10 QUESTIONS

FOR SAFE WORK IN

CONFINED SPACES

CONFINED SPACE: A FULLY OR PARTIALLY ENCLOSED SPACE THAT IS NOT DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED
FOR CONTINUOUS HUMAN OCCUPANCY, HAS LIMITED OR RESTRICTED MEANS FOR ENTRY OR EXIT, AND
WHERE THERE IS A RISK OF INJURY OR HEALTH EFFECT FROM HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES OR CONDITIONS.

PRE-JOB
BRIEFING

4 Were all team members present at the Pre-job briefing

4 Has equipment (i.e. respiratory, PPE), been inspected &

(Toolbox Talk/Last Minute Risk Assessment).

approved for use?

4 Is level of supervision established for conducting confined

4 Has gas testing/ monitoring equipment been bump tested prior

space work?

EQUIPMENT
CHECK

to use and calibrated at the appropriate frequency?

PLANNING &
AUTHORIZATION

PERMIT

4 Using the Permit to Work (PTW) system, was the scope of

ENTRY
& EXIT

4 Is a competent Attendant present at all times?

work and Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) approved by relevant

authorities and hazards/ controls reviewed with the team?

4 Is there effective communications with work party members

& Emergency Responders? (e.g. radio)

4 Are all entry points identified, signed and barricaded

QUALIFICATION
& COMPETENCY

HIGH-HAZARD
CONFINED SPACE PERMIT
AND SAFETY ATTENDANT
REQUIRED

LIGHTING &
VENTILATION

4 Is there enough light to safely work and exit in the event of

4 Does the work party understand Confined Space Work

policies/ procedures, proper use and location of portable gas
detectors, safety equipment, and job specific hazards?

when unattended?

DANGER

Qualification

ISOLATION
VERIFICATION

4 Has isolation been properly verified so that no stored energy

or hazards remain (walk the line) and demonstrated to those
persons protected by the isolation?

an emergency?

4 Is there a plan for effective ventilation?

ENERGY
SOURCES

4 Can air driven or low voltage electrical equipment be used?

4 Has grounding protection been verified?
4 What hazards do the equipment being used in the confine
space introduce?

MOTION

HEIGHT

PRESSURE

ELECTRICITY

FIRE/EXPLOSION TOXICS
THERMAL

GAS
TESTING

4 Has work site gas testing been conducted by an authorised

gas tester?

4 Is the frequency and sample location of gas testing/ monitoring

10

PEOPLE

EMERGENCY
RESPONSE PLAN

4 Does the work party know what to do in the event of an

incident and are they sufficiently aware of the Emergency
Response plan?

during the operation appropriate to the risk?

Visit the operational safety (GET) intranet site for additional resources:
http://sww.shell.com/hse/safety/operational/index.html

REVISION 1. 8.15

10 QUESTIONS
FOR SAFE WORK IN
CONFINED SPACES

CONFINED SPACS: IA FULLY OR PARTIALLY ENCLOSED SPACE THAT IS NOT

DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED FOR CONTINUOUS HUMAN OCCUPANCY, HAS
LIMITED OR RESTRICTED MEANS FOR ENTRY OR EXIT, AND WHERE THERE IS A RISK
OF INJURY OR HEALTH EFFECT FROM HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES OR CONDITIONS.