A work environment may not seem like a confined space at first glance, but the surprising truth is that confined spaces exist in many forms. They are found in nearly every industry, including food, chemical and petroleum processing, utility and communications installations, construction sites, and many others. Without a doubt, confined spaces expose workers to very real dangers.
So the question becomes, are you or your employees at risk? Should you take special precautions even if you are unsure whether or not your location could be considered a confined space? The obvious answer is yes — it’s best to treat an unknown area and its interior environment as if confined space exists and take all necessary safety measures.