XN000022-1983-06-14 — Page 7

TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 1983

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WARNING GIVEN ABOUT WORK IN CONFINED SPACES

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IN VIEW OF THE RECENT CASE IN WHICH TWO WORKMEN WERE REPORTEDLY OVERCOME BY AN UNKNOWN GAS INSIDE A MANHOLE, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) URGED EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES TO BE ALERT TO THE HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH WORKING IN CONFINED SPACES.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT THE TERM, +CONFINED SPACE+, HAS A WIDE APPLICATION THROUGHOUT INDUSTRY. SOME SITUATIONS WERE FAIRLY OBVIOUSLY CONFINED SPACES - E.G. CLOSED TANKS, LARGE DUCTS, SEWERS AND ENCLOSED DRAINS, BUT OTHERS WERE LESS ÓBVIOUS, SUCH AS OPEN TOPPED TANKS AND VATS, CLOSED AND UNVENTILATED ROOMS, AND MEDIUM-SIZED AND LARGE FURNACES AND OVENS.

IN THESE CONFINED SPACES, DANGEROUS GASES, VAPOURS AND FUMES MIGHT BE PRESENT, AND THE MANAGEMENT, SUPERVISORS AND WORKERS HAVE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR TAKING PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.

THE MANAGEMENT, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED, SHOULD, AMONG OTHER THINGS, FORMULATE THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES, PROVIDE ADEQUATE AND SUITABLE TESTING INSTRUMENTS AND PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND TRAINED SUPERVISORS AND WORKERS IN SAFE METHODS OF OPERATION, EMERGENCY RESCUE WORK AND FIRST AID.

IF A WORKER IS WORKING INSIDE A CONFINED SPACE, THE MANAGEMENT SHOULD ENSURE THAT TWO SETS OF BREATHING APPARATUS, A SAFETY LAMP OR TORCH FOR EACH APPARATUS, TWO HARNESSES AND LIFELINES FOR RESCUE OPERATION, A STRETCHER AND RESUSCITATION EQUIPMENT ARE READILY AVAILABLE.

A SUPERVISOR SHOULD ENSURE THAT THESE PRECAUTIONS ARE CARRIED OUT BEFORE A WORKER ENTERS A CONFINED SPACE. FOR EXAMPLE, AN ATTENDANT SHOULD BE POSTED OUTSIDE TO KEEP WATCH AND CAN SUMMON AID IF REQUIRED, SAFETY AND RESCUE EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE READY AND A PERSON TRAINED IN THEIR USE SHOULD BE STANDING BY.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO SAID THAT WORKERS SHOULD NOT ENTER A CONFINED SPACE WITHOUT INSTRUCTION OR PERMISSION FROM THE PERSON IN-CHARGE OF THE WORK AND WITHOUT A PERSON BEING IN CONSTANT ATTENDANCE AT THE ENTRANCE.

BEFORE ENTERING A CONFINED SPACE THAT HAS NOT BEEN FREED OF GAS, THEY SHOULD WEAR APPARATUS, HARNESS AND LIFELINE. WHEN WORKERS ARE WORKING INSIDE A CONFINED SPACE, A SIGNALLING SYSTEM SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.

THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT IT WAS ESSENTIAL FOR THE MANAGEMENT TO ADOPT A PERMIT-TO-WORK SYSTEM FOR WORKING IN CONFINED SPACES.

/+VERBAL