Your Safety: Confined Spaces and
Dangerous Work Places

---

A confined space is defined as any space that meets the following three conditions:

• It's large enough to work in
• Entry or exit is restricted
• The space is not designed for continuous human occupation

Confined spaces are dangerous places. Several gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and methane can accumulate inside a confined space. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that displaces oxygen in the blood stream - even when there is plenty of oxygen available in the air. It can lead to cardiac arrest. Carbon dioxide displaces oxygen in the air and causes suffocation. It is referred to as an "asphyxiant." Hydrogen sulfide is a poisonous gas with a high concentration that causes almost immediate death. Methane and other gases can form an "explosive atmosphere" and can ignite from the spark of a flashlight.

Confined spaces include manholes, tunnels, wells, cellars, tanks, sewers and trenches.

Trenches
Generally speaking, a trench is a cut in the ground that is deeper than it is wide. Trenches provide access to underground utilities for water, telephone, electrical, natural gas and sewer lines.

Trenches are very dangerous and must be stabilized before anyone enters. This is done by "shoring" the sides of the trench with a variety of specialized equipment to prevent a wall from collapsing. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), workers cannot enter into any unshored trench that is deeper than five feet.

Often, subcontractors hired for the job will use rented shoring equipment. At the end of the day, they will remove it and return it to a rental company. Some subcontractors try to cut costs by not shoring at all. This puts the workers at risk.

Dry dirt weighs about 100 pounds per cubic foot. As little as six inches of soil piled over one's chest can cause suffocation. Trenches and excavations should be avoided. If you see someone in an unshored trench, call 9-1-1. If you see someone trapped in a trench, do not go in. Stay well back of the trench and try to keep others from going in. A secondary collapse is very likely.

Railroad Yards and Crossings
Every year, more than 6,000 collisions occur at railroad crossings. You are 11 times more likely to be killed in a collision at a railroad crossing than in other vehicle crashes. Most of these crashes are due to driver error. Plus, 50 percent occur at railroad crossings equipped with bells, flashing lights and gates.

General precautions at railroad tracks:

• Expect a train at any time on any track.
• Do not rely on a train whistle to warn you.
• Look up and down the track before crossing.
• Don't drive around gates. It's against the law.
• Don't get caught in traffic on the tracks.
• Never race a train.
• Be prepared to stop when following buses or trucks over railroad crossings.

If the car you're in stalls directly over railroad tracks, get out immediately and call 9-1-1. If a train is coming, stay clear of the tracks. If the track is clear, post lookouts and push the vehicle off the tracks. Do not try to walk down the tracks to forewarn an oncoming train. The average freight train traveling 60 miles per hour takes one and a half miles to stop.

Other Dangerous Workplaces
Grain silos combine the danger of both confined spaces and trenches. A grain silo can explode from ignition of grain dust, much like an explosion of gas that ignites inside a mine shaft. The grain sticking to the walls on the inside of a silo cave in, sending tons of grain crashing down. This is very similar to a trench wall collapse.

Water towers, high tension electrical poles, sand and gravel hoppers, tractors and heavy machinery at work sites are all dangerous. Trespassing into these areas not only is dangerous but illegal.