Safety Flash
SIMOPS – Smoke from hot work task enters confined space
SIMOPS – Smoke from hot work task enters confined space
- IMCA
- Safety Flash
- IMCA SF 10/21
- Confined SpaceControl of WorkHot Work and FireSimultaneous Operations
- Confined space hazardsRespiratory hazards
- Confined space entryHot work
- Gas detector
- Functional testingSimultaneous operations coordinationStop-work authorityVentilation
- Marine industry
- Vessel
Summary
During sewage-tank cleaning aboard a vessel in dry dock, a ventilation fan drew smoke from nearby oxy-propane cutting into the confined space. Workers evacuated without harm. The flash examines gas-detector placement, overdue calibration and missing bump tests, and identifies improvements to simultaneous operations planning and fume extraction.
Classifications: Confined space hazards; confined-space hazards.
Classifications: Respiratory hazards; respirable dust; inhalation hazards.
Classifications: Confined space entry; tank entry; enclosed space entry.
Classifications: Hot work; welding and cutting.
Classifications: Gas detector; gas monitor; gas detection instrument.
Classifications: Functional testing; function test.
Classifications: Simultaneous operations coordination; SIMOPS; simultaneous operations.
Classifications: Stop-work authority; stop work; stop-work intervention.
Classifications: Ventilation; forced ventilation.
Classifications: Marine industry; shipping industry; maritime sector.
Classifications: Vessel; aboard ship; onboard vessel.
Summary
A portable fan providing fresh air to a tank cleaning operation (requiring confined space entry permit), began drawing in smoke from an oxy-propane cutting operation nearby; the workers inside the confined space were instructed to vacate the tank immediately; no-one was harmed
IMCA SF 10/21. Themes: confined space, control of work, hot work and fire, simultaneous operations.