Complete solutions for safety in confined spaces
The field of safety and health at work is very wide and covers dangerous environments and situations. One of the most dangerous situations and environments are certainly people’s entries into confined spaces.
What is a confined space?
Confined spaces include all spaces that were not necessarily intended for people to enter, but are large and accessible enough for a person to enter in order to perform certain tasks. Confined spaces have limited possibilities for entry and exit and are not intended for permanent or prolonged presence of people.
Which are the most typical representatives of confined spaces?
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tanks,
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reservoirs,
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silos,
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storage tanks,
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compression vessels,
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bulk material storage tanks,
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underground storage tanks,
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excavations,
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shafts,
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tunnels,
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parts of buildings without windows and small spaces such as pipelines, boilers, chimneys, hollow structural beams, etc.
What makes confined spaces dangerous?
Confined spaces are considered dangerous when:
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the atmosphere inside them is or could become dangerous to humans,
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contain material that could catch a person and put him in a dangerous situation,
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there is a possibility of material entering the room,
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have a conical bottom, which could cause a person to be trapped or squeezed in the event of a slip, which could lead to suffocation,
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contain devices with the possibility of dangerous movements,
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have or could have hazardous energies present,
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there is a possibility of oxygen deficiency,
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contains or could contain hot and/or cold media,
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other hazards.
How to prevent risks?
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Risks need to be eliminated or brought to an acceptable level through technical, organizational and individual measures.
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It is necessary to implement technical measures, that either reduce the danger or even eliminates the need for entry.
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It is necessary to approach entrances in an organized manner with permits, instructions, supervision, etc.
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It is necessary to provide personal protective equipment.
Our services and solutions
Many ways and measures to ensure safety require certain knowledge, assessments and preparations. As always, the most can be done with cooperation with their superiors and OSH service. Nexum can be involved in the following activities:
Development of program or regulations
Our experts, together with the client, create a program that is adapted to the client's activity, methods of work and specifics. The program is the basis for all further activities in the direction of ensuring security when entering confined spaces.
Quality training with experienced lecturers
Our specialists strive to forward their knowledge and experience in the most efficient way possible. We carry out trainings on a theoretical and practical level, preferably at the client's location, which ensures the best transfer of theoretical knowledge into practice.
Development of solutions and instructions for individual procedures
Due to the specifics of individual confined spaces, it is recommended that instructions for entry with all obligations and restrictions are prepared separately for each procedure.
Preparation of documentation
In cooperation with the client, we prepare or assign existing documentation in order to ensure the correct implementation of the procedures for entering cramped spaces.
Assistance in selecting and supplying the necessary equipment
Nexum uses only tested equipment for trainings and inspections, and we also advise our clients to do the same. Properly selected equipment protects employees and effectively reduces costs. Typically, the following categories of equipment are used to manage the risks of entering confined spaces: devices for detecting the presence of hazardous gases, breathing equipment or air supply to confined spaces, rescue equipment, safety and warning signs, entry prevention equipment, personal protective equipment.
Inspections
Because we want the system to work, we need to monitor it periodically. For this purpose, we offer thorough inspections of procedures, implementation, documentation, employee knowledge and equipment condition.
All services are provided professionally, with a sense for the specifics, needs and capabilities of each client.
