ׁ WARNING. Confined spaces can also enhance an explosion if fine particles such as flour, soot, wood shavings or aluminium are present. Fine powders can act as further fuel for an explosion when mixed appropriately with the air. This leads to a phenomenon known as ‘fuel-air’ explosions where the blast effects of the explosion are enhanced over a much wider area.
CONFINED SPACE VIGNETTE
April 2000, Northern Ireland, UK. A specialised military search team planned a search of a large deep-sea vessel ‘Diamond Bulker’ loaded with 23,000 tonnes of coal. Coal may be subject to oxidisation, leading to depletion of oxygen and an increase in carbon dioxide in the cargo space. Although hazardous confined spaces were expected on board, the plan for dealing with these spaces was unclear, PPE and emergency equipment commensurate with the dangers was not readily available, and not all the team was trained to a sufficient level. Two team members entered a cargo hold without testing the environment, allowing for sufficient venting or equipping themselves with escape breathing apparatus. Both team members succumbed to the lack of oxygen and fell from the access ladder further into the hold. A third team member entered the hold in an attempt to render first aid and also succumbed. Breathing apparatus and lifelines were located and employed, the main hatch was opened by the ship’s crew for increased ventilation and a belated rescue attempt was made to recover all three members. However, unfortunately two people died, and the third person was seriously injured due to lack of oxygen. This event led to a review and changes to training and SOPs.
A report of this accident can be found on the UK Government website, Accident Investigation Report 9/2001.
1.5.4.WORKING AT HEIGHT
ׁ WARNING. When a person is working at height a fall could cause injury.
Armed groups will often place weapons systems at the highest point on structures to provide a vantage point for when they are used. IEDs can be used to protect these positions from attack or to make clearance of the area difficult. By nature of their location, these positions are often targeted by an array of military ordnance which further adds to the contamination. As such, contamination from EO on roofs and the upper levels of buildings is common in urban areas.
Introduction
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