Confined spaces in construction high risk - refresher

Category

Confined Spaces

Duration

Minimum 9 learning hours (not including assessment time)

Standard Overview

The purpose of this standard is to provide the learner with the knowledge and/or skills to support the following:

Scope:

• confined spaces: definition 
• specified risks, risk assessment and training 
• safe systems of work, permits to work 
• roles and responsibilities (e.g. top man/bottom man duties) 
• atmospheric hazards and gases 
• principles and use of gas detectors 
• inspection and use of escape sets and working breathing apparatus 
• pre use checks, correct donning & adjustment of harness 
• inspection and applications of tripods, winches and fall arrest equipment 
• emergency procedures 
• practical exercises and assessments 

All practical elements are mandatory in this standard as per HSE

Learner pre-requisites

Learners need to have previous experience of working in confined spaces and attended low or medium risk training. Learners need to be over 18, in good health and physically fit. 

Instruction/ supervision

As a minimum, course trainers must be able to demonstrate that, in relation to this standard, they have:

• an award in education and training (or equivalent, as per requirements for approved training organisations)
• at least 2 years industrial experience relevant to the scope of the standard
• a verifiable CV

Delivery Materials

All materials and equipment must be of a suitable quality and quantity for learner to achieve learning outcomes and must comply with relevant legislation.

Delivery – Learner to Trainer Ratio

The learning environment, class size and learner-to-trainer ratio must allow training to be delivered in a safe manner and enable learners to achieve the learning outcomes.

Allowed Delivery Methods

The following delivery methods may be used in the delivery of this standard:

• Face-To-Face Learning Environment Only (Such As Classroom/Workshop etc.)

This standard is predominantly practical training.

All practical elements are mandatory in this standard as per HSE

This standard is considered to be set at an intermediate level.

Assessment Type

Formally Assessed

For the successful completion of training, learners must complete an end of course practical assessment or knowledge test that measures all learning outcomes and has a pass or fail criteria.

Where this training is assessed using multiple-choice questions, all learning outcomes must be covered, and learners are required to achieve an overall pass mark of at least 80%.

All practical elements are mandatory in this standard as per HSE

Methods of assessment considered appropriate for training delivered against this standard are:

• Multiple-choice questions
• short answer questions
• practical assessment

Name of proposed Recognised Organisation

Assured

Quality assurance against this standard will require initial approval of the training organisation and their content mapped to the standard.

CITB will also conduct an approval intervention, either desk-based or centre visit, to ensure the training organisation can meet the requirements of the training standard.

Approved training organisations (ATOs) will be required to present information on records of training and assessment upon request to CITB for desk-based analysis. They will also be visited annually by the CITB quality assurance team.

Achievement Lifespan

Renewal

Renewal every 36 months

Classification

Recommended Renewal

Buffer / grace period

6 months

Working Group Approval date

Jan 2024

Proof-Read Approval Date

Jan 2024

Review cycle

On request or 5 years from approval date.

Learning outcomes

Including additional guidance to support training delivery and final assessment

The learner will be able to:

Define a “confined space” 

Delivery guidance:

• to include confined space classifications and examples  

Interpret and interrogate a formal risk assessment 

Delivery guidance:

• to include legislation: the Management of Health and Safety At Work Regulations; Confined Space Regulations, Construction (Design and Management) Regulations, other relevant and superseding legislation 
• hazard identification (using examples of air quality/atmospheres, fire, dust, liquids, free flowing solids, weather, restricted access); possible effects or consequences of exposure to hazards; disease and hygiene 

Describe what “safe systems of work” should be implemented in different confined space scenarios. 

Delivery guidance:

• to include: responsibilities; risk assessment, real-time/dynamic assessment of risk and responses; possible scenarios; access control; rescue requirements and dealing with emergency situations including casualty recovery procedures; monitoring conditions; manning levels and communications, managing confined spaces and documentation 

Describe specific roles and responsibilities  

Delivery guidance:

• including top man/bottom man 

Prepare to work safely in high risk confined spaces 

Delivery guidance:

• including assessing and/or carrying out risk assessment, determining safe system of work, choosing appropriate equipment 

Enter and exit high risk confined spaces safely 

Delivery guidance:

• practice and practical assessment in order to enter, work and exit safely

Use specialist Personal Protective Equipment including masks, harnesses, hoists, gas detectors, escape breathing apparatus, self-contained open circuit (working) breathing apparatus

Delivery guidance:

• to include checking of equipment; ‘donning and doffing’ procedures; face seals and face fit testing advice; ‘top person’ record charts and entrance to base assessments; dangers of ‘working at height’; equipment care 

Explain appropriate behaviour when working in high risk confined spaces 

Delivery guidance:

• examples of inappropriate behaviour may help to highlight appropriate behaviour 
• apply appropriate industry specific knowledge for working in high risk confined spaces 

Additional information about this standard

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg258.pdf 

http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrhtm/rr302.htm 

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pUbns/priced/l101.pdf 

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pUbns/priced/l153.pdf 

http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/principal-contractors.htm

http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/designers.htm