Confined space? Look outside that box

Falling from a height is already well established as industry’s biggest cause of fatal accidents for workers. In the UK alone, there were 35 such deaths in 2020/21, accounting for a quarter of all fatalities at work. Falling within a confined space adds extra dimensions to that hazard. 

European statistics for fatal injuries specifically involving work in confined spaces are less readily available but reports from the United States give some sense of the risk. One gives a nationwide figure of 1,030 deaths between 2011 and 2018 of which 156 were due to falls.

Besides falls, there are many other confined space entry (CSE) hazards from which workers need to be protected. Along with PPE, this requires robust safety protocols, checks and emergency plans. These apply also to those supporting from outside and carrying out rescues.

A confined space is described as one which is fully or partially enclosed, large enough for a worker to enter, but not designed for continuous occupation. It has limited means of entry and exit, and its nature is such that serious injury due to conditions or substances present is a foreseeable risk.

One example is the manhole through which workers access an underground sewer. Others include chambers, tanks, pits, tunnels, pipes, shafts and ducts. They may be in water and sewage systems, mines, manufacturing plants and all types of building.

In addition to falling, workers can be struck by objects or bump into walls and obstacles. They may suffer from oxygen deficiency or be overcome by toxic or suffocating gases and vapours. In some cases, there are risks of drowning in liquid or being buried by solid materials. Hazardous chemicals, fires and explosions, as well as extremes of heat or cold, are further possibilities. 

A fall protection kit for confined space entry contains equipment for two main purposes: 

• arresting falls
• rescuing someone who has fallen or is injured.

The kit starts with an anchor – usually a tripod or davit – to which lifelines and other safety devices can be firmly attached. These will include a fall arrest system, whose braking limits the distance and speed of falling. A self-retracting lifeline (SRL) is often used for this. 

The PPE used for such work is covered by EU-wide regulations, which are also adopted by the EU state members and UK

If a worker needs to be lowered into and out of the space instead of climbing, a winch is needed. The winch will also be employed for rescue if a worker falls. Alternatively, the team can use a product known as a ‘rescuer’, which serves both as an SRL and as a rescue and retrieval device. In all cases, the lifelines attach to a safety harness worn by the worker 

There is no EU legislation specifically relating to work in confined spaces. However, the Framework Council Directive 89/391/EEC of June 1989 covers all aspects of safety and health at a workplace. It places a duty on employers to consider the specific characteristics of every workplace.

Some European countries do have their own local confined space regulations. The PPE used for such work is covered by EU-wide regulations, which are also adopted by the EU state members and UK.

For tripod anchors, which provide an economical and more portable alternative to davits, the relevant certification is EN 795. Importantly, if two workers are to be connected to the tripod, you must check its label to ensure it has been tested to take the weight of two people. For SRLs and rescuers, EU 360 certification requires testing for personnel weights up to 100 kg. MSA goes beyond the legal requirement, by testing to 140 kg, for an extra margin of safety. 

The worker inside the confined space must be accompanied by another, positioned outside, who will be the first responder if a problem arises. There is a risk that this person could also fall into the space. They therefore require the same set of PPE, including fall protection. Erecting a safety fence around the space entrance is an option, but not always possible, so it’s common that the second worker has to attach to the tripod. 

Fails of the unexpected

Minutes and even seconds count when accidents strike in confined spaces. The injured and/or unconscious worker needs be rescued without delay by their team. In addition to any other danger, they are likely to face a rapidly diminishing and contaminated air supply. 

Given that both the inside worker and the colleague above might potentially fall, at least one other fully trained teammate should ideally be available nearby to assist. Rescue plans for every conceivable situation must be established, understood and rehearsed to ensure rapid response to any emergency. 

Winches and other retrieval devices, including rescuers when in rescue mode, are not treated as PPE in legislation. They should be tested to the standard required by EN 1496, but there is no actual certification. Under EN 1496, there are two classes: A and B. Class A devices only winch upward. Class B devices, like MSA’s rescuer, also allow downward manoeuvring, which is useful when negotiating obstacles and optimising the casualty’s body position. 

Rescue plans for every conceivable situation must be established, understood and rehearsed to ensure rapid response to any emergency

Ideally, the rescue should be executed from outside. Sadly, many deaths have resulted from colleagues entering enclosed spaces to help teammates. According to US researchers, around 60% of CSE fatalities are rescuers. Where entry is unavoidable, the rescuing worker must be protected by PPE against all hazards. 

On reaching the injured worker, they will attach a line to the casualty’s harness. Harnesses should be approved to EN 361 standard, while those for rescue should also be approved to EN 1497. MSA’s V-FORM harness is specially designed with shoulder-mounted D-rings which simplify attachment of a rescue line and keep the victim in a vertical position for easier lifting through narrow manholes. This product is certified to EN 361 and EN 1497 standards.

The harness can be used in conjunction with an MSA spreader bar, certified to EN 354:2010, which gives further flexibility. It features loops which may be fastened to secure the victim’s arms and maintain a compact posture for easier retrieval.  

Choosing lower-priced PPE is also a false economy in many cases. Poorer-quality products have a higher whole-life cost of ownership in terms of servicing, maintenance, repair and frequent replacement expense. 

The lightest kit available may not be the safest but safety should be the top priority. Low weight should not be set above preserving lives. In the case of harnesses, comfort can be achieved without compromising on safety. Look for a design that avoids bulkiness, chafing, overheating or restriction of movement. Adjustability is essential too.

Alfonso Fernandez is a fall protection specialist at MSA