Page 28 - OHS, June 2024

IH: CONFINED SPACES
Tomy/stock.adobe.com
Breathing Easier: The Crucial Role of Gas Detection in Confined
Space Entry
Effective gas detection and a comprehensive confined space entry plan are crucial for ensuring worker safety and preventing fatalities in hazardous environments.
BY DANTE MOORE
Every year, industrial workers around the globe face the daunting task of entering confined spaces to perform neces- sary inspections, maintenance and operations. These spac- es—characterized by their limited openings not designed
for continuous occupancy—present a variety of hazards, most of which are invisible, odorless and potentially lethal gases.
Confined spaces are breeding grounds for silent killers: noxious, hazardous gases. Without adequate ventilation, gases such as hydro- gen sulfide, carbon monoxide, methane and others can accumulate to toxic levels. Moreover, oxygen-deficient environments pose a sig- nificant risk of suffocation, especially on immediate entry.
When it comes to confined spaces, it’s not just about detecting the presence of hazardous gases. It’s about doing so in a way that is reliable, accurate and timely.
Gas Detection: Your First Line of Defense
The significance of gas detection can’t be overstated. In confined space work, the margin for error is slim, and the consequences of oversight are grave. Safety regulations—such as those stipulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)— mandate the monitoring of atmospheric hazards as part of a con- fined space program.
These regulations are born out of a history of unfortunate inci- dents, where both workers and would-be rescuers have succumbed to the perils of unsafe environments. Compliance is not just a legal obligation; it is a moral imperative to protect human life.
From portable, personal gas detectors and area monitors to ro- bust live monitoring software, workers should rely on tools tailored to meet the safety demands of confined space entry. By utilizing
26 Occupational Health & Safety | JUNE 2024
www.ohsonline.com