According to the Health and Safety Executive, each year around 15 deaths occur in the UK while working in confined spaces. It is not surprising that many workers have a fear of confined spaces.

These accidents happen in a wide range of industries and occupations. This includes using complex plant and machinery, working underground, and working in storage vessels,

So, it is absolutely essential to put in place emergency procedures, and to create awareness among workers of confined space hazards and the precautions that should be taken.

Employers are legally responsible to protect workers from the risk of injuries and accidents in the workplaces, according to the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. This makes employers responsible for ensuring the safety of employees working in confined spaces.

The Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 apply when a risk assessment of a confined space identifies the possibility of worker injury. The Regulations set out the following key requirements or duties:

• Avoid entry to confined spaces by doing work outside the area
• If entry cannot be avoided, then follow a safe system of work and put in place sufficient emergency arrangements before initiating work activities.

The aims of this online training course are as follows:

• To develop an understanding of the main hazards associated with confined spaces
• To create basic awareness of the risk assessment process to control confined space health hazards

This confined space course requires:

• No prior knowledge
• No certification requirement

The main focus of this e-learning course is on confined space risk assessment It specifically outlines:

• Identifying hazards
• Methods to control risk

This online health and safety training course is tailored to meet the needs of anyone who might be required to work in confined spaces, as well as co-workers, employers, and managers of anyone who may be involved in confined space work. It will raise awareness of the risk and main requirements related to safe working in the Confined Spaces Regulations.

The learning outcomes of this confined space risk assessment course include:

• Encouraging awareness of the types of confined space hazards and controls
• Coaching an understanding of the confined space equipment
• Enabling identification of the responsibilities of each confined space worker so as to ensure work safety
• Raising awareness of plans that exist, and the role of each worker in said plans, for making a safe exit from any hazardous confined space situation
• Fostering an understanding of ways to deal with emergency conditions

Employees will be able to:

• Identify confined spaces
• Understand confined space hazards
• Perform risk-assessment before initiating work in a confined space

Employers will be able to:

• Comply with the Confined Spaces Regulations
• Ensure they are doing their part to protect the health and safety of their staff

The benefits of this online course include:

• IIRSM approved
• Compliant with latest health and safety legislation
• Easily accessible, enabling organisations to provide training anytime, anywhere
• Self-paced to support learners – the Human Focus learning management system (LMS) saves course progress for participants
• Engaging, using video and animation-based content to facilitate learning
• Thorough, providing the necessary knowledge about how to work safely in confined spaces
• Effective, using repetition and mini-quizzes to embed all of the concepts

Upon completion, each trainee will receive an IIRSM approved internationally recognised certificate.

Format: 100% online – learners can complete the course on a smartphone, tablet, PC, or Mac.

Course Duration:  10+ minutes

Employee understanding of the confined space safety course is evaluated via the End of Course Knowledge Test. The test is:

• 100% online
• Effective – helping learners to recall and retain vital information
• Recorded to demonstrate compliance

• A brief guide on working in confined spaces safely
• Health, Safety, and Welfare of workplaces
• Guidance on permit-to-work system
• Confined Spaces Regulations 1997
• Importance of health and safety for workplaces

A confined space is any space of an enclosed nature in which there exists risk of serious injury or death as a result of hazardous substances or dangerous conditions.

Confined spaces include storage tanks, silos, reaction vessels, enclosed drains, and sewers, as well as less obvious places such as open topped chambers, vats, and combustion chambers.

Yes, the Confined Spaces Regulations set out employer responsibilities for protecting workers working in confined spaces.

The validity period of confined space training differs from country to country because it is regulation-dependent. However, as is the case regarding many standards, workers are generally required to take a refresher course every two to three years.

According to safety product manufacturer Arco, the minimum oxygen level is 19.5% and the normal oxygen level is 20.9%.

This will depend on the type of confined space being worked in. This may include non-sparking tools, special lighting, breathing apparatus, and air extraction and ventilation equipment.

Yes, the IIRSM approved confined space risk assessment course by Human Focus educates trainees about correct confined space entry procedures for safe working.