You might have heard about the confined spaces many times from many people. It might sound funny when you hear about it, but in reality, it is a bit nerve-wracking to enter confined spaces. Below are some precautions that you should take before entering confined spaces:
1) Check Out Lightings
Whenever we talk about confined spaces, the first thing that comes to mind is lights. However, we all know that a confined space doesn’t have as many lights as needed. So, before you enter any confined space, make sure you have enough lighting equipment and proper chargeable devices of lights. You can put on that helmet with a light on it as well as take some torches with you. This way, you will be prepared for confined spaces even if it is dark at night. Besides, you will need lighting if you need to walk inside the confined spaces every once in a while.
2) Atmosphere
Confined spaces are filled with harmful gases and bacteria that might harm your respiratory system. So, before you enter the confined space, make sure you have checked up the atmosphere and temperature inside it. There are some devices that will show you how much temperature is inside the confined space. As for the atmosphere, you need to check if it has a proper oxygen level and is free of other harmful gases. If the confined space that you are going to enter doesn’t have enough oxygen, then you need to take an oxygen mask with you as a precaution.
3) Entry & Exit
Sometimes in some confined spaces, you need to check whether Entry and exit are properly secure or not. In some confined spaces, entry and exit are in the same place, but they are both on different sides in some other confined spaces. Before entering the confined space, ask the reliable person about Entry and exit.
Moreover, check out other places through which you can take an exit. In some ways, exit places in confined spaces are more important than entry places because once you enter them, you can’t stay there for long. You will need an emergency exit, too, if required.
4) Communication Devices
When you are taking precautions before entering confined spaces, one thing the trainers will teach you while having confined space training is whether your communication devices are working properly inside or not. Devices like headphones, Bluetooth headphones, phones, megaphones, etc., are needed as a precaution for entering confined spaces. You need to make sure you have proper signals in your communication devices. Besides, it is important to check whether you have alternatives to communication devices like radios, fireworks, etc. This way, even when there isn’t any signal in your communication devices, you can alert your team outside when you are in trouble.
5) Place Of Confined Space
The precautions for confined spaces are more than you can count. But the important ones include the place of confined space. First, you need to check whether it is underground, a closed room, or inside the wall. This way, you can figure out the equipment and precautions you need to take before entering confined spaces. Tunnels, vaults, pits, manholes, tanks, vessels, etc., are examples of confined spaces. If you are going to a place where confined spaces are secure, then you won’t need to worry about precaution but if confined spaces are insecure, then make sure you take proper precautions.
6) Door/Equipment Function
Whenever you enter a Confined space, you need to check if the door and machinery are working properly or not. As we all know, confined spaces are not built for staying inside as a human. If you have some work inside confined spaces, then it’s okay to enter for a while, but you need to get out of it early as soon as you complete the work. If you are going inside to fix some equipment, then make sure you have every supply that can fix the equipment. Moreover, before entering, make sure the door to the confined space is working properly or not.
These are some precautions that you need to take before entering confined spaces.
