Confined spaces may include | Any compartment or area with limited opening for access and no escape route, and with limited natural ventilation or an atmosphere containing more than 23.5% or less than 19.5% oxygen, and the capability of accumulating a toxic, flammable or explosive atmosphere, or of being flooded Examples of confined spaces may include: fuel tanks (diesoline, gasoline, kerosene, AVCAT) or any other liquid or gaseous fuel water tanks (feed, fresh, ballast), void spaces, cofferdams, double bottoms/wing compartments, sewage treatment tanks (combine holding tank system) oil tanks (sludge oil, lubricating, hydraulic), cable lockers (anchor cable stowage) open-topped spaces such as pits or degreasers, pipes, sewers, shafts, ducts and similar structures boiler drums, steam turbine casing, main condensers, gas turbine rotor casing, piston engine enclosed crankcase, main circulating water inlet and discharge pipes, pressure vessels |
Organisational policy and procedures may include | Australian or international standards Confined space entry permit/permits to work Equipment manufacturers' specifications Exposure standards Job Safety Analysis (JSA) Legislation, including state/territory/commonwealth OH&S acts, regulations, codes of practice and guidance material relating to hazards present in the workplace and industry, and associated with entry to confined space including legislation specific to confined space work Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) Organisational policies and procedures Previous testing reports Risk assessments Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) Testing and analysis protocols Task analysis |
Occupational health and safety requirements may include | General duty of care under OH&S legislation and common law Provisions relating to health and safety representatives and/or OH&S committees Provisions relating to OH&S issue resolution state/territory/commonwealth OH&S acts, regulations, codes of practice and guidance material relating to hazards present in workplace and industry |
Monitoring of the confined space environment may include | Maintaining testing regime while in confined space, be it continuous or periodic, in accordance with entry plan and work permit Monitoring if determined under risk assessment Monitoring in response to work being undertaken in the space |
Cleaning and refurbishing testing equipment may include | Decontamination procedures Disposal of personal protective equipment (PPE) Disposal of test samples Inspection, servicing and cleaning equipment ready for re-use or storage |