U.S. Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration Protecting Miners' Safety and Health Since 1978 |
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Working in confined spaces can be very dangerous. The following tips are for working safely in these types of work places. These tips are appropriate for surface Coal and Metal and Nonmetal mines. A confined space is an area with poor or no airflow. Examples of confined spaces include:
Whenever welding or burning occurs inside a tank, a fan should be used to bring fresh air into the confined space. Besides bringing in oxygen the fan removes accumulations of harmful gases. Welding and/or burning depletes the oxygen and produces carbon monoxide and other harmful gases, therefore, the air inside the tank needs to be replenished. Safety Measures
The monitor should be ready to summon help if the miner would collapse inside the confined space. The person monitoring should NEVER ENTER the confined space without wearing appropriate safety and personal protective equipment to rescue a collapsed miner. The atmosphere in the confined space may have too little oxygen or too much carbon monoxide to sustain life.
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