Confined Space Awareness

By Josh Krey, Staab Construction Corporation

As we dive into another month of operations and into the construction season, it is crucial to maintain our focus on safety, especially when it comes to working in confined spaces.  These tasks are integral to our projects and carry significant risks if not managed with utmost care. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that construction workers account for the most confined space fatalities 173 fatalities (between 2011-2018).   Although there is no month that OSHA dedicates to Confined Space Awareness, we want to ensure that confined space  stays at the forefront of contractor’s minds when planning their work.

As contractors we can reinforce our company’s commitment to safety by adhering to the following guidelines and best practices:

1. Pre-entry Planning and Risk Assessment: Before any worker enters a confined space, a thorough risk assessment should be conducted to identify potential hazards. This includes checking the atmosphere for harmful gases, oxygen levels, and assessing physical risks.
2. Continuous Monitoring: Workers should never enter a confined space without continuous monitoring of the atmosphere. Gas detectors should be used to monitor toxic or flammable gases. Access to communication systems for emergency situations must be present.
3. Proper Training: Workers must be properly trained in confined space entry procedures, recognizing hazards, and using protective equipment. Training should also include emergency evacuation and rescue procedures.
4. Lockout/Tagout Procedures: Any hazardous machinery or equipment that could pose a threat while working in a confined space must be properly locked out and tagged out to prevent accidental activation.
5. Communication and Supervision: It’s crucial that a supervisor or a designated “attendant” remains outside the confined space to maintain communication with the workers inside. This person is responsible for monitoring the workers’ conditions and should be prepared to act if an emergency arises. Identify worker responsibilities before starting work.
6. Rescue Equipment: Having a confined space rescue team on standby with appropriate equipment is vital. This may include harnesses, retrieval systems, and breathing apparatus for the safe extraction of workers in the event of an emergency.
7. Emergency Preparedness: All workers should be aware of the emergency evacuation and rescue plans specific to the confined spaces they are working in. Regular practice drills should be conducted to ensure readiness

In 2015, OSHA’s enforcement efforts in confined space safety led to significant reductions in injuries and fatalities in construction. OSHA’s increased attention to compliance helped bring about better awareness and practices regarding confined spaces, with many construction companies investing in training, better safety equipment, and improved hazard assessment protocols. In the years following enforcement, there was a reduction in confined space fatalities, especially in industries with high-risk confined space work like construction, manufacturing, and utilities.

By prioritizing safety at each stage of the confined space work we can eliminate the risk, prevent accidents, and ensure the wellbeing of employees.  Keep training updated and point out deficiencies as you see them. Utilize outside training resources to keep the topic fresh.  Look out for each other and keep Wisconsin’s jobsite hazard free.

Bibliography:

https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.WI.htm