Confined spaces are often an inevitable part of the work setting. Be it the coal, oil, and gas industry or mining industries, or working in the tunnels, the workers have to explore the confined space and work in them for quite some time. However, working in such spaces cannot be compared to working in the open, as the latter is just like a piece of cake.
Still, work is work and cannot be put off for long. However, it does not mean that you should risk your life or that of your workers to achieve the goal. The middle ground is ensuring the confined places’ safety and ensuring no immediate lingering threat before entering the place. Adopting some safety habits can help you work safely, even in confined spaces.
If you are unsure or lack the basic knowledge, keep scrolling down this article to explore the points you should consider before entering the confined spaces.
Top 7 Points to Check before Going into Confined Spaces
Working in confined spaces is inevitable for a vast majority of workers across various fields and industries. However, it does not mean that you should take it lightly and head into the confined space as you do in case of working on the ground. Instead, you need to take care of numerous details and essentials to make work less dangerous and tiresome. Here are the major points you need to check and ensure before going into confined places.
1. The atmosphere
The first point you need to check before going into the confined spaces is the atmosphere of the place. You need to specifically check for the oxygen concentration levels and the presence of combustible gases. In addition to it, you should also check the atmosphere for toxic gases and vapors to ensure it is safe from potential safety hazards.
2. Lighting
The next point you need to check before going into the confined spaces is the lighting. The confined places are often too dark and small for light fixtures. So, there are more chances that the workers will have to take the lights into the space when they need to get some work done in the confined spaces. Otherwise, they will be at the risk of falling, tripping, and slipping due to darkness.
3. Safety Equipment
The last point you must consider and ensure before entering into the confined spaces is the safety equipment. It can be related to head protection, fall protection, or even respirators or gas detectors to ensure you do not fall prey to any danger. You can contact the safety equipment suppliers in Dubai and let the experts guide and provide you with all the necessary safety supplies for working in confined spaces.
4. Condition of Confined Space
One of the most critical points that you need to check and ensure before entering into the confined spaces is the condition of the place. At times such spaces are pretty old and have a structure that can collapse at any time, on top of being confined and dark. In such a situation, entering the confined space is nothing less than inviting death. So, you must ensure the condition of the space before taking a risk with your life.
5. Equipment Needed for Work
Having a complete list and ensuring the equipment’s availability is another crucial detail you must plan before going into the confined spaces. Do not assume working in confined places, same as working on the ground, as you will not be able to go and get anything at any time you need. So, prepare well in advance to ensure your work does not suffer in any way.
6. Entry and Exit Plan
The entry and exit plan is another essential detail you must consider and finalize before entering the confined spaces. It is often the trickiest part of the work expedition because the entry and exit points are too small. There are chances that the same point cannot be used for entry and exit or get destroyed during the process. So, it would be best if you had a concrete plan in hand to make safe entry and evacuations.
7. Communication Plan
The communication plan is another crucial detail that is often ignored but must consider before entering the confined spaces. Confined places are often unpredictable, so there are chances of your verbal communication being halted due to any issue. It would be best to have a communication plan for every second of work in the space. So, you do not succumb to danger due to lack of communication.
Are you ready to explore confined spaces?
Well, you are not if you do not have essential safety equipment on board. Please do not treat it as a burden as it is necessary to save your life. So, contact the professionals now and let them guide you about all the essential details for safety that can make your work in confined spaces safe and secure.