I would state that an untrained employee accessing a sub-station switch room gives him the potential to cause harm, I would not state this is a confined space. Looking at the meaning of Confined Space under the 1997 Regulations (Reg 1) Confined space means "any place, including any chamber, tank, vat, silo, pit trench, pipe, sewer, flue, well or other similar space in which, by virtue of its enclosed nature there arises a reasonably foreseeable specified risk" Working for a previous employer in the Gas Central Heating & Plumbing industry, the greatest risk to anyone entering a confined space would be oxygen delapidation (and subsidiary gas build up). The risk of this occurring whilst within a loft area is negligable therefore my opinion is that loft areas would not be classed as a confined space. I would advise on the use of crawling boards when in loft areas, cannot help laughing at one or two incidents from memory, whereby a pair of legs were dancling through to the ceiling below, from employees who ignored the use of crawling boards.

The CS regs say quite a bit more than "..anywhere there is a potential to cause harm.." as already pointed out. I would think it pretty unlikely that most lofts would be a CS, BUT not impossible. Some boilers are situated in loft spaces, and if they haven't been serviced or are otherwise faulty they COULD create the conditions for a CS. BUT in the main I suggest not.

Hi At the end of the day you can have endless debates about whether something is a confined space or not, believe me I’ve had a few. Either way there needs to be an assessment of the risks and a safe system of work. Regards

Agree with above threads, but remember "Asbestos" when carrying out your RA. As it is common in loft spaces.

Chris you said: "The means of escape from the "confined space" has to be considered. If access/egress is via the same small hatch opening that could mean it is a confined space and all relevant precautions need to be taken." I disagree. If it is a confined space then the means of access has to be taken into consideration. But you can not use restricted access as a criterion for deciding if an area is a confined space. There are many areas where access is resrtricted but they are not "confined spaces"

This is were legislation or the interpretation becomes grey. If we base it on only one way in and one way out then my office is a confined space and so are a lot of areas around, and I don't think that it was meant to cover that. I agree the basis of a R/A will identify if it is or not. Some lofts are large expansive places and not confined in the sense. Working at height in this case is more relevant than confined space working. Think logically or we'll end up were we are with COSHH 'R/A for tippex' Puwer regs. R/A for a pen because it was supplied by the company' Do the working at height regs come into force for traffic wardens as they work on the pavement and sometimes have to set foot onto the road. Use some common sense the legislation basically tells you what is 'confined' The worrying part is that IOSH, HSE etc don't stand up to be counted when someone ends up in court, after all thier shouting about 'keeping it real'