Overview

With confined space works covering a wide range of industries and operational requirements, there are various working scenarios to contend with and one plan cannot fit all eventualities. Confined spaces are not just ‘holes in the ground’, and as industry and commerce evolve so do the associated workplace locations and hazards. Appropriate consideration must be given to safe systems of work at each workplace environment based on its own merits.

If you aim to ensure that the operational requirements of working in a confined space are fulfilled by planning for worst case scenarios that include all associated hazards - both present and introduced by the works party - then you should also factor in the manpower and equipment needed to ensure an expedient extrication of a casualty if required in an emergency.

It’s this element that in our experience is overlooked the most. Planning for an emergency is often perceived as an expensive and potentially unnecessary objective, or perhaps it’s not planned to an accurate level relative to the hazards to which the workforce could be exposed. Either way, not enough emphasis is placed on the safe system of casualty extrication during an emergency situation.