Page 28 - Towards better compaction v0.5

Towards Better Compaction

Confined Spaces

Sometimes you may need to enter or work in a confined space. Work Health and Safety Regulations
define a confined space as being:

a. An enclosed or partially enclosed space
b. Not designed or intended primarily for human occupancy, and
c. At normal atmospheric pressure while any person is in the space.

Confined spaces can pose a risk to your health or safety as they may not have a safe oxygen level
(21% found in normal air with 19.5% the minimum for safe breathing), contain harmful
concentrations of airborne contaminants or have the potential for engulfment (suffocation or crush
injuries from engulfment by loose materials (woodchips)).

You enter a confined space when your head or upper body is within the boundary of the confined
space.

Entry to confined spaces is controlled by confined space permits, and you must not enter a confined
space if:

a. You are not trained and authorised
b. There is an uncontrolled risk to your health and safety
c. Risks have not been minimised as far as is reasonably practicable.

Why do incidents occur?
Incidents occur due to:

1. Inexperience or lack of training (not recognising that a task involves entry into a confined
space, or the potential hazards involved). Training must include hazards of confined spaces,
risk control measures, use of safety equipment, confined space entry permits and
emergency procedures.
2. Taking short cuts (failure to carry out a risk assessment or follow correct, safe working
procedures)
3. Complacency (making assumptions, assuming the conditions remain unchanged)
Facts and figures (Safe Work Australia, work-related traumatic injury fatalities, Australia 2014):

• 95% of fatalities are caused by improperly assessed confined spaces
• 80% of fatalities occur when performing a familiar task
• 64% of fatalities did not need to occur as the work could have been performed from the
outside
• 60% of fatalities are as a result of unplanned rescues

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