Oxygen Deficiency
The Confined Space Regulations 1997 place a statutory requirement on employers to protect employees who carry out work in confined spaces.
A confined space is described as any space of an enclosed nature where there is a risk of death or serious injury from hazardous substances or dangerous conditions (e.g. lack of oxygen).
The regulations require employers to carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks for all work activities for the purpose of deciding what measures are necessary for safety. For work in confined spaces this means identifying the hazards present, assessing the risks and determining the precautions to take. In most cases the assessment will include consideration of:
- The task
- The working environment
- Working materials and tools
- The suitability of those carrying out the task
- Arrangements for emergency rescue
If the assessment identifies risks from work in confined spaces then employers must:
- Avoid entry to confined spaces
- If entry to a confined space is unavoidable, follow a safe system of work
- Put in place adequate emergency arrangements before the work starts
Our training workshops provide delegates with essential information to ensure that they are aware of the hazards posed by oxygen deficiency and identify the need to work in a safe manner.
