Confined Space Equipment

One of the first things people ask me when the subject of Confined Spaces comes up is; 'What is a Confined Space'? The usual response is a small room or vault with one entrance/exit that is not designed for human habitation. Usually this also implies poor Ventilation. However, it must be said that this is only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, of where and how confined spaces should be defined.

There are circumstances that render what might be be thought of as 'clear' areas dangerous. Consider a large drainage pipe running under a highway. It is open on both ends, in fact you can see light in either direction. But without proper ventilation, gases such as Hydrogen Sulfide and Carbon Monoxide can settle here. Once inside, you may have to go some distance to escape, which may translate in to effectively having only one entrance. Once overcome, the person inside may have no way of making an escape without assistance. This is where having a Portable Gas Detector, having a retrieval line attached, and having a trained co-worker outside can mean the difference between routine maintenance and a difficult call to the new widow.

It can not be repeated often enough, training is the key to raising the level of employee safety. If for no other reason than a potentially dangerous situation may be recognized for what it is - Dangerous! How many times have we heard that it was the 'new guy' or 'rookie' who blithely went ahead where an aware person might have advised restraint. Some lessons are learned through experience alone, but how to deal with Confined Spaces is best taught in a controlled environment.

Rick Pedley
pks-store@pksafety.com