Ventilation

If the air quality test results show that the air is not safe to breathe, the company must take additional steps to prepare the area for workers to enter. Ventilating, purging, or inerting the space may be necessary.

Ventilating involves using a mechanical system to bring air in through an intake or supply, forcing the air through the confined space and then moving the air out at an exhaust point. This process continuously replaces the air inside the space, ensuring a constant, controlled flow of fresh air. Ventilation is useful in situations such as when a pipe is leaking a noxious gas into the area or when the space has no natural airflow. Be sure to ventilate using fresh air, not pure oxygen. A higher oxygen level can be dangerous for humans to breathe and increases the chances of fire and explosion. The company should implement a warning system in case of ventilation malfunction or failure. Informing workers immediately could give them time to exit before the air quality becomes damaging or dangerous.

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