The Various Depths of Confined Space Entry Training, Planning & Execution

For me, this BLOG is well overdue. I have been heavily involved in Confined Space Entry (CSE) in a variety of ways and for such a long time. While in the RAF Fire Service we had some levels of awareness but if honest, and with the benefit of hindsight not enough. To be fair, the major inclusion of Confined Spaces may have been within the holds and baggage spaces of large aircraft where very limited risks were lurking. Following my departure from the military after a 12 year engagement I began instructing at an OPITO accredited centre and became more heavily involved in specific training of personnel who's responsibilities may include the need to enter these relatively harmful spaces in order to undertake various work-scopes. I found the potential dangers exhilarating but purely from a perspective of educating and developing others to safe and appropriate behaviours. The training I received in order to pass on the necessary skills took my understanding, appreciation and just respect to a whole new level.

As the offshore industry widened their knowledge and approaches to CSE, I gained a greater appreciation and determination to provide the best of training that I could deliver in theoretical and practical sessions utilising the props and training aids the centre may have held. Even looking back as far as 2002, the varied standards and knowledge of those attending the courses was considerable and with no injustice to some that attended the training was certainly necessary and required.

For anyone that has provided others with training in any capacity I am sure you would agree that it gives you an enormous feeling of worth and greatness to be able to impart knowledge and information that both improves required knowledge, but more importantly is aimed at averting unwanted events and incidents where personnel are actively involved in undertaking the works. As no surprise, my 20+ years of HSE and training have 'educated me greatly' as to close calls and incorrect methods and practices that I have become aware of on my travels. I would like to describe several of these learning opportunities in the hope of prompting thought processes of anyone that may be either undertaking similar operations, or indeed considering the work for others.

Inadequate Training - So many times I have provided safety cover during construction type works (Marine and onshore yard based) and come across personnel holding a stand-by person role, and through discussion of their roles and responsibilities confirmed that the only specific training that had been undertaken prior to them holding what I consider to be one of the most important roles for Confined Space works was an online Confined Space Course currently retailing for £10 through various providers. I have never been a strong advocate for Computer Based Training unless of course this is regarded as a pre-requisite introduction to a subject, and always recommend practical based training prior to commencing live operations. The £10 cost of the courses reflects the basic standard of information provided and although I recognise there is a market for this, there is an absolute need for advanced knowledge and site specific follow up regardless of someones confidence or belief that they have all bases covered...trust me when I say this is rarely the case. My major shortfall findings include the following;

Maintaining The Space Integrity - Rarely have I ever seen an accurate list of 'equipment in - equipment out' being utilised. Trust me when I explain that to have found a dinghy...yes! a dinghy entrained inside a stripping pump of a cargo tank following a Class Inspection serves as a lesson learned and could and should have been captured. Furthermore, particularly for protracted activities, personnel inevitably allow standards to drop (often through tiredness) and this often portrays itself with personal items being carried in work coverall pockets (I have personally prevented someone accessing a cargo tank with cigarettes and a lighter while offshore). Fire extinguishers, spanners, scaffold ladders, EEBD's, cabled lights and many more items have been recovered from checked spaces prior to buttoning up the hatches. Numerous times it is evident that companies do not address (or therefore consider) the importance of this element. In absence of a specific document or sheet to detail this element I continue to recommend personnel utilise the rear page of one of the worksite sheets to list accordingly.

Personnel Compatibility - Rarely do personnel fully consider their own capabilities when accessing spaces, or even the capabilities of those that may have to undertake a rescue of them should things go wrong. To recover an adult sized individual from within a CSE can be extremely demanding and normally only undertaken by a skilled and regularly trained team (i.e. Fire Brigade and Medical support). The potential range of injuries associated with permitting entry of confined spaces and the associated range of tasks, and effects from those makes each case unique and therefore worthy of unique planning and preparation. Size, age, physical condition and psychological state have always been advised considerations for those involved in CSE works but I also include and strongly recommend experience levels for additional focus of those assigning the activity.

Example 1. - Conditions at the time: Hot August morning / Rig Preparation Readiness - Gentleman providing standby watch of a ballast tank was unaware of many significant factors associated with his roles and responsibilities, i.e. his radio was not switched on, he did not know anyone was already in the tank (poor handover) as there were in fact 3, he had not been briefed on what channel comms were to be used, although holding hard copies of the PTW pack had no knowledge of the work being undertaken at the time of entry, how long the personnel had been in the space, previous or current atmosphere testing, isolations, etc: A shambolic standard in anyone's opinion I am sure, however, on evacuation of the small team from the space, and discussion with the individual it became apparent that 3 days prior to the intervention he had been working at a petrol station and had just been given the opportunity of 'some construction work' for a local fabrication company. Who was responsible for the failings and disregard for the safe protection of the personnel inside the tank?

