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Safety work in confined spaces and a focus on
their classifications under the National
Occupational Standard (NOS)
Mac Stephens
“For all of our languages we
can’t communicate”
Christie Moore - Songwriter
A ‘Confined Space’ is….
“Any place, including any Chamber, Tank,
Vat, Silo, Pit, Trench, Pipe, Sewer, Flue,
Well or other similar space in which, by
virtue of its enclosed nature, there arises a
reasonably foreseeable Specified Risk”
CONFINED SPACE ?
CONFINED SPACE ?
N.C. 1, 2, 3, 4.
Cat 1, 2, 3, 4.
Low, Medium, High
Class A, B, C, O
Class 1, 2, 3
Class 3, 2, 1
Category R
Confined Space, Restricted access, Enclosed Space, Gas-check area
United Kingdom Standards Agency
Confined spaces are generally classified as being
either low, medium or high risk areas
These can on occasions, be de-classified to enclosed
areas where a suitable risk assessment has been
carried out
The two main guides are set out in the Water UK
guidelines and the Energy and Utility Skills
guidelines.
Low risk shallow entry with adequate natural or
mechanical ventilation
access is simple and unobstructed and there is no likely
risk of flooding e.g. meter pits, stairwells, valve
chambers or booster-pumping stations
There is a MEDIUM risk that a specified hazard
may be present
Will require the use of Escape Breathing
Apparatus
Will have one or more persons positioned outside
the confined space with responsibility for
controlling entry and dealing with emergencies
Vertical entry normally using a ladder or man-riding winch, requiring fall protection and a means of assisted rescue e.g. Rescue winch
Horizontal entry such as walking or climbing or working away from the bottom of a vertical entry with limited use of a rescue line
Entry may involve more than one person
Non-standard entries making rescue difficult
It is likely that a hazard will be present at
sometime during the entry
May involve complex entry procedures with
specific control and rescue arrangements
Will entail the use of self-contained breathing
apparatus or airline, detection equipment and
resuscitation equipment
Will require the presence of personnel with
responsibility for dealing with emergencies