Confined Spaces - Workplace Safety and Health Council

It is necessary to complete a maintenance/audit survey form while conducting maintenancechecks. It is important for the form to cover the following:• Date of inspection;• Name of person conducting inspection;• Location;• Inspection frequency;• Type;• Condition;• Remedial action required; and• Further action required.It is the duty of the competent person to exercise all due diligence during such checks.8.7 Provision of Safety Data Sheet (SDS)The SDS and other related information of a hazardous substance shall be made available to themedical facility treating the injured as a result of exposure to hazardous substances found in aconfined space.9. Training for Personnel Involved inConfined Space Entry and WorkIt is essential to provide training to all personnel involved in confined space entry or work.This is to ensure that they understand the hazards associated with confined space work, entryprocedures, measures to prevent and control hazards, safety precautions to take, and emergencyprocedures.9.1 Personnel to be TrainedIt is necessary to provide training to all personnel who are directly or indirectly involved inconfined space entry or work. These include confined space entrants, attendants, supervisors,rescue personnel, safety assessors and authorised managers. It is important to have the trainingthat is consistent with their duties and responsibility. In practice, some of the duties can beperformed by the same person. It is important that training is conducted by a competent trainer.EntrantA person required to enter confined spaces to carry out inspections or work. He is required tofollow entry and work procedures when carrying out work in confined spaces. It is importantfor the person to understand the functions of portable gas/vapour measuring instruments usedfor continuous monitoring of the atmosphere in the confined space, and evacuate from theconfined space when the instrument’s alarm is activated.Confined Space AttendantA person appointed to monitor entrants entering and working in a confined space. It is importantfor him to maintain regular visual and/or verbal contact with the entrants in the confined spaceand inform them to evacuate the space should the need arise. In an emergency, he shall alert therescue personnel to activate the rescue operation.SupervisorA person who oversees entry and work in confined spaces. He has to apply for the entry permitand ensure that the issued entry permit is displayed prominently at the entrance to the confinedspace prior to work and to remove it upon termination of the permit. He is responsible forensuring that entrants and standby attendants adhere to entry procedures, and that rescueequipment and appointed rescue personnel are available when confined space work is to becarried out. It is essential for him to brief all entrants on the work to be performed inside theconfined space before he allows them to enter the confined space.Rescue PersonnelPersons who carry out any rescue work in confined spaces.Confined Space Safety AssessorA competent person appointed to test the atmosphere of confined spaces before entry, and toconduct periodic testing. When a hazardous atmosphere is detected during periodic testing, heis to alert entrants inside the confined space to vacate the space immediately.58 59