Archive for the ‘Confined space’ Category

Confined space

Tuesday, May 6th, 2008

Confined spaces are high risk workplaces that can easily result in multiple deaths. The challenge in managing confined space is the fact that the space might become high risk only when activities are conducted within the space. Without the activities contaminants or oxygen levels might not be at dangerous levels. For example see this case, which describes how a well becomes high risk because the workers placed a pump into the well. This resulted in accumulation of carbon monoxide and the death of two workers.

Training of all confined space workers are especially important, because the workplace can become dangerous simply because of mistakes made by the workers. These front-line workers must be able to identify how their activities create hazards.

Oxygen enriched environment

Saturday, March 22nd, 2008

Oxygen is necessary for human beings to breathe, but it pose a hazard if it is in excess of its usual component in the environment (21%). Oxygen is not easily detected by our senses and when there are leaks in oxygen hoses in an environment, especially a confined space, the space can become oxygen enriched easily. Once an environment is oxygen enriched, any open fire or spark can cause a violent fire to occur. The fire burns intensely and hair and clothing burn easily causing severe burn injury.

 Click here for an information sheet on oxygen enriched environment.

Workers overcome by Perchloroethylene (PCE)

Monday, March 17th, 2008

Ministry of Manpower just released an OSH Alert on an incident where six workers were affected by PCE. It was not very clear, but it appears that two workers went into the confined space (most probably) which was not ventilated after cleaning using PCE. One worker fainted and the other managed to climb out to get help. The two workers were without proper respirators. Four other workers that went in to rescue were most probably not properly equipped too. The four workers experienced giddiness. Fortunately all workers have since recovered. The OSH Alert contains some advisory notes.

Based on this MSDS on PCE the effects of inhalation are as follows.

In confined or poorly ventilated areas vapors can readily accumulate and can cause unconsciousness and death. Dizziness may occur at 200 ppm perchloroethylene; progressively higher levels may also cause nasal irritation, nausea, in-coordination, drunkenness; and over 1000 ppm, unconsciousness and death. A single brief (Minutes) inhalation exposure to levels above 6000 ppm perchloroethylene may be immediately fatal.

Based on structural analogy and/or equivocal data in animals, excessive exposure may potentially increase sensitivity to epinephrine and increase myocardial irritability (irregular heartbeats). Alcohol consumed before or after exposure may increase adverse effects.”