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Posted By frankfaw
Appologies if this or similar items have already been raised but I am a new to this forum.
I am required enter the basement area under my work place to carry out maintenance work (electrical and plumbing). Access is via a door down a fixed stairwell. Space is limited, can walk around just about(although I'm not that tall!). There are several obstructions though, electrical cables, heating pipes and its obviously quite dark. No gases.
Is this a confined space or enclosed space?
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Posted By Jim Gray
Frank
HSE Website statement
"A confined space is a place which is substantially enclosed (though not always entirely), and where serious injury can occur from hazardous substances or conditions within the space or nearby (e.g. lack of oxygen).
Unventilated or poorly ventilated rooms could also fall under this."
Consider the materials that will need to be taken into the space and how this may impinge on the work activities taking place down there.
The Risk Assessment process will take all of the above and more into account hopefully
Regards
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Posted By Barry Cooper
If there is no risk of gases, or hazardous atmosphere, flooding etc,and anything you do would not cause these issues to change, and it has reasonable access/egress then I would say no.
My office has only one door, some obstructions, and I would not consider it a confined space
Barry
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Posted By Barry Cooper
When I say no, I mean not a confined space, but could be classed as an enclosed space
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Posted By Andrew Carr
Important point to remember is that when doing the Risk Assessment that you consider exactly what it is you're going to be doing in the "space"......what is the actual activity going to do to the "space".
If you introduce something that wasn't already there (one of the specified risks oultined in the ACOP - L101), then you may be creating a confined space. This could be heat sources, welding gear, paints, adhesives etc etc. Be cautious with any COSHH material in a confined space.
Basically, do a thorough risk assessment (get your adviser to help in the first instance) and you should be ok.
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Posted By ScotsAM
The area, as Jims correctly puts it, is by it's nature a confined space.
The area and the task will need to be assessed thoroughly before hand. It seems as though it's a safe enough area but as mentioned, the task and the equipment needed will need to be taken into consideration. Will oxygen be used from the environement? Will the area be heated? Will other gases be emitted that will displace the oxygen? etc, etc.
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