This Slideshare presentation is a partial preview of the full business document. To view and download the full document, please go here: http://flevy.com/browse/business-document/working-in-confined-spaces-safety-talk-538 Confined spaces are generally contained within structures that are designed to hold, store or process various substances and materials. They are not designed to be a place of work but sometimes we need to go inside them to carry out inspection and repairs. They can contain hazards when we work inside them. You need to appreciate the hazardous nature of working inside a confined space and why it is so important to follow the company?s Confined Space Entry Procedure.

1. Working in Confined Spaces
Page 1 of 12
© PA Services Group - SMARTsafe 2013 Document Number: ST033
Revision 2013 1.0
Working in Confined Spaces
SAFETY AWARENESS KEPT SIMPLE
SMARTsafe Safety Talks - ST033
This pack contains:
• 9 - Page Talk Text
• 9 - OHP Presentation Slide Pack
Using the talks (Extract “How to Present Safety Talks”):
Plan which topic you want to discuss with your team.
Read through the script before you hold the meeting to
familiarise yourself with the material.
Start the talk with a comment that makes the topic relevant to
the team. For example, if you have seen a number of people
using ladders incorrectly, use this as your opening comment.
Follow the script but don’t read straight from the page. The
script is only a prompt and it will sound better if you use your
own words.
Ask the questions as they appear in the script. It is important
you do this because they are a lead in to the next section of
your talk.
Give the team enough time to answer the questions. Safety
talks can be boring for the team if you are the only one talking.
Hand out the information sheets as they appear in the script.
Don’t hand out all the information sheets at the start of the talk
otherwise there is a temptation for the team to read ahead and
not listen to the points you are making.
Collect the information sheets at the end of the talk so they
can be used again.
Safety Talk Mini - Delivery Pack
To obtain your full Safety Talk Delivery Pack go to: www.smartsafe.com.au
The full Safety Talk pack contains MS Office
Editable documents :
• 9 - Page Talk Text
• 9 - OHP Presentation Slide Pack
• 18 - A5 talk Handout Sheets
• Assessment and Assessment Answers Sheet
• Employee Attendance Register
• A “How to Present Safety Talks Guide”

