Confined Space Medicals
Although it is not a legal requirement to have a confined space medical it is considered good practice to ensure that your workers are able to work in confined spaces and to minimise their risk of injury or health issues.
A confined space is any place, including a chamber, tank, vat, silo, pit, trench, pipe, sewer, flue, well or other similar space, which, by virtue of its enclosed nature, there arises a reasonably foreseeable risk.
It must be substantially enclosed and one of the following specified risks must be present. There may be a change in the conditions which would then identify a space as being confined.
This may apply to:
- A diving project
- A mine
- Any container with free flowing solid - e.g. flour, grain, sugar, sewerage, sand etc.
A specified risk may apply to:
- Serious injury due to fire or explosion
- Lack of oxygen due to fumes, gas, fire, increase in body temperature.
- Drowning due to increase in fluid levels
- Asphyxiation due to free flowing solid.
Possible Hazards
Risk of fire or explosion
Flammable substances, excessive oxygen, combustible chemicals or sparks, airborne flammable contaminants
Excessive heat
Hot conditions, sun or other heat source, steam present, hot work carried out e.g. welding
Toxic gas, fume or vapour
Welding, previous stored products, painting / spraying, toxic gas production, build up of products, exterior heat source
Oxygen deficiency
Inadequate resupply, poor ventilation, processes using up oxygen, increased levels of carbon dioxide, reduction of oxygen to limit risk of fire.
The Assessment
We will check for any underlying health issues or prescribed medication that may affect a worker’s fitness to work in a confined space.
Our medical includes a health questionnaire and:
- Height Weight BMI Ashwell
- BP Pulse Heart rhythm
- Urinalysis for sugar protein blood
- ECG
- Audiometry
- Respiratory – Lung function test
- Vision acuity, peripheral vision and colour vision.
- Musculoskeletal mobility balance coordination
- Skin assessment
- Epworth Score
- Mental Health Assessment
- Blood Finger prick test for Glucose
- HAVS Tier 2
- Chester Step Test
- Mobility/Balance Assessment
- Claustrophobia/Vertigo assessment
- Grip strength test
The purpose of the medical is to ensure that the worker is not suffering from any medical condition that could be aggravated by wearing a respirator and to check for any illness that may pose a risk to the health or safety of the worker, their colleagues or the general public.
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