PIR Sustainable Construction Magazine - Confined Spaces

Businesses could be putting themselves at huge risk by not knowing that they have a confined space within their work environment. Confined spaces are not just underground and what is one day not classed as a confined space can quickly become one, through very subtle changes like a change in the weather.

Under the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 act, a confined space can be: “any place, including any chamber, tank, vat, silo, pit, trench, pipe, sewer, flue, well or other similar space in which, by virtue of its enclosed nature, there arises a reasonably foreseeable specified risk.”

Confined Spaces can be present across a wide range of industries and sectors from agriculture to hairdressing and mining to plumbing, examples of over 50 industries are listed on the HSE website.

It has been reported that there on average 25 fatalities per year involving people who work in Confined Spaces. These are caused by suffocation, drowning, being exposed to dangerous substances or by being crushed. It is believed that most are directly attributed to employee’s not being taught the correct procedures whilst working in a confined space.

Aside from the distressing loss of human life, the cost to organisations can be huge and can vary from a sullied reputation, massive legal fees and downtime.

Leading technical training provider, Develop Training, have now extended their specialist Confined Spaces training from a regional programme to a nationwide as a way of creating awareness of this issue and have recently introduced certificated refresher programmes for those who may have undertaken this sort of training in the past.

These courses have been designed to meet the essential requirements for entering and working in Confined Spaces by the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997. Develop also offer MOD specific courses that meet Safety Rules and Procedures of the MOD handbook. The majority of courses are accredited through Develop’s Frontline Skills Framework (City and Guilds 5831 scheme).

Depending on the participant’s ability and experience, courses range from a one day awareness and reassessment courses to more detailed five-day training and assessment programmes.

Develop’s Business Director, John Kerr said: “There are a lot of industries where every day activities involve some aspect of working within confined spaces and, yet many are not aware of what danger they face when working in this type of environment.”

“As we are one of the few providers who make this type of courses available, we need to drive the awareness of the need for this type of training. It is also crucial that we meet the needs of our customers and to provide skills to those who require them.”

As part of their investment in this issue Develop is happy to consult with clients who are unsure if their work can bring them into contact with a Confined Space.

“We are happy to support operators who may need our expertise so that they are can understand if their staff are at risk.”

For further information on the Confined Spaces Courses contact Develop Training on 0800 876 6708 or alternatively visit www.developtraining.co.uk