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• Rural Codes of Practice

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Working in confined spaces

Working in a confined space has the potential to increase the risk of injury from noise, being overcome by fumes, gases or oxygen depletion, high or low temperatures, manual handling and slips, trips and falls.

Storage tanks, silos, field bins, wet and dry wells, vehicle service pits, manure and silage pits are just some of the examples of confined spaces anyone working on a farm or a rural workplace could expect to work in.

Some of the environmental hazards linked to working in confined spaces include:

• oxygen deficiency caused by absorption of grains;
• carbon monoxide build up in wells from the exhaust of an operating internal combustion engine if located too near its opening;
• the presence of contaminants in the atmosphere caused by disturbing decomposed organic material in a bin letting out toxic substances;
• the build-up and release of gases like ammonia, methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide in manure pits;
• suffocation caused by solids such as grain, sand or fertiliser.

If you are working in a confined space, you must follow certain procedures including:

• placing a stand-by-person outside the confined space to talk to anyone in the confined space and implement emergency procedures if required;
• providing personal protective, rescue, first-aid and fire suppression equipment and training for workers entering the confined space;
• supplying safety harnesses and safety or rescue lines where there is a danger of falling during the ascent or descent to access the confined space;
• erecting signs that show entry is only permitted after signing the entry permit;
• ensuring the area is well ventilated.

Other safety procedures

• If trapped by grain, don¿t panic or the grain will pack tighter. Shield your face and chest with arms and clothing to create space for breathing.
• Empty the bin as quickly as possible by opening any side outlet then cut flaps in the cone or walls all around the base using power tools.
• Access to tools, breathing equipment, communications and first aid in an emergency is part of the emergency planning and training procedures.

More information about working in confined spaces is available from:

• Section 8 Part G of the Rural Plant Industry Code of Practice 2004
• Part 15 - Confined spaces of the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008
• Australian Standard AS 1319 Safety signs for the occupational environment (non-Queensland Government link)

Please note: A reference to the confined spaces Australian Standard in the Workplace Health and Safety Regulation 2008 is taken to be a reference to AS/NZS 2865: 2001 Safe working in a confined space. As harmonised OHS legislation will be in place by the end of 2011 a decision has been made to not update the regulation to align with the AS/NZS 2865: 2009 Confined spaces.