The confined spaces within the utility industry share some of the same hazards as any other confined space. The confined nature of the space prevents people from entering and exiting the space freely, creates the potential for hazardous atmospheres within the space, and exposes people to the risk of being engulfed by or trapped within the space. However, many of the hazards present within these spaces are specific to the utility industry itself and require specialised knowledge beyond the knowledge provided by confined space training programs.
Gas infrastructure often exists within confined spaces, such as manholes or below-ground valves. These confined spaces contain flammable gases as part of the gas infrastructure. If there is a leak in these confined spaces, it is possible for the flammable gas to enter the confined space and lead to explosions. As a result, the atmospheric monitoring for these spaces must be performed continuously, rather than just before entering the confined space.
Utility electrical spaces pose a hazard to workers of electrocution, in addition to the atmospheric hazards. Locations such as cable chambers and substation vaults contain high-voltage equipment for which safe isolation processes are complex; the consequences of inadequate isolation are fatal, and for which the rescue of an electrocution victim must be performed using protocols that are fundamentally different from those required in other confined space environments.
The infrastructure of the telecommunications industry often exists within confined spaces, such as manholes and cable chambers located beneath the streets of most cities. These confined spaces pose a hazard to the telecommunications network due to their location in relation to other infrastructure, such as gas and sewer lines. For Confined Space Rescue, consider www.agofirerescue.com/confined-space-rescue/
The worker who is competent to enter and work in a general industrial confined space is not automatically competent to enter a utility confined space in any of the aforementioned categories. The hazard profile of the two is different.
The training, monitoring, rescue planning, and equipment will have to be different for each of these scenarios.
