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Oil, Gas & Mining vocabulary · Health & Safety

Confined space

Meaning in oil, gas & mining, with examples

nounCommon term

In oil, gas & mining, confined space means: An enclosed area with limited ways in and out, such as a tank, vessel, pit or silo, where toxic gases or a lack of oxygen can make entry dangerous.

In Turkish: kapalı alan, kapalı ortam

How it is used

Entry needs a permit, gas testing, ventilation, an attendant at the entrance and a rescue plan. Many deaths happen when untrained people rush in to save a colleague, so 'never enter to rescue without the right equipment' is a core rule.

Example sentences

  1. Nobody may enter the confined space until the gas test results are recorded on the permit.

  2. The tank was classed as a confined space, so an attendant stayed at the manway.

Common collocations

  • confined space entry
  • confined space permit
  • confined space rescue
  • enter a confined space
  • permit to workA written approval that must be issued before high-risk work such as hot work, work at height or work on live equipment, listing the hazards and the agreed controls.
  • gas detectorAn electronic device that measures dangerous gases such as H2S, methane or carbon monoxide, or a lack of oxygen, and sounds an alarm when levels become unsafe.
  • H2SThe chemical formula of hydrogen sulphide, a colourless, highly toxic gas found in some wells and mines. It smells of rotten eggs at low levels but can quickly deaden the sense of smell.
  • PPEShort for personal protective equipment: the hard hat, safety glasses, gloves, boots, high-visibility clothing and other gear workers wear to protect themselves on site.

More terms: Health & Safety

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