Other Potential Hazards

Noise Hazards

Noise is amplified within a confined space. NIOSH levels allow for 90 decibels over the course of 8 hours. For every increase of 5 decibels over the permissible 90 decibels, time spent without hearing protection is cut in half. For example, at 95 decibels the exposure is limited to 4 hours, but at 100 decibels exposure levels would be reduced to 2 hours.

Vibration Hazards

Entrants work with equipment often. Most of this equipment can have whole body, hand, and arm vibration effects. These vibrations can lead to complications both inside and outside of work, including back pain, decreased grip strength, decreased hand sensation and dexterity, carpal tunnel syndrome, and finger blanching, which causes fingers to turn white due to lack of blood flow. Proper selection of tools and equipment can reduce vibration exposure.

Surface Hazards

Ensure that the confined space is devoid of slippery floors or anything that may cause your entrant to lose his or her footing. Surface hazards can cause slips, trips, or falls. A fall protection system may be needed if there is a danger of falling from a certain height.

Engulfment Hazards

Engulfment hazards happen when a worker is entrapped by the contents of a confined space, such as flowable solids or liquids. Some materials that pose an engulfment hazard include grain, coal, and gravel, and these hazards can be fatal.

Temperature Hazards

Extreme temperatures can contribute to dangerous conditions for the workers inside a confined space. High temperatures can cause hyperthermia, or heat stress, which can range from heat exhaustion to heat stroke and can be fatal. Symptoms of hyperthermia include hot skin, incoherent speech, convulsions, staggering gait, and unconsciousness.

Low temperatures can cause hypothermia, a condition in which internal body temperature drops below the required temperature for normal metabolism and bodily functions to work properly. Symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, mental confusion, paleness, bluing of the extremities, decrease in blood pressure and heart rate, difficulty walking, and system shut down.

You must ensure that the attendant maintains constant communication with the entrant at all times.

To learn more about Confined Spaces Competent Person/Supervisor visit our Confined Spaces Competent Person/Supervisor Online Training web page.