Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of Britain consider a confined space?
What does the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of Britain consider a confined space?
According to OSHA in the US, what is a key characteristic of a confined space?
According to OSHA in the US, what is a key characteristic of a confined space?
What is NOT considered a 'specified risk' in confined spaces according to the text?
What is NOT considered a 'specified risk' in confined spaces according to the text?
Which of the following is NOT an example of a confined space mentioned in the text?
Which of the following is NOT an example of a confined space mentioned in the text?
Signup and view all the answers
What defines whether a space is considered a confined space by OSHA in the US?
What defines whether a space is considered a confined space by OSHA in the US?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a potential risk in a confined space according to the text?
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a potential risk in a confined space according to the text?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a leading cause of death among workers entering confined spaces?
What is a leading cause of death among workers entering confined spaces?
Signup and view all the answers
How can oxygen deficiency be detected in a confined space?
How can oxygen deficiency be detected in a confined space?
Signup and view all the answers
What causes oxygen deficiency in confined spaces?
What causes oxygen deficiency in confined spaces?
Signup and view all the answers
What level of oxygen is considered the minimum acceptable level?
What level of oxygen is considered the minimum acceptable level?
Signup and view all the answers
What are the early symptoms associated with oxygen levels between 15-19%?
What are the early symptoms associated with oxygen levels between 15-19%?
Signup and view all the answers
What can lead to mental failure, fainting, nausea, and unconsciousness in a confined space?
What can lead to mental failure, fainting, nausea, and unconsciousness in a confined space?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a characteristic of a permit-required confined space?
What is a characteristic of a permit-required confined space?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is considered as an entry into a confined space?
Which of the following is considered as an entry into a confined space?
Signup and view all the answers
In what types of enclosures does natural air circulation get restricted due to depth?
In what types of enclosures does natural air circulation get restricted due to depth?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is an example of a confined space based on the provided text?
Which of the following is an example of a confined space based on the provided text?
Signup and view all the answers
What is one characteristic that defines a permit-required confined space?
What is one characteristic that defines a permit-required confined space?
Signup and view all the answers
When does a confined space entry occur according to the text?
When does a confined space entry occur according to the text?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the percentage of possible recovery if a person is exposed to a toxic atmosphere for 4-5 minutes?
What is the percentage of possible recovery if a person is exposed to a toxic atmosphere for 4-5 minutes?
Signup and view all the answers
Which toxic gas is known for its rotten egg odor at low concentrations?
Which toxic gas is known for its rotten egg odor at low concentrations?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the critical factor listed for a flammable/explosive atmosphere in a confined space?
What is the critical factor listed for a flammable/explosive atmosphere in a confined space?
Signup and view all the answers
Which gas is known to quickly collapse at high concentrations?
Which gas is known to quickly collapse at high concentrations?
Signup and view all the answers
What causes too much oxygen in an atmosphere to greatly increase the risk of fire or explosion in a confined space?
What causes too much oxygen in an atmosphere to greatly increase the risk of fire or explosion in a confined space?
Signup and view all the answers
Which toxic gas displaces oxygen and can lead to asphyxiation?
Which toxic gas displaces oxygen and can lead to asphyxiation?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Confined Space Definition
- A confined space is any place, including chambers, tanks, vats, pits, trenches, pipes, sewers, flues, wells, or other similar spaces, that arises a reasonably foreseeable specified risk due to its enclosed nature.
- It is not designed for continuous occupancy by the employee and has a limited or restricted means of entry or exit.
Specified Risk
- Serious injury to any person at work arising from a fire or explosion.
- Loss of consciousness or asphyxiation of any person at work arising from gas, fume, vapour or the lack of oxygen.
- Drowning of any person at work arising from an increase in the level of liquid.
- Asphyxiation of any person at work arising from a free flowing solid or the inability to reach a respirable environment due to entrapment by a free flowing solid.
Confined Space Hazards and Risks
- Oxygen deficiency: a leading cause of death among workers entering confined spaces.
- Oxygen-enriched atmosphere: above 23.5% oxygen, increases the risk of fire or explosion.
- Flammable/explosive atmospheres: critical factors include oxygen content, presence of flammable gas or vapor, and presence of dust.
- Toxic atmospheres: gases released when cleaning, materials absorbed into walls, or decomposition of materials.
- Temperature extremes: hot or cold environments.
- Physical hazards: noise, slip, trip, falls, falling objects, equipment, electrical.
Oxygen Deficiency
- Causes: oxygen is used up when metals rust, during combustion, or when replaced by other gases.
- Effects: brain damage, heart stoppage, decreased ability to work strenuously, impaired coordination, early symptoms.
- Oxygen levels:
- 19.5%: minimum acceptable oxygen level.
- 15-19%: decreased ability to work strenuously, impaired coordination, early symptoms.
- 12-14%: respiration increases, poor judgment.
- 10-12%: respiration increases, lips blue.
- 8-10%: mental failure, fainting, nausea, unconsciousness.
- 6-8%: vomiting, 8 minutes - fatal, 6 minutes - 50% fatal, 4-5 minutes - possible recovery.
- 4-6%: coma in 40 seconds, death.
- 3%: death.
Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS)
- Has one or more of these characteristics:
- Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere.
- Contains a material with the potential to engulf someone who enters the space.
- Has an internal configuration that might cause an entrant to be trapped or asphyxiated.
- Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazards.
Confined Space Entry
- Considered to have occurred when any part of a person's body crosses the plane of an opening into the space.
- Two questions to ask before entering:
- Is confined space entry always necessary for this task?
- Is it possible to complete the task from the outside?
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge of confined space safety regulations and definitions based on Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines from Britain. The quiz covers the definition of confined spaces, specified risks, and measures to prevent serious injuries at work.
