The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a warning to the manufacturing
industry, following a number of deaths in confined spaces. Recent incidents
include the following.
The latest deaths occurred in July 2004 where three men died in an
effluent tank near Thetford, Norfolk after being overcome by carbon
dioxide and drowning in less than 1m of liquid. A fourth worker, who
also entered the tank, was fortunate to escape with his life.
The triple fatality followed another double fatality which occurred
in Hereford in June 2004, where two employees died due to lack of oxygen
whilst working in a "pit" associated with a high-pressure
special atmosphere furnace.
In April 2004, a worker in West Thurrock died whilst welding the inside
of a petrol tanker. Under the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997, employers
must first try to avoid the need to enter a confined space. Where this
is not possible, they must:
- Carry out an assessment of the risks associated with entering a
confined space and draw up a safe system of work
- Limit entry to the confined space to employees who are competent
for confined space work and who have received suitable training
- Verify, prior to entry, that the atmosphere in the confined space
is safe to breathe
- Provide any necessary ventilation
- Make sure suitable rescue arrangements are in place before anyone
goes into the confined space
- Ensure that rescue arrangements do not involve risks to the safety
of the rescuers
HSE guidance on the subject includes:
- INDG258: Safe work in Confined Spaces
- HSE Information Sheet 26: Managing Confined Spaces on Farms
- L101: Safe Work in Confined Spaces. Confined Spaces Regulations
1997
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