CONFINED SPACES — A BRIEF GUIDE TO WORKING SAFETY

This compact leaflet was released by HSE Executive to explain to the readers what they may need to do as the employers to protect their employees while they are working in enclosed, or confined, spaced. Note that the booklet will also be found useful by the self-employed people. The original intention of the authors was to provide industry with the description of the actions that are necessary to be taken in order to meet all applicable requirements of the Control Spaces Regulations.

Unfortunately there are so many people injured and even killer in the enclosed areas each ear. This is sad truth in many industries including shipping industry. And the people who were killed were not only people who were actually working but also ones trying to rescue them. The confined spaces include any enclosed spaces where a serious risk to human life and health is presented due to the presence of various dangerous conditions and/or hazardous substances.

Some of the enclosed spaces are very easy to identify, for example spaces with limited number and size of the openings, however others may be not obvious at all but they are equally dangerous, these would typically include ductwork, vasts, poorly ventilated spaces, combustion chambers etc.