Confined Space Overview Alan Pellowe 112 Solutions Limited
Confined Space Definition A confined Space is defined as any place by reason of confinement there arises a specified risk that has restricted access and egress or difficulty in maintaining access in an emergency; i.e. access via vertical restriction. Typical examples within the collapse structure environment are basements, enclosed unventilated rooms, tunnels, excavations, collapsed structure voids, shafts, sewers, pits, trenches and pipes.
Categories of Confined Space Category Description Essential equipment 1 Good Access, Adequate Ventilation and Low Risk of Hazardous Atmosphere USAR PPE, Resuscitator at PoE, Comms, Gas Detection Equipment SAVOX 2 Vertical Access less than 1.5m, with easy or simple access, Poor Ventilation with a Medium Risk of Hazardous Atmosphere USAR PPE, Resuscitator at PoE, Comms, Gas Detection Equipment. BA Emergency Team St/by 3 Locations with a vertical access greater than 1.5m with either Complex Access or Vertical Ladder. Poor ventilation with a Medium Risk of hazardous atmosphere. USAR PPE. Resuscitator at PoE. Full safety harness. Comms. Gas detection equipment. SavOx. BA Emergency Team St/By. LACE equipment , SAVOX 4 USAR personnel working under national BA procedures in a HIGH RISK or known Hazard space. USAR PPE & BA, Full safety harness. Rope/life-line. Resuscitator at PoE. Comms. Gas detection equipment. BA Emergency Team
Confined ……… Yes / No..??
Equipment Considerations Line Access & Casualty Extrication Equipment Safe Working at Height Equipment Pumped Ventilation Equipment SAVOX Escape Sets (30 minute duration)
Monitoring and Documentation Risk Assessment Forms CONSPACE Checklist Log Book
Further Information INSARAG Systems of Work http://www.insarag.org/?catid=0&id=14 Health & Safety Executive – Code of Practice http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Publications_and_Forms/Publications/C onstruction/Code_of_Practice_for_Working_in_Confined_Spac es.23612.shortcut.html