7 tips for safety in confined spaces.
Safety in confined spaces is regulated by the Ministry of Labor and Employment. Workers are exposed to various risks during their activities and therefore, It is necessary for the company to have a solid safety program.
So, check out these 7 tips for safety in confined spaces.
1. Check which confined spaces and existing risks:
Before starting any measure, it is necessary to know what risks these workers will be exposed to. This analysis needs to be carried out individually in each of the locations, activities or equipment. This is the most suitable way to design effective security measures in confined spaces. for Confined Space Rescue Click here
It is necessary to take into account the physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and mechanical risks.
2.Designate a technical manager to ensure compliance with the standard:
This technical manager will be formally assigned to identify the company’s confined spaces, develop technical measures for administrative, personal and rescue prevention and to implement occupational health and safety management in these spaces.
In addition, it is within the responsibilities of this professional to guide the workers who will participate in the entry into confined spaces. It is necessary to identify the duties of each one and provide the training required to carry out the work.
3.Restrict access to unauthorized persons:
Access to this type of site may not be available to anyone. To ensure safety in confined spaces, it is essential that access is only allowed with the monitoring and authorization of the responsible technical supervisor.
Measures to block access to these spaces are foreseen. In addition to restricting access, it is necessary to signalize and isolate the area and also prevent the accidental re-connection of energy sources with locks, locks, seals and identification labels.
Signage will need to be permanent, clear and fixed at the entrance to the site. Tagouts and lockout systems must be designed to ensure they function. Identify the blocking points that will be necessary for the isolation of each confined space (valves, gates, switches and circuit breakers); evaluate and survey the possible failures of each type of lock; and create procedural rules for installing and removing padlocks and tags.
4. Entry and Work Permit:
The Entry and Work Permit is a document that contains a set of safety and emergency measures foreseen for the development of safety in confined spaces.
Without exception, all professionals who need to work in confined spaces need this document. The person responsible for issuing the permit is the entry supervisor. It must be issued before the start of activities. It is worth remembering that before entry it is necessary to test all the required equipment and procedures. remember to close the PET after finishing the activity.
5. Provision of PPE and CPE:
It’s no secret that any risky activity needs to have Personal Protective Equipment and Collective Protection Equipment. They are part of the safety routine in confined spaces. In addition, use respiratory protection and rescue equipment.
All equipment must be approved by GOVT. Among them are:
- Helmets;
- Gloves;
- Safety boots and goggles;
- Lock falls;
- Seat belt;
- lockout and tagout devices;
- Initial sounding equipment and continuous monitoring of the atmosphere;
- Toxic gas meter sensors;
- Fuels and oxygen;
- Mechanical ventilation and communication equipment (radio transmitters).
6.Train workers:
Every worker needs to receive the proper training. Training regarding risks, control, emergency and rescue measures must always be carried out. This is not just for the industry’s internal employees, but also for outsourced service providers.
All trainings must have a certificate of completion with all relevant information such as the name of the participant, program content, workload, date and place of realization.
7.Form a rescue team:
It is also the responsibility of the employer to implement emergency and rescue procedures suitable for confined spaces, including a team responsible for first aid.
