Confined Spaces Risk Assessment

Specific regulations usually apply to working in confined spaces. See the questionnaire/pro-forma below for further details - you can also download as an editable document.

Questionnaire/Pro-forma to Record any Necessary Action

1. Is the workspace confined? (see definition below)

Definition of ‘confined’

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. The specified risks are:

a) injury due to fire or explosion;

b) loss of consciousness from increased body temperature (heat stress);

c) loss of consciousness due to asphyxiation through lack of oxygen;

d). drowning due to rising liquid;

e) asphyxiation because of a free-flowing solid.

Yes No

If ‘No’, refer to your other risk assessments you need not use this guide, as the space is not confined. If ‘Yes’, describe below the workspace details.

Workspace Details:

Location:______________________________________________________

Foreseeable Specified Risk(s): ( a, b, c, d and/or e above)_________________

Description of Workspace: _________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Can the Task to be completed only by entering the confined space?

If ‘No’, you need to detail specifically how this work will be completed without entry into the confined space.

If ‘Yes’, continue completing the risk assessment below.

Yes No

3. Will an employee(s) or a contractor(s) or a mixture of the two complete the work in the confined space?

Employee

Contractor

Mixture

(See Note)

Note: Regardless of who completes the task, a safe working procedure must be written, fully discussed with and understood by those who will undertake it before any work commences.

4. In line with the identified specified risk(s) above, have you:

a). ensured that all sources of ignition have been eliminated?

Consider:

- sparks from tools (use brass tools instead);

- naked flames;

- sparks from footwear (steel heel or toe pads and/or toecaps);

- power tools (use hand tools or spark-free tools);

- contents of pockets (cigarette lighters, pocket knives, etc.);

- the possibility of flammable gases, vapours or liquids entering the confined space when a worker(s) is there; and

- the need for a monitoring person(s) to fully understand that they must not, under any circumstances, enter the confined space in the event of an emergency.

Yes No

b). ensured that the worker(s) body temperature will be regularly monitored whilst in the confined space?

Consider:

how this will be achieved;

- the ambient temperature in the confined space;

- how to maintain communication with the worker(s);

- what will be needed to rescue the worker(s) if he/she feels unwell;

- what will be needed to rescue an unconscious person(s);

- what special equipment will be needed (breathing apparatus, lifting hoists, etc.);

- that any required special equipment has been properly positioned and tested before any work begins;

- the need to have a person(s) monitoring the task; and

- the need for a monitoring person(s) to fully understand that they must not, under any circumstances, enter the confined space in the event of an emergency.

Yes No

c). ensured that all possible causes for asphyxiation within the

confined space have been identified and appropriate controls

put in place?

Consider:

- how to test the air before anyone enters the confined space (use a proprietary, direct reading gas concentrator detector, for example);

- the possibility of toxic or non-life supporting gases entering the confined space while a worker(s) is there;

- the possibility of drowning by a sudden in-rush of water or other liquid;

- the possibility of entrapment by a sudden in-rush of a free flowing solid;

- whether wearing breathing apparatus and/or carrying tools will make a normally accessible entrance/exit inaccessible;

- the need for a monitoring person(s) to fully understand that they must not, under any circumstances, enter the confined space in the event of an emergency.