Frequently Asked Questions about Confined Spaces
This resource provides answers to common questions about confined spaces, including the risks involved, relevant regulations, training and the steps needed to maintain safety. It’s an essential guide for those seeking to understand confined space safety requirements.
What is a confined space?
The Confined Space Regulations 1997 state: 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.
Not sure if you have confined spaces on your premises? Book our confined space consultancy & audit services to assess your site and identify confined space training and PPE requirements.
What are confined space specified risks?
Every situation is different and therefore requires a specific approach. Risks vary per confined space. Some of the most common risks are:
- Risk of serious injury to any person arising from fire or explosion
- Loss of consciousness to any person arising from:
- Increase in body temperature or
- loss of consciousness or asphyxiation arising from gas and fumes or vapour, or a lack of oxygen.
- Drowning of any person from an increased level of the liquid
- Asphyxiation of any person from a free-flowing solid or inability to reach respirtable atmosphere
These specified risks may not be present during your initial risk assessment but you may wish to consider: Will the work to be done in the space introduce one or more of these risks? If your answer is YES then you will have a confined space.
Who should rescue someone in a confined space when a gas alarm sounds?
Only trained, authorised and properly equipped rescuers should attempt a confined space rescue. Rescue must be planned in advance and carried out by competent personnel as part of documented emergency arrangements.
Can a medium-risk confined space entrant attempt a rescue?
No. A medium-risk confined space entrant must not attempt a rescue unless this role has been explicitly defined, trained for and supported by suitable equipment within the emergency plan.
What does the law say about confined space rescue?
The Confined Spaces Regulations 1997, Regulation 5, requires suitable and sufficient emergency arrangements to be in place before entry.
ACOP L101 states that rescue procedures must be planned, must not rely on the emergency services as the primary means of rescue, and must only be carried out by trained and competent personnel.
Why are unplanned rescue attempts so dangerous?
Many confined space fatalities occur when untrained colleagues attempt spontaneous rescues. These individuals are often overcome by the same hazards, such as toxic gases or oxygen-deficient atmospheres, that caused the original incident.
What should happen when a confined space gas alarm activates?
When a gas alarm sounds:
- Stop work immediately
- Evacuate the confined space
- Raise the alarm
- Implement the planned rescue arrangements. Entrants must not re-enter the space unless they are trained, authorised and equipped to do so.
Can emergency services be relied on for confined space rescue?
No. ACOP L101 makes it clear that emergency services must not be relied upon as the primary means of rescue. Suitable on-site rescue arrangements must be in place before work begins.
How do I know if our confined space emergency plan is compliant?
If your plan relies on untrained entrants “doing their best” in an emergency, it is unlikely to meet the requirements of Regulation 5 or ACOP L101. Emergency roles, rescue procedures and training must be clearly defined and rehearsed.
When is confined space training required?
Working in a confined space has many foreseeable risks and adequate training on how to enter a confined space and work in a confined space is a requirement of the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997. There is a difference between confined space health and safety awareness training and skills training on how to work in a substantially enclosed space that may have a lack of oxygen, free-flowing solids and other hazardous substances.
Lack of correct confined space training is a major contributing factor in the fatal and major injury accidents in the workplace. An employer, as a minimum, MUST make employees aware of the dangers of working in a confined space provide adequate training on the foreseeable risks and carry out a risk assessment that details a safe system of work.
Does Eurosafe provide confined space rescue training?
Yes. Eurosafe provides confined space training and rescue training to support compliant emergency planning and safe working practices. Speak to our team to discuss your specific requirements.
Is a refresher confined space training required and why?
As well as receiving the correct training, workers should be regularly appraised and receive training refreshers to ensure that your skills and knowledge remain current and effective in maintaining safety standards. Over time, safety protocols and regulations can change, and regular refresher training helps you stay updated on the latest best practices. Additionally, it reinforces critical safety procedures and correct use of equipment, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries in confined spaces. Regular training also helps identify and address any gaps in knowledge or skills that may have developed since the initial training, ensuring a consistently high level of safety awareness and competence.
What confined space training is available at Eurosafe?
Eurosafe can provide a range of market-leading confine space training programmes built around workers’ individual requirements and developed to provide them with an appropriate level of training.