Example 2. - Provision of Confined Space Awareness Training - I was requested to provide CSE Awareness training to a company who service offshore support vessels. The training was to be 'theoretical' only as this was felt necessary to support the company personnel and their existing skill set and knowledge. So, the training started badly as one individual was late...there was an apparent air of 'typical' circling the room and as general banter increased I was reliably informed that "you'll have a problem with 'the rat'", "he's been here the longest and has trained everyone else"...forewarned is forearmed as they say. Some time later the awaited expert turned up and made a grand entrance kicking off the introduction with a "you won't be able to teach me anything mate"!

As we progressed the training it was declared that the company had 2 apprentices who were being developed and mentored in the safety systems and work fronts, these would be the two terrified looking young men at the front of the room. During one of the course sessions it was disclosed that during a fuel tank entry on a quayside secured vessel, the 'expert' realised that not all the required tools were available and the young apprentice was sent back to the workshop to collect it...on his return with the tools he found his colleague struggling to quickly vacate the tank access line as there had been a sudden in rush of fuel from an adjacent tank. The vessel Watch Keepers had changed out and personnel inside one of the fuel tanks had not been communicated clearly so the newly arrived Watch Keeper had attempted to equalise the tanks. It was around about this point it appeared that a bomb had gone off and several of the management personnel stormed out of the room and began a loud and heated conversation upstairs of our location. In an attempt to support the training I politely interrupted the managers and explained that the self declaration of errors and bad practices was in fact a positive and provided needed insight into the companies development of any and all improvements but this did not lighten the situation as expected with one of the managers stating"he doesn't have a licence to drive the company van"!

Moving forward, we managed to cover some excellent ground and the levels of interaction grew which complimented the course purpose. However, and as an extra to the agreed course content I asked to view the teams Emergency Response equipment and Escape Breathing devices which when carried through to the training room in a hessian sack showed evidence of dripping machine oil as it travelled. Leaning into the sack I felt the distinctive visor of an escape set and as I pulled it free the connection between the supply hoses and front of the mask were identified as corroded and had fully parted...this equipment was clearly not assigned a check routine and was merely transported back and forth as jobs were called for and undertaken...enough said on this one I feel.

Example 3. - Demonstration At Any Cost - I was once again assigned to conduct a 1 day CSE Awareness Course for a major pharmaceutical company with emphasis on the management team level attending. There were a number of discipline Managers in the group including Scientists, private Fire Service Officer, Engineers and the corporate HSE Manager who had requested the training. The day was progressing extremely well and we began talking about atmosphere testing and I was asked to demonstrate use of the recently received Crowcon Equipment to compliment the training. In an office/training room environment I did as much as I was able to achieve but not content with this, myself and the team were led to the front of the building and edged up to the roadside at a peak traffic time where one of the Engineers cast three traffic cones into the nearest lane and began lifting a manhole in order to drop the sample hose and prove the integrity of the system! As indicated earlier I am all for incorporating realism when training as long as its safe to do so but at what point would someone have shouted STOP! had I not done so?

Sadly when we look at the HSE Statistics for work related injuries and fatalities there are still too many people getting hurt, some seriously, worse still some losing their lives. IOSH statistics confirm around 15 people in the UK are killed within Confined Spaces each year.

What we do not get a clear and accurate figure of is the number of Near Miss events relating to Confined Space activities. Please consider the implications of the hazards associated with the work we are assigning and the abilities and capabilities of those we are asking to undertake it.

My Personal Request

For those that are considering organising CSE training for a business, my personal request to you is please make sure its of the highest standards and your personnel are able to glean as much from the course to accommodate their possible lack of knowledge, while understanding the full implications of their responsibilities and actions when committing to the work. There are training providers out there that will look to secure a handsome 'day rate profit' for a 'at best' mid-level of content and course delivery. Adversely, if a course cost appears to be such a bargain e.g. £10.00 there's possibly a reason for that!

I am here to support where I can and a call to me will cost less than 10 pence.

Remember that your business is unique and protection of your people is one of your highest priorities.

Reference material available via the HSE Website:

The Confined Space Regulations 1997

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999