The chamber that looked fine
A worker climbs down into a cable chamber to check a joint. The chamber looks dry and empty. Within a minute he collapses. The air has too little oxygen to breathe.
A colleague climbs down to help and collapses too. Many deaths in confined spaces are of the people who tried to rescue. Planning is what saves lives.
Key words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| Confined space | a small, enclosed place where fumes, lack of air or flooding could harm you |
| Safe system of work | a written plan for doing the job safely |
| Permit to work | a signed paper that says it is safe to start |
| Attendant | a trained person who stays outside and keeps watch |
| Gas monitor | a meter that tests the air for gas and oxygen |
| PPE | personal protective equipment: gloves, boots, helmet and so on |
| Rescue plan | the steps to take, and the kit ready, if somebody is in trouble |
| Risk | how likely harm is, and how bad it would be |
| Mitigation | an action that reduces a risk |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can apply the risk management process to a confined space, choose PPE, and record the findings.
Starter: laws and risks
Have a go
Starter: laws and risks
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
What counts as confined
A confined space is small and mostly enclosed, and something in it could seriously harm you: not enough oxygen, fumes, a rising flood or heat. In cabling work these are underground chambers, ducts, risers and tanks.
The Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 apply.
The order of thinking
First, avoid going in. Can the job be done from outside, with a long pole or a camera? If you must enter, use a safe system of work. It has a permit to work and a gas monitor. An attendant stays outside. A rescue plan has its kit ready.
Never go in to rescue someone without the right kit and training.
Worked example: a cable chamber
| Hazard | Probability | Impact | Score | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Too little oxygen | 2 | 3 | 6 | Test the air first and keep testing. Ventilate |
| Gas from a nearby pipe | 2 | 3 | 6 | Gas monitor, attendant, permit |
| Flooding after rain | 1 | 3 | 3 | Check the weather. Do not enter if rain is due |
| Hard to get out | 2 | 2 | 4 | Harness and line, attendant, rescue plan |
| Slips and bumps | 2 | 1 | 2 | Boots, hard hat, good lighting |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Choosing and looking after PPE
PPE is the last layer, not the first. Pick it from the risk assessment: hard hat, gloves, boots, eye protection, high-visibility clothing, a gas monitor, and breathing equipment if the plan needs it.
Keep it in good order as the maker says. Check it before use, clean it, store it dry, and replace anything damaged or out of date.