Working in confined spaces can be extremely dangerous. There are many different hazards and risks that may exist. For instance, workers may be exposed to mechanical and atmospheric hazards. In certain situations, the temperature cannot be controlled and workers can be exposed to conditions that can cause heat stress. The good thing is, many accidents and injuries can be avoided
Incidents that prevent workers from self-rescue can occur in confined spaces due to ill-conceived attempts to rescue and retrieve others, but planning for a rescue can help prevent tragic results. Proper rescue and retrieval plans often are not created for confined spaces, as is demonstrated by the over 100 deaths that occur annually inside confined spaces in the United States
Before any worker attempts to work inside a confined space, there needs to be a plan for these tasks. Planning is the most vital component when it comes to every part of confined space work. You need to make sure everyone involved has the right training, the proper personal protective equipment and a plan for how to enter, work inside
Accessing a confined space takes planning to ensure that everyone who enters, exits and works in the space can do so safely. By the time you are accessing the confined space, a hazard assessment has been completed, but if not, one needs to be conducted to ensure all hazards have been identified. This thorough review will help you identify the
Every time you are going to enter a confined space you need to plan. In fact, one of the most important parts of confined space work is planning. You first need to identify all of your spaces and then you must plan to have the right training, equipment and people so that you can safely handle all of the entries
Confined spaces can be complicated and anyone, in any industry, can be exposed to working in and around them. Confined spaces come in different sizes, in different locations of a facility or job site, and there may be different hazards in each one. There are also many different standards, regulations and company policies that may apply. While complicated, there are
