What is a Confined Space?

Despite widespread education campaigns about the hazards of confined spaces working people are still being killed or seriously injured.  Under the terms of ‘Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974’ section 2(2)(c):

“Employers are required to provide such information, instruction, training and supervision as is necessary to ensure the health and safety at work of employees.” 

In regard to Confined Spaces this will need to include awareness, equipment, processes, permits, hazards, emergency arrangements, etc.

For one off projects it may not be necessary to train your operatives.  To meet specific needs we can supply confined spaces escort teams to provide backup or rescue facilities for your personnel.

With the exception of the Confined Space Awareness courses which take place in a classroom all persons attending these courses will need to provide evidence that they are physically able to undertake, what can be a strenuous, activity – details can be supplied on request.

All course candidates will require site clothing including cotton overalls, wellingtons, hard hat and high-vis jacket. Courses at our site include both classroom based learning and practical training and assessment in our purpose built confined space simulator.

All attendees will receive a certificate of attendance and a workbook for reference. Tea and coffee are provided on all courses at our site, as is a buffet lunch on all full day courses at our site.

Definitions from the HSE

The ‘1997 Confined spaces regulations’ define a Confined Space as:

““confined space” means 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” 

“”Specified risk” means a risk of:

1. serious injury to any person at work arising from a fire or explosion;
2. without prejudice to paragraph (a) –
   1. the loss of consciousness of any person at work arising from an increase in body temperature;
   2. the loss of consciousness or asphyxiation of any person at work arising from gas, fume, vapour or the lack of oxygen;
3. the drowning of any person at work arising from an increase in the level of liquid; 
4. the asphyxiation of any person at work arising from a free flowing solid or the inability to reach a respirable environment due to entrapment by a free flowing solid.”