Page 16 - OHS, July/August 2020

IH: CONFINED SPACES
Addressing Confined Spaces and Heat Stress Concerns
Working in confined spaces can be extremely dangerous.
The good news is: many accidents and injuries can be avoided. BY STEVE KOSCH AND CARLY ENGELS JOHNSTON
Working in confined spaces can be ex- tremely dangerous. Workers may be exposed to mechanical and atmo- spheric hazards. In certain situations, the temperature cannot be controlled and workers are exposed to heat stress. The good thing is, many ac- cidents and injuries can be avoided through the cor- rect application of planning and the appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
What is a Confined Space?
For an area to be considered a confined space (in the U.S.) several elements must be met. First, the work- place is not designed for continuous occupation for people, but large enough for them to enter. So, while a worker may have to enter the area to perform cer- tain jobs, the area is not designed for an employee to work there as part of the normal operating procedure
on an everyday or continual basis. The space will also have limited or restricted ways for the worker to enter and exit the area. Some of the most common confined spaces include tanks, ovens, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, pits, manholes, trenches, sew- ers, fuel/chemical tanks and equipment housings. In other words, no matter what your industry, you have the potential for requiring your employees to work in confined spaces and should be prepared.
Confined spaces are defined by their physical di- mensions and/or by the hazards that may arise within the space. In the United States, OSHA differentiates between non-permit confined space and permit-re- quired confined space or permit space.
How to Look Out for Heat Stress
If an area is considered a confined space because of the risk of heat stress, then it is important to under-
14 Occupational Health & Safety | JULY/AUGUST 2020
www.ohsonline.com
Phonix_a Pk.sarote/Shutterstock.com