In many industries, accessing confined spaces is part of the job. These tight spots contain unique dangers, and workers need specialised training to enter them. But it takes more than training to ensure your team members stay safe in confined spaces. As a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU), you have a duty to eliminate health and safety risks as far as practicable. That requires confined space planning to be part of your strategy.
There’s a lot to consider when you’re working in confined spaces. What are the hazards in these spaces, and how can you keep them under control? Will you need respiratory protection or other specialised equipment? And how do you test the atmosphere?
Many workers have died due to confined space incidents in Australia. A lot of these fatalities involved a lack of oxygen, while a significant portion were would-be rescuers. Confined space safety is a priority, which involves careful planning.
SafeWork NSW has a very clear and specific definition of a confined space. A confined space is a fully or partially enclosed area that is:
Confined spaces are not designed for human occupancy and have limited entry and exit points. They exist in all kinds of industries, from hospitality to agriculture to construction. Common confined spaces include:
Some places that are not technically confined spaces (despite being small spaces with potential hazards) include:
Conditions inside a confined space are frequently extremely dangerous. Knowing what hazards to look for and making a plan for dealing with them can be the difference between life and death in the workplace. Strict rules and regulations must be followed to ensure everybody is safe while working in and around confined spaces, and the right documentation must be made to ensure all staff members follow them.
There are many people involved in confined space safety: those involved in risk assessments and identifying hazards, those entering the space, those monitoring the workers while they’re in the confined space, the rescue team, etc. It’s important to make sure all have the right qualifications and training. In Australia, one-day training courses are available for personnel who need to enter confined spaces but aren’t required to take on rescue roles. A two-day course can teach participants the basics of taking on rescue responsibilities using ropes or harnesses.
Under section 19 of the Workplace Health and Safety Act, a PCBU must eliminate the risks of working in confined spaces or reduce them as far as practically possible. A PCBU also has a duty to consult workers about workplace health and safety and coordinate and co-operate with other decision makers in the workplace.
Confined space planning reduces the risk of accidents. This means less likelihood of worker fatalities and injuries, and you stay on the right side of workplace regulations, too. It’s a bonus that workers who feel safe and protected are more likely to be motivated and productive.
Confined space planning is a detailed process that benefits from professional input. First, you need to establish whether a space meets the definition of a confined space according to the WHS / OHS Regulations, Australian Standards and Code of Practice. You can then identify the hazards and risks and establish control measures to deal with them. These measures include equipment like personal protective equipment (PPE) and atmospheric testing devices, as well as emergency rescue and evacuation plans.
Your rescue plan needs to be well-developed, tested, and rehearsed to ensure its efficacy. Workers who carry out the rescue role should be well-trained and fit enough to do so, able to think on their feet and make snap decisions.
The dangers of confined spaces are well-documented. Poor ventilation can lead to oxygen depletion, putting employees at risk of suffocation. The combination of flammable substances and inadequate ventilation can cause a fire or explosion. Tight spaces pose dangers all on their own for both trapped workers and those trying to rescue them.
Some of the things that can go wrong when you neglect confined space planning include:
If you don’t ensure confined space safety, workers can be exposed to low oxygen levels, hazardous gases and flammable atmospheres.
Confined spaces are difficult to access in emergencies, especially for untrained personnel. Yet every second counts in a crisis. By compromising on confined space planning, you may end up with untrained personnel, a lack of proper rescue equipment, and a response that comes far too late.
By failing to provide adequate confined space safety and planning, you neglect your duties as a PCBU and risk serious legal consequences. If an accident occurs, you may face expensive legal costs and loss of revenue from damage to your reputation.
Without the right planning, workers might not have access to the personal protective equipment, including respirators, harnesses, and protective suits, that would help keep them safe in a confined space.
Of course, there’s a lot to remember when putting together a confined space plan, and you have other duties to fulfil. That’s why it pays to leave your confined space planning in SSTC’s hands.
With more than 25 years of combined experience, SSTC is a trusted name in safety for some of Australia’s largest construction companies. We’re experts in safety and rescue services and your one-stop shop for planning and documentation.
We can manage all of your confined space needs from beginning to end, ensuring the highest levels of planning and safety. Working with your policies and procedures, we can help you with isolations, permit issuing and documentation and confined space set-up, among other services.
Our emergency response team can implement a solid emergency response plan that keeps your workers safe while following all rules and regulations. We’ll also provide a safety observer to continuously monitor the confined space and promptly initiate emergency procedures if necessary. Our emergency response teams work with state-of-the-art equipment and are trained to carry out confined space rescues.
For confined space planning that protects your team and your business, contact the SSTC team for a free quote.