Morning peeps!

We've just constructed a soundproof booth to house our bandsaw that cuts cast iron. Now given the fumes from that I would class as confined space but we're having LEV fitted to it to mitigate that. Now at the moment I'm unsure if its down to the operator to start or will be automatic on the door closure for this to operate and we've not done any air test to see if there is an additional requirement for RPE. Also given the heat / spark generated I'm also edging on the side of confined spaced.

What are your opinions? Would classing it as confined space be OTT?

Just to add they will also be lone working so we will have all the controls for that in place also.

Whilst the bandsaw is running and fumes are being generated then yes I would assess this as a confined space with the fumes as the specified risk.

However, assuming the door provides ventilation as a normal room, when the saw is off (and isolated) and the LEV has sucessfully removed the specified risk it could be argued that it is no longer a confined space.

What you may not want is to be in a position where the saw hasn't run for days and you have a blanket determination in place of a confined space meaning that your maintenance guys are having to have rescue plans, etc, etc, etc depending on your confined space arrangements.  I dont know you organisation but I can quite imagine the howls of "Why" if controls were in place for a dormant machine in a room.

Without any controls, definately a Confined Space.

Suitable controls of LEV with the suction as close to the blade as possible, and the LEV interlocked with the bandsaw controls, and a run on when the bandsaw is switched off, time of which would need to be determined, will reduce and possible eliminate any respiratory risks. 

A ventilation grill, to let in air, would need to be provided either in the door, or through a wall.

Signage on door indicating CS rules apply when band saw is in use.