Confined Spaces:
Claustrophobic Terror Can Be Blown Away
By Shenaz Salim, Director FSE Safe
Posted on: 15 October 2020
Confined spaces: Just saying this
aloud makes us worry and fear for those who are working in confined spaces. And
one would think that it is quite a rare occurrence, that there would not be
that many people working in confined spaces. I was surprised when I read that
the numbers were far greater than I had expected. About 2.1 million workers enter permit
confined spaces annually. 1
Confined spaces are more common
than one thinks and are applicable in several industries such as underground
infrastructures, mining, tanks and tanks cleaning, manholes, storage facilities
for chemical products and more. Workers working in these areas are often
subjected to exposures to dangers including lack of oxygen, breathing
difficulties, combustion leading to fire, smoke hazards, fall from heights,
injuries due to poor lighting and more.
We have always put workers safety
at the forefront of all our dealings. And we find many such like minded people
who are decision makers, shakers and movers in the industry. One of the things
that caught our eye was the certification process. ExStream Fans is the World’s
first manufacturer that provides both ATEX and IECEx certifications. These are
portable fans and allow workers the flexibility of use. The IECEx standards for
non-electrical equipment for use in potentially explosive atmospheres was
introduced only as recent as 2016. Hence it’s a proud moment for us to work
with the ExStream fans team as we it helps to make confined spaces safer.
Another useful and widely used
product is the Explosion proof Ventilators. Available in several sizes and
power and certifications, Ex Proof Ventilators assist in keeping the air quality
optimum for the workers. Not surprising, one of the major areas of risk in
confined spaces is poor ventilation. And if the work is underground there is
always the danger of breaking into areas of unknown dangers such as gas leaks,
chemical leaks, chemical combustion and more. Gas detectors are often used to
check for possible threats. And regular checks on air quality in confined
spaces are a good precautionary measure.
Knowing the dangers and preparing
for them is the key to any safety plan. Besides the above two popular solutions
there are a wide range of fans and blowers for different use. Some of the
common ones are Tank Ventilation Fans, Industrial Tank Vent Fans, Mixed Flow
fans, Rubber Lined fans, Axial Fans, Belt driven Axial fans, Direct Driven
Axial Fans, ATEX Ex Proof fans, Centrifugal fans, Centrifugal Paddle Bladed
fans, Portable ATEX Blower Fans, Engine Room Ventilation fans, Battery Room
Ventilation Fans, Ex Electric Fans, Pneumatic Blowers, ATEX Ex Bug blowers,
Chemical Handling fans, High Pressure fans, and more.
Safety is not only our business, it
is our passion. We strive to help create workplaces that are 100% injury free.
We get inspired when the companies we service Do Not make it to the news
channel for disasters. We rejoice when every
worker goes home to his family. Safety is not our job, it is our goal. It is
your goal. It is the goal of those who depend on us.
Be FSE Safe!
Note1: https://ohsonline.com/articles/2018/08/01/we-must-change-the-statistics-of-confined-space-injuries-and-fatalities.aspx
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