This presentation is designed to help with "Confined Space Awareness"

1. Confined Spaces Awareness Training Course
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2. Confined Spaces
Course objective

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To provide awareness training for confined space hazards
The safe systems of work used in confined spaces.
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3. THE CONFINED SPACE REGULATIONS
Regulation 4 states “no person at work shall enter a confined
space to carry out work for any purpose unless it is not
reasonably practicable to achieve that purpose without such
entry”
Regulation 5 states “Without prejudice to regulation 4 of these
Regulations, no person at work shall enter or carry out work in
a confined space unless there have been prepared in respect of
that confined space suitable and sufficient arrangements for the
rescue of persons in the event of an emergency, whether or not
arising out of a specified risk ”
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4. CONFINED SPACE KEY DUTIES
1. avoid entry to confined spaces, e.g. by doing the work
from outside;
2. if entry to a confined space is unavoidable, follow a safe
system of work; and
3. put in place adequate emergency arrangements before
the work starts.
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5. WHAT IS A CONFINED SPACE?
A space that:
• Is large enough and so configured that an employee can enter
bodily and perform work;
• Has limited or restricted means of entry or exit;
• Is not designed for continuous human occupancy.
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6. Confined Spaces
Examples of Confined spaces:

Open topped chambers

Trenches

Ductwork

Unventilated or poorly ventilated
rooms

Void spaces
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7. Confined Spaces
Main Hazards:

Flammable substances

Oxygen enrichment / deficiency

Toxic gas, fume or vapour
Hazards effects:

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Serious injury from fire or explosion
Loss of consciousness or asphyxiation from dangerous fumes etc.
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8. Confined Spaces
Oxygen:

We need 19-23% oxygen to breathe

Oxygen deficiency can be caused by oxidation,
combustion or bacterial growth or by displacement by
another gas, e.g. argon.

Oxygen enrichment can be caused by leaks in oxygen
lines or cylinders.
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9. Confined Spaces
Effects of oxygen concentration:
100%
Brain Damage
19-23%
Normal, safe levels
16%
Increase heart-rate/breathing drowsiness and nausea
12%
Unconsciousness
6%
DEATH !
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10. Confined Spaces
Oxygen deficiency symptoms:
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Headaches
Difficulty in focusing
Co-ordination difficulties
Dizziness
Fainting
Falling down / tripping
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11. Confined Spaces
Bottled Gases:
 Never use bottled gases in
confined spaces
 May not have stenching
agent added
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12. Confined Spaces
Argon:

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Main shielding/Purging gas on site
Argon is not visible
Argon is odourless (not stenched)
Argon is tasteless
Argon is heavier than air
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13. Confined Spaces
Nitrogen
 Nitrogen comprises 78% of the air we breathe.
 Nitrogen Is an inert gas
 Slightly lighter than air 0.95 (air =1)
 Nitrogen is used in large quantities to purge voids etc.
 If insufficient oxygen is present, high nitrogen
concentrations cause asphyxiation and death in
seconds.
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14. Confined Spaces
Before a space is entered:

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
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A safe system of work must be in place.
A competent person MUST have atmosphere tested the area.
Read and understand the risk assessment.
Obtain and use the correct PPE.
Supervisor informed.
SAM and extraction in place.
Each person must wear a PAM in all circumstances.
Do not enter alone ! FOR ANY REASON.
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15. Confined Spaces
Typical Entry Certificates:
HOT WORK
CLEAN & PAINT
COLD WORK
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16. Confined spaces
Continuation Certificate:
Entry certificates
 Oxygen levels are checked
every 14 hrs or less for all
types of work
 Contact Confined space team
after 14 hrs if access required
Before entering check date and time are within 14 hours
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17. Confined Spaces
Monitoring:

Air checks every 14 hours
by confined spaces team.

SAM’s in all confined
spaces monitoring oxygen
content.
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18. Confined Spaces
Ventilation:

Minimum One extraction hose per
tank to vent

Pipe identified by “Tank Extraction”
every 1 metre

Additional extraction hose for your
process

Do not move one. Remember it’s
there to save your life and others
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19. Confined spaces
Personal Air Monitor PAM:
•
All Personnel MUST have a PAM with
them.
•
Check that the PAM registers
19.3% - 23%
•
Upon activation:95 Db audible alarm,
Red flashing light, Vibrates
•
You should immediately vacate the area
and inform your supervisor
•
Any defects should be reported & unit
returned to the point of issue
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20. Confined Spaces
Safe Air Monitor Demo
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21. Confined spaces
No entry:
 No extraction or ventilation
 No atmosphere testing
 No emergency lighting
 No detection equipment
 Gross misconduct
Entering could cost you your life!
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22. Confined spaces
Emergency procedures:
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Evacuate the confined space
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Don’t attempt the rescue yourself

Get help immediately!

Use emergency contact procedure

Give details of confined space location

Lead the professionals to the incident

Stay outside the confined space
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23. Confined spaces
Learning from experience:

Worker asphyxiated by chemical fumes whilst working in a tank

Build up of Propane in unidentified confined space causing
severe burns when ignited.

Fatality following a pressurised suit being connected to an
argon supply.

8 workers killed due to an oxygen leak.

3 Contractors Killed emptying tanks.
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24. ANY QUESTIONS?
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