Prosecution followed an accident to two employees who were burnt when flammable solvent fumes were ignited by an electric sander whilst removing paint from inside a confined space in a small yacht under repair.
An investigation showed the employer failed to:
- Carry out risk assessment for entry into a confined space
- Provide a safe system of work for cleaning paint in the confined space
- Select suitable work equipment for use in a flammable atmosphere in a confined space
- Ensure the safety of employees working in the confined space
There is a high potential for serious injury for those working in a confined space with flammable solvents.
Action
The employer was prosecuted under The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 (No 3) paragraph 1 and The Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 (No 4) paragraph 2, and fined.
Comment
Work should not be done in a confined space if at all possible. If this is unavoidable, measures must be taken to ensure the workers are kept safe by
- Doing a risk assessment that identifies the hazards, risks and control measures needed to keep the workers safe.
- Planning the work.
- Selecting, providing and inspecting work equipment that is suitable.
- Training workers adequately.
- Monitoring the suitability of the system of work.
The use of electricity in potentially explosive atmospheres[1] is covered on another page of the electrical safety website.
The downloadable HSE guidance Controlling the risks in the workplace (PDF) [2] provides guidance on how to select measures to control the risks in a wide range of work activities. The downloadable leaflet Controlling fire and explosion risks in the workplace[3] provides guidance on how to identify potentially explosive atmospheres in your workplace.