Physical Hazards

We've talked about one of the two classifications of confined space hazards, atmospheric hazards. The other major type of hazard found in confined spaces is physical hazards.

Physical hazards can be considered as hazards that cause the body to become physically stressed. Unlike atmospheric hazards, physical hazards can be detected through your senses of (touch, sight).

Some examples of physical hazards are:

• Engulfment: Engulfment and suffocation in a loose material that is stored in a hopper or grain silo is another hazard that can be encountered in a confined space. A condition called bridging can occur in tanks and silos. Bridging occurs when grain, coal, sawdust, etc. clings to the side of a vessel that is being emptied. The bridging material becomes unstable and may collapse at any time, engulfing workers standing on or below the material.
• Other hazards: Other hazards that must be considered are: moving and rotating equipment, electrical energy, hot or cold conditions, wet or slick surfaces, and excessive noise.

 

Now that you have a background on the types of hazards that can be found in confined spaces, let's learn how to determine if a certain work area would be considered a confined space.