Confined Spaces
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Confined Spaces
There appears to be a great deal of confusion regarding confined spaces amongst my client base. We recently had need to access a water tank for cleaning. This tank was newly installed and empty of water. The isolation valves were ...
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Re: Confined Spaces
Richard
A "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;
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Re: Confined Spaces
The fact that the tank was newly installed, and all valves were in good order, makes absolutely no difference what so ever, the tank is classified as a confined space in accordance with the regulations.
One has to be ...
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Re: Confined Spaces
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Re: Confined Spaces
Post 2 of 3
Re: Confined Spaces
Added: 23:00 11.04.2008
Richard
A "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;
Was there a risk of water ingress?, is their the potential for the water to be turned back on? You say that there was no water and the isolation valves were in good condition but were they locked off (Lockout and tagout procedure and Confined space permit)?
You say the air supply was good! no noxious fumes or risk of same how did you test it? Gas Monitor? what about the oxygen level inside (21%)?
What if someone had an accident inside the tank? i.e. hurt their back, or slipped and were rendered incapable of getting out? Top man and winch!
How many persons were cleaning out the water tank? as there would be a potential risk from increase of body temperature and loss of consciousness.
To me the above are specified risks and this would be classed as a confined space!!
Martin
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