This case is typical of the type of incident that can occur in confined spaces. Working in a confined space can be a challenging and dangerous job. Approximately 100 of such workers die on the job each year, says NIOSH. About half of the fatalities are workers attempting rescues. That’s why it is essential to learn and understand how to handle the specific hazards and conditions that your workers may encounter in a particular confined space.
Not all confined spaces are “permit-required†(PRCS) as defined by OSHA. A PRCS is one that contains, or potentially contains, serious safety and health hazards. Such hazards might include oxygen-deficient, flammable or toxic atmospheres; materials that could engulf a worker, such as grain; or physical features that could entrap an employee, such as sloping walls.