1. Confined Space Overview
Alan Pellowe
112 Solutions Limited

2. Confined Space Definition
A confined Space is defined as any place by reason of confinement there arises a specified risk that has restricted access and egress or difficulty in maintaining access in an emergency; i.e. access via vertical restriction. Typical examples within the collapse structure environment are basements, enclosed unventilated rooms, tunnels, excavations, collapsed structure voids, shafts, sewers, pits, trenches and pipes.

3. Categories of Confined Space
Category
Description
Essential equipment 1
Good Access, Adequate Ventilation and Low Risk of Hazardous Atmosphere
USAR PPE, Resuscitator at PoE, Comms, Gas Detection Equipment
SAVOX 2
Vertical Access less than 1.5m, with easy or simple access, Poor Ventilation with a Medium Risk of Hazardous Atmosphere
USAR PPE, Resuscitator at PoE, Comms, Gas Detection Equipment. BA Emergency Team St/by 3
Locations with a vertical access greater than 1.5m with either Complex Access or Vertical Ladder. Poor ventilation with a Medium Risk of hazardous atmosphere.
USAR PPE. Resuscitator at PoE. Full safety harness. Comms. Gas detection equipment. SavOx. BA Emergency Team St/By.
LACE equipment , SAVOX 4
USAR personnel working under national
BA procedures in a HIGH RISK or known Hazard space.
USAR PPE & BA, Full safety harness. Rope/life-line. Resuscitator at PoE. Comms. Gas detection equipment.
BA Emergency Team

4. Confined ……… Yes / No..??

6. Equipment Considerations
Line Access & Casualty Extrication Equipment
Safe Working at Height Equipment
Pumped Ventilation Equipment
SAVOX Escape Sets (30 minute duration)

7. Monitoring and Documentation
Risk Assessment Forms
CONSPACE Checklist
Log Book

8. Further Information INSARAG Systems of Work
Health & Safety Executive – Code of Practice
onstruction/Code_of_Practice_for_Working_in_Confined_Spac es shortcut.html