| Abstract Title: | Gas detection in confined spaces - a Health & Safety Executive perspective |
| Presenter Name: | Dr Mike Hemingway |
| Company/Organisation: | HSE |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
Abstract Information :
A review will be given of some of the investigations and research on gas detection involved in confined spaces that have been carried out by the Science Division of the Health and Safety Executive. This will include:
• Presenting the findings of an investigation into a fatality caused by the incorrect usage of a gas detector prior to hot work at a confined space at a chemical plant. Workers had checked the atmosphere with a flammable gas monitor prior to their work beginning. However, the gas monitor had failed to detect the presence of a flammable vapour. Hot work had proceeded in the belief that there was no flammable vapour present.
• He will also detail research into workers at ports and distribution centres in Great Britain who routinely open and enter freight containers. Freight containers are confined spaces: they have limited or no ventilation in transit and hazardous atmospheres can build up inside. The research included observations and measurements made in six ports and two distribution centres.
• Details of other investigations by HSE inspectors.
