Safety First

Weekly Safety Share #40 - Working in Confined Spaces

Weekly Safety Share #40 - Working in Confined Spaces

Weekly Safety Share #40 - Working in Confined Spaces

Some tasks we perform rarely, but they carry significant risks—working at elevations, confined spaces, trenching, and more. While some of us handle these tasks regularly, others may not, making it crucial to assess hazards and prepare accordingly.

As we approach Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment sessions, today we’ll focus on confined spaces. Understanding the risks and developing a confined space safety program is vital to ensure we're ready when these high-risk tasks arise. Let’s explore how to identify hazards and implement safe practices for confined space work.

Today I would like to bring your attention to tasks we perform on a very infrequent basis.  Some of these include:

  • Working at elevations
  • Confined Spaces
  • Hoisting and Rigging
  • Trenching and Excavations
  • Working around stored energy
  • Working around heavy equipment
  • Hot Work
  • Bypassing Safety Controls

Some of you may be thinking, “I do this all the time!”  That’s the point I’m getting at.  With our diverse operations we have people experienced in a variety of tasks and operations while others encounter them very infrequently. 

We will be performing Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment sessions in the near future that will identify what operations encounter some of these rare tasks and hopefully we will identify people within the organization that have performed these using industry best practices.

We will look at all these high-risk operations in the future. Today, let’s look at the process for developing a confined space program.

A confined space is defined as a place

  • that is partially or fully enclosed
  • that is not both designed and constructed for continuous human occupancy, and
  • where atmospheric hazards may occur because of its construction, location, or contents, or because of work that is done in it.

All three criteria must be met before a space is defined as a confined space.

The first step is to identify all the confined spaces we could possibly have to enter.  For example:

  • Trenches
  • Hoppers
  • Sewer
  • Storage tanks

Hazards in confined spaces can be categorized as either physical hazards or atmospheric hazards.

Physical hazards often present a greater danger inside an enclosed space than they do outside. Examples include:

  • Noise and vibration
  • Temperature extremes
  • Cramped workspaces
  • Poor access or exit
  • Rotating or moving equipment
  • Electrical hazards
  • Uncontrolled movement of liquids and solids
  • Reactive or corrosive residues
  • Slick or wet surfaces

Dangerous atmospheres have killed those working in confined spaces as well as those attempting rescue. Atmospheric hazards include:

  • flammable, combustible, or explosive atmosphere
  • toxic atmosphere
  • oxygen-deficient atmosphere
  • oxygen-enriched atmosphere

Hazard Assessment

Before each time that a worker enters a confined space, a competent worker must perform a written hazard assessment. The hazard assessment must consider

  • the hazards that may exist in the confined space
  • the hazards that may develop while work is performed inside the confined space
  • general safety hazards in the confined space.

Confined Space Program

Before letting a worker enter a confined space, the employer must develop and maintain a written confined space program based on the specific confines spaces we encounter that are industry best practices.

In the case of a workplace that is not a project, the confined space program must be developed and maintained in consultation with the joint health and safety committee or the health and safety representative.

The confined space program can apply to one or more confined spaces. Program elements must include:

  • a method of recognizing each confined
  • a method for assessing the hazards to which workers may be exposed
  • a method for developing plans for controlling the hazards
  • a method for training workers
  • an entry permit system setting out measures and procedures to be followed when working in a confined space.