POLICY ON WORKING IN CONFINED SPACES

Working in confined spaces can lead to injury or even death if adequate precautions are not taken. The NSW Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001 Division 9 sets out basic requirements for safe working in confined spaces. Further precautions are set out in the Australian Standard 2865 Safe Working in a Confined Space. Only trained persons may enter or work in confined spaces.

Confined spaces can include storage tanks, process vessels, boilers, silos, storage bins, pits, pipes, sewers, tunnels and shafts. Any place of work where the atmosphere is liable to be contaminated at any time by dust, fumes, mist, vapour, gas or other harmful substance, or is liable at any time to be oxygen deficient is defined as a confined space. When the work area is not subject to good natural ventilation people can be readily exposed to harmful vapours or suffer lack of oxygen, and collapse as a result. People entering the same space to rescue colleagues may become the next victims.

In the University of Sydney the requirements and procedures of Division 9 of the OHS Regulation 2001 and Australian Standard 2865 Safe Working in a Confined Space are to be complied with. Australian Standards can be accessed through the Library's on-line databases.

PROCEDURES

1. PERSONNEL SELECTION & TRAINING
Only persons with appropriate aptitudes and physical competence shall be employed in confined space work. Training of selected persons to carry out confined space work shall include:

Emergency entry and exit procedures
Use of appropriate respiratory protective equipment First aid, including Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Lockout and isolation procedures
The use of safety equipment
Rescue drills
Fire protection
Communications
Aspects essential for maintaining the safety of the breathing environment
Recognition of any hazards specific to the operation or activity.

2. PLANNING WORK
Work involving entry to a confined space must be planned. An assessment of likely hazards must be made prior to commencing the work. Precautions must be taken to avoid exposure to harmful substances or oxygen deficient atmospheres. Some thought should also be given to handling possible emergencies.

3. AUTHORITY TO ENTER
Permission to enter shall be obtained from a person responsible for the project/site before work is commenced in a confined space. A confined space clearance certificate is to be completed for any persons required to work on the project.

References
Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 2001: Division 9 Working in confined spaces: clauses 66 to 78
Australian Standard 2965: Working in a Confined Space

Notes
Authorised by Risk Management Office 1/6/94
Reviewed by Leanne Mumford, OHS Officer, 10/01/05.