Introduction to Fire Safety Management

Summary of key legal requirements
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15.3.1 Defi nitions
The following defi nitions are detailed in the CS Regs:
➤
Confi ned space – any space, including any chamber, 
tank, vat, silo, pit, trench, pipe, sewer, fl ue, well or 
other similar space in which, by virtue of its enclosed 
nature, there arises a reasonably foreseeable speci-
fi ed risk
➤
Specifi ed risk – any risk of:
➤
Serious injury to any person at work arising from 
a fi re or explosion
➤
The loss of consciousness of any person at work 
arising from an increase in body temperature
➤
The loss of consciousness of any person at work 
arising from gas, fume, vapour or lack of oxygen
➤
The drowning of any person at work arising from 
an increase in the level of liquid
➤
The asphyxiation of any person at work arising 
from a free fl owing solid or the inability to reach 
a respirable environment due to entrapment by 
a free fl owing solid.
15.13.2 Preventing the need for entry – 
regulation 4
This regulation requires that entry to a confi ned space 
to carry out work for any purpose is prevented unless 
it is not reasonably practicable to achieve that purpose 
without such entry.
Where the work cannot be carried out other than 
by entry, so far as is reasonably practicable, it must be 
carried out in accordance with a safe system of work 
which renders the work safe and without risks to health.
The supporting Approved Code of Practice refers 
to the need to carry out a risk assessment (see the 
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 
1999) for work in confi ned spaces, the fi ndings of which 
would form the basis of a safe system for such work. In 
designing a safe system, the ACoP further states that 
priority be given to eliminating the sources of danger 
before deciding what precautions are needed for entry.
In assessing the risks that may arise, the ACoP states 
that the factors detailed below should be assessed.