Safetycare Australia produces Occupational, Health and Safety DVDs and videos for Australian Workplaces. Our OHS videos are a perfect safety training tool for training sessions and safety induction meetings. Using our Comprehensive Training Course Manuals in conjunction with our safety training DVDs, will allow you the trainer, to run an extremely effective OHS training course.

Confined Spaces in the workplace - Health and Safety Training courses

Why are Confined spaces a potential threat to Health and Safety in the workplace ?

Not only working with powerful equipment, toxic, vaporous or flammable chemicals but Confined spaces are made more dangerous by the fact they are confined, that there is a shortage of space from which to escape an injury or perhaps a shortage of breathable air. Many people are injured in the workplace each year by working or trying to Rescue someone caught in an accident in a Confined Space.

Confined Space Health and Safety practices.

Confined spaces are dangerous places. Minor risks in normal work situations can become life-threatening risks in confined spaces.

You should never become complacent about working in confined spaces. The only safe approach to working in confined spaces is to diligently follow the instructions that are detailed in the Confined Space Work Permit and to utilise any personal protective that has been identified as necessary.

Every year there are serious accidents involving confined spaces in the workplace. A significant number of these are fatal and it is not uncommon for accidents to result in multiple fatalities.

In order to reduce the number of confined space accidents we need to have a fundamental understanding of the hazards and risks that are associated with confined spaces.

Confined spaces can be safe if approached in the right manner.

What is a Confined Space ?

A number of people are killed or seriously injured in the UK each year in confined spaces.

A confined space is a place which is substantially enclosed though not always entirely , and where serious injury can occur from hazardous substances or conditions within the space or nearby e.g. lack of oxygen .

Confined spaces may be encountered in virtually any occupation; therefore, their recognition is the first step in preventing fatalities. Since deaths in confined spaces often occur because the atmosphere is oxygen-deficient, toxic or combustible, confined spaces that contain or have the potential to contain a serious atmospheric hazard should be classified as Permit-required confined spaces and should be tested prior to entry and continually monitored.

When working in confined spaces, it is vital to devise proper emergency procedures and to rehearse them often. Confined spaces are particularly dangerous because the hazards may not be immediately apparent. Preventing injury and death in the workplace requires identifying confined spaces and the type of work performed inside them in order to asses or reduce the risk.

All confined spaces within the workplace should be ...

Signposts and permits - All confined spaces should be clearly signposted.
Include - sufficient entry and exit openings in long confined spaces, such as tunnels or pipelines.
Ventilation - The risks of confined spaces include low oxygen levels or harmful vapours. Consequently the air in confined spaces needs to be regularly tested for oxygen and contaminants using the proper equipment.

The hidden dangers of Confined space - health and safety training.

Confined spaces can also be dangerous because they are often used for storage of toxic or inflammable chemicals, therefore increasing the risk of injury through a serious fire. Many people are injured in the workplace while trying to rescue workers from a confined space where an accident has occurred.

Rescues or attempting to rescue someone from a confined space can be very dangerous. Rescues should never be attempted without a proper rescue plan and appropriate safety equipment, such as self-contained breathing apparatus, Rehearse emergency and rescue procedures regularly and ensure entrances and exits are large enough to permit free access of people, protective clothing and rescue equipment.

Confined Space - Health and Safety Training Courses
COSHH - Control of Substances Hazardous to health and safety in the workplace
Fire Awareness for Health and Safety in the Workplace
Personal and Protective Equipment when working in Confined Spaces in the workplace

Safetycare have a variety of Confined Space safety training products available under Hazardous Environments.
All are up to date Health and Safety approved video and DVD titles with accompanying materials including posters and manuals.
Let Safetycare take the trouble out of your Confined Space safety training program.

Safetycare's Occupational, Health and Safety DVDs and videos are relevant to Australian workplaces and cover many OHS issues including Manual Handling, Behavioural Safety, Portable Fire Extinguishers, Understanding Hazards and Risks, Slips Trips and Falls, Workplace Housekeeping, Forklift and Crane Safety, PPE etc.