| When a worker in confined spaces is
| |
| | --Be aware of the confined spaces around
|
| injured or trapped on the job, the last
| |
| | you, and ask for specific training on the
|
| thing anyone would want is for the
| |
| | space before entering.
|
| rescuers to be hurt as well. Yet, without
| |
| | --Obtain the correct permits before
|
| the right training or specialized
| |
| | entering. This is an instance where the
|
| confined space equipment, the most
| |
| | laws are not devised to keep anyone from
|
| well-intentioned hero could unfortunately
| |
| | what they need to do, but rather to
|
| make matters worse.
| |
| | ensure that everyone using a potentially
|
| What is a confined space?
| |
| | hazardous space is fully informed of the
|
| Confined spaces are not necessarily
| |
| | hazards.
|
| small, or even closed. They are
| |
| | --Monitor the air in the confined space
|
| characterized by having a limited means
| |
| | before entry. Poisonous gases may be
|
| of entry or exit. They could possibly
| |
| | undetectable to the human senses. Use
|
| only be accessed with a ladder, or they
| |
| | special confined space equipment such as
|
| may have only one entry point.
| |
| | a gas monitor to determine the safety of
|
| Just to give you an idea of the range,
| |
| | the space, both at the top, the middle
|
| some examples of confined spaces are:
| |
| | and the bottom (since different gases
|
| maintenance holes (manholes), sewers,
| |
| | have different weights).
|
| boilers, tunnels, pipelines, wells, fuel
| |
| | --Be sure there is adequate ventilation,
|
| tanks, storage tanks, tank cars and tank
| |
| | or use confined space equipment such as
|
| trucks, vats, process vessels, septic
| |
| | blowers to provide oxygen or get rid of
|
| tanks, sewage lift stations, vaults,
| |
| | harmful gases. Ventilation should be
|
| silos, bins, and ventilation and exhaust
| |
| | continuous where possible, because in
|
| ducts. Confined spaces can even include
| |
| | many confined spaces the hazardous
|
| deep empty swimming pools, deep trenches,
| |
| | atmosphere will form again when the flow
|
| deep open top tanks, pits and roof
| |
| | of air is stopped.
|
| spaces.
| |
| | --Only enter the space if you are
|
| Each of these spaces is not necessarily
| |
| | thoroughly trained about potential
|
| hazardous in and of themselves. However,
| |
| | hazards and have the proper confined
|
| the size, shape and location of the exit
| |
| | space equipment to work safely.
|
| can increase the risk associated with
| |
| | --Assign someone else to be an attendant,
|
| occupying the space in the event of an
| |
| | and post that person outside the confined
|
| emergency. For example, a storage tank
| |
| | space to keep an eye on your status.
|
| may for some reason rapidly take on
| |
| | Attendant should be in constant
|
| water. It may be unexpectedly difficult
| |
| | communication with the person in the
|
| to exit due to the nature of the
| |
| | confined space to make sure ventilation
|
| construction of the tank, thus increasing
| |
| | is working, monitor the air, and call for
|
| the risk of harm.
| |
| | help.
|
| These spaces are not regulated by general
| |
| | --Attendants should not, however, attempt
|
| building codes for habitable structures,
| |
| | to perform a rescue, unless they are
|
| since there is no expectation that people
| |
| | fully trained on confined space rescue
|
| will spend a lot of time there. And,
| |
| | procedures and there is yet another
|
| since most of us are accustomed to living
| |
| | attendant present.
|
| and working in environments where exits
| |
| | Confined space equipment
|
| are strictly regulated and hazards
| |
| | It's a good idea to have the proper
|
| carefully foreseen and prevented, we may
| |
| | training and rescue equipment nearby in
|
| make the mistake of thinking all spaces
| |
| | the event of an emergency, just in case.
|
| are safe. But they're not.
| |
| | Retrieval systems such as tripods and
|
| Possible hazards
| |
| | winches can be used to rescue workers
|
| Many of the hazards of confined spaces
| |
| | without having to enter the space.
|
| can't be seen or smelt, so are especially
| |
| | Rescues that require entry should only be
|
| dangerous. There may be an oxygen
| |
| | done by specially trained rescue workers.
|
| deficiency that is undetectable at first,
| |
| | In addition to using ventilation and
|
| but becomes progressively worse the
| |
| | other measures, workers need protective
|
| further you get into the structure. Some
| |
| | gear. This includes a full body or chest
|
| atmospheres are highly flammable through
| |
| | harness and may also require respirators,
|
| a mixture of dusts, gases or vapors that
| |
| | hard hats, goggles, earplugs or muffs,
|
| can explode or catch fire. Toxic gases
| |
| | gloves, boots, or other protective
|
| may be unnoticeable at first as well.
| |
| | clothing.
|
| Other hazards include the presence of
| |
| | In short, while it is a good instinct to
|
| toxic chemicals, slippery surfaces,
| |
| | want to be helpful when you can see
|
| becoming stuck in a tight spot, falling,
| |
| | someone else is in danger, you don't want
|
| or being buried by material stored in the
| |
| | to compound the problem by putting
|
| space. Biological hazards include
| |
| | yourself in danger, too. Contact a
|
| diseases that can reside in water that
| |
| | qualified professional as quickly as
|
| stagnates in a confined space.
| |
| | possible, and use proper confined space
|
| It's important to be on the lookout for
| |
| | equipment for rescue. You may be saving
|
| all these possibilities, since they do
| |
| | more than one life by doing so.
|
| not occur in normally occupied spaces so
| |
| | Rick Pedley owns and operates PK Safety
|
| they are especially unexpected.
| |
| | Supply, a distributor of safety and
|
| Safety Tips
| |
| | confined space equipment. PK Safety
|
| Everyone should be aware of the
| |
| | Supply has proudly been serving both
|
| precautions to take before entering any
| |
| | government and private industry for over
|
| structure that is not generally intended
| |
| | 59 years.
|
| for human occupation.
| |
| |
|
