that a risk assessment should be done before undertaking work to decide what hazards exist and what safety measures need to be put in place. For work in confined spaces this should include:

• Identifying the hazards present (for example breathing in fumes)
• Assessing the risks and who is at risk (anyone in the confined space who may breathe the fumes in)
• What can be put in place to minimise these risks (adequate ventilation equipment or PPE such as masks)

To decide the details of the above, you will usually consider the following:

• The task in hand
• The work environment
• Any working materials and tools to be used
• The suitability of the people carrying out the task
• Arrangements for emergency rescue

The results of your risk assessment will inform the decisions you make about how to minimise risk and what precautions you will put in place to reduce the chance of anyone being injured whilst working in a confined space. 

Conclusion

If you are planning on doing work in a confined space, it is important that you take the relevant precautions to protect your safety and wellbeing as well as to protect others. This includes conducting a risk assessment, making a list of essential equipment for working safely in confined spaces (including personal protective equipment), checking entry and exit points and making sure all workers are fit and well trained. 

When planning work in a confined space, it is also vital that everyone on the job has a means to communicate with each other. Workers should be well versed in what to do in the event of an emergency, including evacuation procedures, first aid protocol and calling emergency services.