Understanding the Hidden Risks of Working in Tight Spaces

While working in confined or tight spaces, workers need to be extra cautious about the hidden risks. If they’re not aware and the team isn’t trained to deal with it, they can face severe dangers to the point of losing life.

So, if you run a business working in tight spaces or are planning to be a confined space worker, learn about the following risks and be cautious.

1. Low Oxygen Levels

In the atmosphere of confined spaces, oxygen can rapidly be removed because of natural reactions. This can be due to particular types of soils reacting with oxygen.

Alternatively, a mix of groundwater and chalk or limestone may produce excess carbon dioxide. This further displaces oxygen. On the other hand, in tanks or any metal compartments, the formation of rust can also build an atmosphere with a lack of oxygen.

A rapid drop in oxygen levels can make workers dizzy, fatigued, or unconscious.

To prevent your team from facing such risks, enrol them in a reliable training centre so everyone has a confined space ticket. They will know how to identify such risks and evacuate before hazards strike.

2. Toxic Gases, Fumes, and Vapours

Toxic gases, fumes, and vapours (such as hydrogen sulphide, carbon monoxide, or methane) can easily accumulate in confined spaces with poor ventilation.

Sometimes, lethal gases seep into confined spaces from nearby sources, such as contaminated lands, rotting organic matter, chemical processes, or burst pipes. Other times, they are produced from the activities or products used by the worker, such as welding, paint fumes, or adhesive fumes.

If the space isn’t ventilated thoroughly, it can turn into a toxic environment, risking workers’ lives.

If these gases have any colour or smell, workers can become alert ahead of time. However, odourless and colourless gases are difficult to detect, posing the greatest threat.

3. Floods

If the confined space is underground or has water/sewage pipelines around it, there’s a huge chance of flooding and drowning all workers inside. Flooding can happen in seconds as the space is small.

If they’re not anchored and there’s a tunnel underneath, they might get flowed along with the flood waters to zones that can’t be tracked.

4. Engulfment

Another major risk of working in tight spaces is the surroundings collapsing and engulfing workers in sand, grain, rocks, or soil. This can suffocate, crush, and bury them. This is more common in silos and storage bins.

5. Fire and Explosions

If there are flammable vapours, gases, liquids, and dust in the tight space, fire and explosion are also part of the risks. Methane and propane are the most common causes of fire in tight spaces. However, there have even been cases of grain and flour causing it.

The situation becomes even more hazardous if workers’ activities include using something hot, sparks, or even fire. Especially if there’s too much oxygen, even the smallest embers can lead to a massive explosion.

6. Extreme Temperatures

Confined spaces are poorly ventilated, so extremes of temperatures are quite common. For instance, if workers use hot tools in this space, the environment can get too hot, leading to heatstroke and exhaustion.

On the other hand, if it’s winter and they’re dealing with water, the space might be freezing cold, leading to hypothermia.

In both cases, workers can become too weak to escape from the space in time. Some may even faint without proper training.

7. Restricted Movement

Tight spaces are difficult to access, manoeuvre, and escape. So, if the situation arises, an emergency evacuation can be next to impossible. This risk can expose them to toxic materials or risk for longer.  

8. Dust

Dust buildup occurs in tight spaces either naturally or through manmade activities like grinding and drilling. Exposure to excess dust leads to respiratory issues and life risks besides explosion risks.

9. Lighting

Poor lighting makes confined spaces even more dangerous, increasing the chances of falls and injuries, especially if they’re working with heavy machinery and sharp tools. It’s also difficult to notice structural damage or leaks in inadequate lighting.

10. Noise

In confined spaces, loud sound gets amplified, leading to hearing loss. This can happen especially if workers use noisy machinery.

Noise also disrupts communication, so workers can’t communicate about their tasks or emergencies, leading to more risks.

Conclusion

To understand the risks of working in confined spaces and stay safe, get the right training for it. So, start researching and get yourself or your team enrolled in a reliable course now!