This month, Twining Safety Manager Cameron Desart discusses the importance of safety precautions when asked to enter a confined space.
Few things in the construction industry will get the attention of a safety professional as quickly as confined space entry. I am no exception. The reason for this is that any confined space has the potential to be deadly, especially if the proper safety precautions are not in place and understood prior to anyone entering a confined space.
So, what is a confined space? A confined space can be defined as a space that is large enough to allow a person to enter but is not designed for continuous occupancy and has limited means of access and egress. A confined space can be classified as permit required or non permit required upon entry.
Confined spaces can be anything from a water tank, electrical vault, mixing drum of a concrete truck, etc. Twining’s inspectors are often asked to enter a confined space that is classified as non-permit required to perform testing or inspection. This means it is a confined space that is NOT known to contain, or with respect to atmospheric hazards, have the potential to contain any hazards capable of causing death or serious physical harm.
However, just because a confined space is classified as non permit, does not mean that there are not safety precautions that must be in place before anyone enters the space. First, and perhaps most important, atmosphere testing must be performed with a calibrated gas meter before and during the time someone occupies the space. Next is forced air testing. Even if the initial meter readings show an acceptable atmosphere, fresh air must be forced into the space to keep oxygen levels where they should be, which is right around 19.5%. There should always be rescue equipment present, which is part of a well-rehearsed rescue plan should a person in the confined space need rescuing. Dedicated manpower must be present on the outside of the confined space and remain in constant contact with the people who are inside the confined space. The personnel outside need to be well trained in the rescue procedures as statistics show that all too often it is the would-be rescuers who end up succumbing to the condition that affected the people they are trying to rescue. As many as two thirds of all confined space fatalities are the would-be rescuers.
Because of this, and the many other factors that go into safely entering a confined space, Twining requires anyone who may enter a confined space to complete confined space safety training prior to performing any work in a confined space. Our training requires that our inspectors and technicians contact me right away if they are ever asked to enter a confined space. I can then determine if it is absolutely necessary that he or she enter the space. I will travel to the site and be present to verify that all of the aforementioned safety measures are in place and adequate before any Twining person enters the confined space.
For more information on Twining’s safety practices, please contact Cameron Desart, cdesart@twininginc.com.