Confined spaces tend to cause a more confusion that you would think. Everyone knows what one is, until you ask them to define ne.
A confined space is a place which is substantially enclosed (though not always entirely), and where serious injury can occur from hazardous substances or conditions within the space or nearby (e.g. lack of oxygen).
What are confined spaces?
It can be any space of an enclosed nature where there is a risk of death or serious injury from hazardous substances or dangerous conditions (eg lack of oxygen). Some confined spaces are fairly obvious are are easy to identify, eg enclosures with limited openings:
- storage tanks
- silos
- reaction vessels
- enclosed drains
- sewers
However, some other confined spaces may be less obvious, such as:
- open-topped chambers
- vehicle inspection pits
- vats
- combustion chambers in furnaces etc
- ductwork
- unventilated or poorly ventilated rooms
- some cellars
It is not possible to provide a comprehensive list of confined spaces. Some places may become confined spaces when work is carried out, or during their construction, fabrication or subsequent modification.