Confined Space ACOP L101

• Presented by: Ken Smith CMIOSH

Training & Consultancy

Confined Space ACOP

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Confined Space ACOP Overview• The Confined Spaces Regulations 1997

have not changed

• The ACOP and Guidance (L101) was updated in 2014 to reflect best practice and new industries

Confined Space ACOP• One of the main features is the to clarify

what is, and what is not, a confined space

• So we can make an informed assessment of ‘is it’ or ‘isn’t it’?

Confined Space ACOP

• Employers and the self-employed are ‘Duty Holders’

– With specific additional detail for people such as the ‘Competent Person’

Confined Space ACOP

• A reminder about worker involvement, or consultation....

– To gather experience and information that will help produce a safe system of work

Confined Space Risk Assessment

• Carried out under the MHSWR Regulation 3 requirement

• The person carrying out the risk assessment must be competent

• To identify if a confined space exists

• To identify ways of doing the work without entry, so far as is reasonably practicable

• Use all available relevant information

• Consider changing situations

Confined Space Risk Assessment

• Things to consider:

– General condition

– Previous Contents

– Residues

– Contamination

– Oxygen deficiency or enrichment

– Physical dimensions

– Hazards arising form the work

• Cleaning chemicals

• Sources of ignition.......and so on

Confined Space Risk Assessment

• So the confined space risk assessment is going to be the base document for all confined space entry decisions, such as...– Confined Space or not– Entry or not– Safe working system– Personnel and supervision– Training– Equipment– Personal Protection– Communication– Emergencies

Confined Spaces and Construction

• The ACOP reminds us of our duties under Regulation 9 of CDM 2015

• And our duties under Section 6 of HASWA

• In both cases emphasising the need to design out the need for confined space entry or make entry and exit easier

• But noting that tunnelling may be the safest way of performing some construction even though it would create a confined space

Is the space substantially or totally enclosed?

The space is not a confined space under

these Regulations

The space is a confined space and subject to

these Regulations

Is there a risk of one or more of the following?

•Serious injury due to fire or explosion•Loss of consciousness arising from increased body temperature•Loss of consciousness or asphyxiation arising from gas, fume, vapour or lack of oxygen•Drowning from an increase in the level of liquid•Asphyxiation from a free-flowing solid or being unable to reach a respirable environment due to being trapped by such a free-flowing solid The space is a confined

space and subject to these regulations as long as this work is being carried out

and any residual risk remains, e.g. until

produced fumes have been fully ventedThe space is not a

confined space under these Regulations

Will the work to be done in the space introduce one

or more of those risks?

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Confined Space ACOP

• Under the Regulations a ‘Confined Space’ must

have both of the following defining features:

• (a) it must be a space which is substantially

(though not always entirely) enclosed; and

• (b) one or more of the specified risks must be

present or reasonably foreseeable. So.....

Apply

The ‘Specified Risks’ are...

• (a) serious injury to any person at work arising

from a fire or explosion or oxygen enrichment

• (b) (i) the loss of consciousness of any person at

work arising from an increase in body

temperature

• (ii) the loss of consciousness or asphyxiation of

any person at work arising from gas, fume,

vapour or the lack of oxygen

The ‘Specified Risks’ are...

• (c) the drowning of any person at work arising

from an increase in the level of liquid; or

• (d) the 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

• Flammable Substances and Oxygen Enrichment

• the presence of flammable substances, for

example from fumes left in a tanker previously

used for transporting petrol;

• from an excess of oxygen in the atmosphere, for

example caused by a leak from an oxygen

cylinder forming part of welding equipment

L101 P10

Confined Space Hazards

• Excessive Heat

• Hot conditions can lead to a dangerous rise in

core body temperature

• This can be made worse by wearing personal

protective equipment, highly physical or

strenuous work, or working at a high work rate.

• In extreme cases heat stroke and

unconsciousness can result.

L101 P10

Confined Space Hazards

• Toxic Gas, Fume or Vapour

• Hydrocarbon vapours can still linger under scale

and fittings even after cleaning

• Problems can arise due to up-wind leaks from

adjacent plant that isn’t isolated, and portable

equipment, so be aware of wind direction,

L101 P10

Testing/Monitoring Equipment

• The choice of detection equipment depends on

information of possible contaminants

• Take advice from a competent person

• When testing for toxic or asphyxiating

atmospheres chemical detector tubes or

portable electronic equipment may be suitable

L101 P26

•They key task is matching the gas monitoring equipment to the contaminant that maybe present, even temporarily

Portable Electronic Equipment

Multi- Gas

Single- Gas

•The monitoring equipment must be calibrated and maintained•Switched on in clean air•Checked frequently with a test kit - ‘Bump Test’

– Record in daily operator

checks

Portable Electronic Equipment

L101 P26

Confined Space ACOP

End of Part 1

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