Confined Spaces - Guide
There is no single definition of confined space/environment or place, but it is generally a space large enough to allow a person to enter.
In general, a confined space is an environment that has at least the following characteristics:
• difficulty of access/exit (also in relation to the use of self-rescuers or other rescue devices) • not designed/suitable for continuous presence of people and workers • factors of possible rapid risk increase are found inside • insufficient or difficult natural aeration/ventilation • presence of hazardous chemical agents
Easily identifiable confined spaces
• underground, semi-underground or above-ground tanks containing organic, food, or livestock products or by-products that can give rise to fermentation from both the production cycle (e.g., silos for fodder, wines) and accidental or unwanted origin (e.g., water infiltration in flour silos)
• sewer tunnels and sewage disposal systems of both civil and livestock origin (septic tanks, biological systems, etc.)
• silos, tanks or other containers for organic and inorganic chemical substances or products
• reaction vessels and storage tanks
• wells and pipelines
• truck tanks
Other potentially confined environments
Other environments, upon superficial examination, may not appear as confined. In particular circumstances, related to the methods of carrying out work activities or influences from the surrounding environment, they can instead become such and prove equally insidious. This is the case, for example, of:
• tanks, underground and above ground, for containing slurries (clays dissolved in water) or purification plants
• cavities, pits, trenches, chambers with opening from above, deep excavations with stagnant liquids (and/or vapors) of various nature, including rainwater
• combustion chambers in furnaces and similar
• unventilated or poorly ventilated rooms
• ship holds
• tunnels
• overhead tanks