What are the main risks within confined spaces?

The risks to health and life within confined spaces arise not only from the high concentration of toxic substances, but also from the combination of multiple hazards, including:

• Fall from a height
• Lightning strike
• Intoxication/Poisoning
• Explosion and/or fire
• Drowning
• Burn
• Asphyxiation
• Deafening
• Blinding
• Incarceration
• Burial and/or submersion

The greatest threat to life comes from atmospheric hazards, which, statistically, are also the leading cause of accidents. Among the most common are:

• Oxygen concentration below 19.5% (oxygen deficiency) or above 23.5% (oxygen enrichment)
• Flammable gases and vapors greater than 10% (methane, acetylene, propane, butane, xylene, benzene, etc.)
• Highly concentrated airborne dust that reduces visibility to less than 1.5 meters
• Maceration or decomposition of organic substances.

Due to the incidence of so many and such risks, personnel may only enter a confined space with prior authorization and specific permission.