2. Working in Confined Spaces
Page 4 of 12
© PA Services Group - SMARTsafe 2013 Document Number: ST033
Revision 2013 1.0
CONFINED SPACES
“What is a confined space?”
Hand out sheet 1 – Types of confined spaces
A confined space is any fully or partly enclosed space which:
is not a normal place of work;
has a restricted means of entry and exit; and
could have a dangerous atmosphere.
Examples of confined spaces include:
storage tanks;
boilers;
pressure vessels;
silos;
pits;
pipes;
sewers;
shafts; and
ducts.
It is important that you are able to recognise the types of hazards associated with working in a confined
space and what you should do about them.
These hazards include:
inadequate ventilation;
contaminants;
flammable and explosive vapours;
moving parts and piping;
inadequate lighting;
electricity; and
noise.
INADEQUATE VENTILATION
Most confined spaces are designed to contain substances and equipment rather than people, so they
can often have poor ventilation. Ventilation is the circulation or flow of air through the confined space.
Without adequate ventilation, fresh air cannot flow into a confined space and stale air cannot escape.
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3. Working in Confined Spaces
Page 7 of 12
© PA Services Group - SMARTsafe 2013 Document Number: ST033
Revision 2013 1.0
All contaminants should be cleaned out and removed, if possible, without entry into the confined space.
If this is not possible, then you must wear the correct Personal Protective Equipment before entering the
confined space.
FLAMMABLE AND EXPLOSIVE VAPOURS
Hand out sheet 5 – Flammable and explosive vapours
Flammable and explosive vapours can be found inside storage tanks that have contained flammable
liquids. Even when empty, these tanks can still contain small amounts of liquid residue and vapours
which can easily ignite or explode.
If a naked flame or spark is introduced into a confined space that contains a sufficient quantity of an
explosive gas, a lethal explosion can occur.
Confined space atmospheres, which you suspect of containing flammable gases and vapours, must be
tested to determine the concentration levels before you enter.
If the detected concentration is above the safe working level for a gas, the confined space must be
purged with air to remove or dilute the gas.
You should never introduce a naked flame or spark into a confined space until the concentration of
gases has been reduced to a safe working level.
MOVING PARTS AND PIPING
Hand out sheet 6 – Moving parts and piping
Confined spaces often contain moving internal parts such as agitators, rakes, augers, rollers or
conveyors. If this type of equipment is started and operated it could easily result in crush injuries,
amputations and fatalities.
Confined spaces are often connected to other vessels, containers and equipment via pipes and ducts.
Any inflow of steam, water, gas, solid or liquid into the confined space could easily result in poisoning,
burns, or asphyxiation.
The restricted access-ways to and from confined spaces can make it difficult for a person to quickly
evacuate a confined space in the event of a sudden inflow or the start-up of internal parts.
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4. Working in Confined Spaces
Page 10 of 12
© PA Services Group - SMARTsafe 2013 Document Number: ST033
Revision 2013 1.0
You should never:
store any flammable or explosive gases or liquids in front of access-ways or ventilation intake
points;
adjust or switch off ventilation fans or equipment unless instructed to do so by your Supervisor;
enter a confined space without authorisation from your Supervisor; and
enter a confined space without having an observer posted outside at the entrance point.
The person who is appointed the observer must remain outside the confined space and keep in contact
with the people working inside at all times. The observer is responsible for:
watching for any hazards or emergency situations;
watching for any fires; and
raising the alarm and obtaining assistance in an emergency.
In the event of an emergency there must be a plan that your company has in place.
This plan will include such procedures as:
allowing only a certain amount of people to enter the confined space at any time;
establishing a communication channel such as two-way radios;
ongoing testing for air contaminants within the confined space - when you are filling in the permit
you will note that a time limit is written on it, such as every 3 hours for a retest.
leaving the confined space if the test is not carried out at these intervals; and
Attaching safety lines to personnel working in the confined space.
Every company has different policies so be sure to consult your supervisor for the confined space
requirements before entering one.
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5. Working in Confined Spaces – ST033 © PA Services Group - SMARTsafe 2013Compressed Air Safety – ST056
SMARTsafe Safety Talks - ST033
Working in Confined Spaces
SAFETY AWARENESS KEPT SIMPLE
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http://flevy.com/browse/document/working-in-confined-spaces-safety-talk-538

6. Working in Confined Spaces – ST033 © PA Services Group - SMARTsafe 2013
Poor ventilation will prevent stale air and
toxic gases escaping from confined space.
Carbon dioxide displaces air from the
confined space and reduces the oxygen
levels.
Use forced ventilation if natural
ventilation cannot:
• provide enough oxygen; and
• remove toxic gases.
Never enter a confined space unless it is
adequately ventilated and has been
tested for oxygen content.
Sheet 3 – Poor Ventilation
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7. Working in Confined Spaces – ST033 © PA Services Group - SMARTsafe 2013
Confined spaces can contain moving
internal parts such as agitators, rakes,
augers, rollers or conveyors.
Confined spaces are often connected
to other vessels, containers and
equipment via pipes and ducts.
Before you enter a confined space you
must check to ensure:
• all moving parts are isolated and
tagged to prevent movement; and
• all pipes and ducts leading into and
out of the confined space are closed,
isolated and tagged to prevent any
inflow.
Sheet 6 – Moving Parts and Piping
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8. Working in Confined Spaces – ST033 © PA Services Group - SMARTsafe 2013
• Keep access-ways and ventilation points
free of obstructions.
• Keep engine exhausts away from
ventilation intakes.
• Never store flammable or explosive gases
or liquids in front of access-ways.
• Never enter a confined space without
authorisation from your Supervisor.
• Ensure that an observer is posted outside
the confined space
• at all times while people are working
inside.
Sheet 9 – Confined Space Safety
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