Engulfment Hazards

Engulfment hazards happen when a worker is entrapped by liquid or flowable solid contents of a confined space. Some materials that pose an engulfment hazard include oil, water, fly ash, grain, coal, gravel, or sand. Engulfment is the second most common cause of fatality in confined space workers in the construction industry. One reason for this is that loose materials can change form quickly and unexpectedly. For example, flash floods can fill storm drains quickly. As an attendant, if you see a potential engulfment hazard, warn your entrant to evacuate immediately. An evacuation plan must be discussed before anyone enters a confined space.

To learn more about Confined Spaces visit our Construction Confined Spaces Online Training web page.