Risk assessments confined spaces

Appendix 9.4 - Typical confined spaces risk assessment... 

To comply with Regulation 4, risk assessment will be necessary. The priority in carrying out a confined spaces risk assessment is to identify the measures necessary to avoid work within the space. Where the assessment shows that it is not reasonably practicable to do the work without entering the space, it can be used to identify the precautions to be included in a safe system of work. A competent person must carry out the risk assessment, and in large or complex situations, more than one person may need to be involved. 

Some plant and equipment are immediately classified as confined spaces, but extreme caution is necessary in the assessment of other areas. Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 requires employers to ensure the health and safety at work of their employees this duty is so far as is reasonably practicable. Therefore, as work in confined spaces is potentially dangerous this Section of the Act clearly requires employers to ensure that there is no risk to their employees when working in such an area. 

Recognize what chemicals are toxic, using the categories in this section as a guide for analysis. Assess the level of risk based on likelihood of exposure by various routes. Be mindful of confined spaces (smaU labs) with regard to asphyxiants. 

Risk assessment is an essential requirement of the Confined Spaces Regulations and must be done so that a safe system of work may be determined. The risk assessment needs to identify the hazards present in the confined space, assess the risks and determine suitable controls to address those risks. The first part of the risk assessment will determine whether the work can only be done in the confined space. 

All this information should also be contained in the on-site construction phase safety plan (as required under CDM). A copy of the risk assessment and method statement should be kept on site for reference purposes. An example of a risk assessment for a confined space is given in Appendix 9.4 at the end of this chapter. 

The site supervisor must ensure that all necessary equipment is available on site in accordance with the risk assessment, method statement and any other planned procedures, such as a permit to work, before any person is allowed to enter a confined space. He must also ensure that the planned procedures, including any permit to work systems, are adhered to strictly and that only authorized trained persons are permitted to enter the confined space. He must be notified of any changes in working methods or conditions inside the confined space which were not included in the planning procedures before any changes are implemented. 

According to Moraes Junior (2008), a major problem of areas or confined spaces is that not all the people know how to identify them, distinguishing it from other workplaces, and especially to assess the risk involved in the work performed in this environment. To the layman, working in this or that place does not make much difference, especially with regard to the risks present. 

The precise precautions required in a safe system of work will depend on the nature of the confined space and the risk assessment findings although the main elements to consider in this are detailed below ... 

Permit to work (P.T.W) is a formal written system to control certain types of work which are identified as potentially hazardous. This system may need to be used in high-risk jobs such as hot works, confined space entry, carrying hazardous substances, and electrical or mechanical isolation. In this system, responsible persons should assess the work and check safety at all stages. Moreover, permits are effectively a means of communication between site management, plant supervisors and operators, and those who carry out the work. The people doing the job sign the permit to show that they understand the risks and precautions necessary. 

The management role is to decide on the nature of the confined space and to put a safe system into operation, including risk assessment. General location, the potential for flooding and the need for isolations must also be included in the assessment. 

Regulation 4(2) requires that no person shall enter a confined space unless a safe system of work is in place. Before deciding what precautions are needed for entry, priority should be given to eliminating any sources of danger. The factors to be considered in designing a safe system, and which may form the basis for a permit to work, will depend on the risk assessment and could include ... 

The precise rescue arrangements will depend on the risks identified. When assessing rescue arrangements, general accidents such as incapacitation after falls should be considered as well as those resulting specifically from work in confined spaces. Recovering an injured person by rope and harness can be difficult if the escape route is very narrow, even when a full safety harness is worn so that the body can be raised vertically rather than bent at the waist. 

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