SA010 – Medium Risk Confined Space

Who is SA010 - Medium Risk Confined Space training for?

SA010 is aimed at people working in the construction or utilities industries, and accessing medium risk confined spaces as part of their job.

What will you learn?

The SA010 - Medium Risk Confined Space course will give delegates the knowledge and skills to work effectively and safely in medium risk confined spaces. This course will introduce learners to the hazards and risks involved, and how to comply with health and safety legislation.
Delegates will learn how to identify the need for medium risk confined space working methods and how to prepare to work in it ensuring it is in accordance with instructions, the relevant codes of practice and organisational procedures. They will learn how to assess the risks, select the appropriate working methods and select and use the appropriate equipment. In addition, they will learn how to check equipment is functioning correctly, that it is calibrated and has been maintained. In addition, delegates will be taught correct pre-entry checks and procedures, how to place warning signs and barriers in the appropriate places. Importantly, they will also learn how to communicate effectively with their team throughout their work, how to monitor the working conditions continuously and how to initiate emergency procedures quickly.

Medium Risk Confined Space Learning Objectives:

• Know the relevant legislation, guidance, and organisation requirements for working safely in confined spaces
• Know how to work safely in confined spaces
• Be able to carry out a risk assessment
• Know how to deal with emergencies
• Be able to demonstrate safe systems of work
• Be able to carry out pre use inspections
• Be able to work safely in confined spaces

Streetworks

Please be aware the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) requires at least one person on site to hold a Street Works card to work on the highway.

This Smart Awards accreditation is based on a pre-requisite that any work on the highway requires appropriate Street Works accreditation to be held by an individual working on site, and that this individual is qualified to check that the planned provision of footways, traffic lanes and safety zones determined by the site survey meets with the requirements of the site location and approved procedures and practices required by the NRSWA 1991.

Some companies’ policies may vary where more than one person on site is required to hold a valid Street Works card.

This SA010 Medium Risk Confined Space qualification covers:

• Defining Confined Spaces
• Managing Confined Spaces including Access & Egress
• Gas Detection
• Emergency Rescue Plan & Escape Set Breathing Apparatus

You will be assessed, via your practical and theory assessment, on the following criteria:

You must be able to

• Prepare and check all equipment is in good order and check that electrical equipment is fully charged before entering the work site
• Obtain authorization for entry and relevant health and safety information from designated personnel
• Carry out a real-time risk assessment before starting work
• Put in place and confirm isolation of any connecting services
• Set up and put monitoring equipment in place
• Set up, test, and confirm communications systems are working before moving away from the entry point and into the site
• Confirm all team members know and understand their roles
• Check all team members are in place before entry begins
• Check atmospheric conditions are safe
• Set up and check access equipment is safe
• Resolve any problems of work or team members with the designated persons
• Use special hoists and safety lines as set down in procedures
• Enter and exit the space in line with procedures for working in a medium risk confined space
• Adhere to all procedures regarding the carrying and use of escape breathing apparatus
• Confirm the suitability of the escape breathing apparatus for the job
• Examine the breathing apparatus prior to starting work and replace if it is defective
• Resolve any problems with the escape breathing apparatus and report non-conformities
• Don the escape breathing apparatus to escape in an emergency
• Carry after use checks on the apparatus after a safe exit and confirm it conforms to specification before storing it in the designated storage ready for the next site
• Check all equipment and tools are suitable for the work before using them
• Check all personal protective equipment (PPE) is suitable before using it
• Resolve any problems with equipment and tools before and during their use
• Use the specified method to introduce equipment and tools into the confined space
• Recover and remove equipment and tools when work is finished
• Follow manufacturers and employers’ instructions for after-use checks and storage

You need to know and Understand

• The main principles of health and safety and environmental legislation and regulations
• Approved codes of practice and guidance for working safely in confined spaces
• The definition of confined spaces and their nature and characteristics
• the definitions of hazardous situations and different types and categories of hazards
• An awareness of how emergency situations can arise in a confined space and the types and categories of emergency situations
• Manufacturers' instructions relating to the use of equipment and tools
• Manufacturers' instructions relating to the use of escape breathing apparatus
• Working as a member of a team and having roles and responsibilities
• Injuries to personnel and the general public
• Dealing with irregularities and abnormal situations
• Classification schemes and how to identify the confined space
• Hazards, substances, and situations associated with medium risk confined spaces
• Entry procedures for medium risk confined spaces
• Carrying out real-time assessment of risks and hazards
• Using work authorizations and permits
• Procedures and methods of working suitable to local conditions
• Minimizing the risks and hazards for the work to be carried out
• Using ventilation systems
• Reducing risk and injury

Assessment

The course includes both practical and theory assessment.

• Practical Assessment - where you will demonstrate your knowledge of practical tasks
• Theory test which is composed of multiple choice questions

This SA010 Medium Risk Confined Space accreditation covers the requirements for Work in Medium Risk Confined Spaces.
It provides learners with the knowledge and skills of the hazards and potential risks associated with confined spaces and the health and safety legislation related to confined spaces. This accreditation provides learners with knowledge and understanding of the dangers associated with confined spaces.

Confined Space Definition

The term ‘Confined Space’ refers to any place including any vessel, tank, container, pit, chamber, cellar, or any other similar space. By virtue of its enclosed nature, it may create conditions that give rise to a likelihood of an accident or injury. This may cause an emergency situation due to the presence of:

• Flammable or explosive atmospheres
• Harmful gas, fume, or vapour
• Free flowing solid or an increasing level of liquid
• Excess of oxygen
• Excessively high temperature
• The lack, or reasonably foreseeable lack, of oxygen

You will find many confined spaces can be easily identified, such as man-holes for example. However, there are exceptions that may present themselves which could have open tops or sides. These may be small and difficult to get in and out of. Also, if the conditions have changed within the space, it may be considered as confined, especially if the oxygen levels are reduced or there is an increase of gas contaminants.

The candidate will gain the SA010 MRCS certification from the governing body: Smart Awards. This will enable the candidate to update their NOPS card, issued by Smart Awards. Applications for a NOPS card, to allow you to work safely on the telecoms network, can be found on the Smart Awards Website.

On receiving payment for your SA010 - Medium Risk Confined Space course, an email with your ‘course joining instructions’ is sent to you.

This document includes the following details:

• Your chosen course date
• Course start time at your chosen venue
• Address of your chosen venue, including a map screenshot
• Details of what to do if you need any special requirements to complete the course

You need to bring photographic ID, such as a driving licence or passport with you.

Lunch is not included, so please provide your own.

Entry Requirements

This qualification is available to anyone over the age of 16 years old. There are no formal entry requirements and Smart Awards will not restrict access on the grounds of prior academic attainment, age, employment, geographic location or any other grounds. There are no barriers that restrict access or progression, thereby promoting equality. It is expected however, that learners will have a level of literacy adequate to cope with both the theory and practical assessments.

Assessment

The course includes both practical and theory assessment.

• Practical Assessment - where you will demonstrate your knowledge of practical tasks
• Theory test which is composed of multiple choice questions

Certification

This Smart Awards certificate is valid for 3 years, you will then need to complete the qualification again or attend a refresher course if available, to renew your qualification.

Please download the course overview below; easy to print and email if you need to share course information with a manager or colleague. If you would like an overview sent to you, please fill out the form below.

Below is a list of our current locations for the SA010 Smart Awards Certification.

Got a group? We have a network of locations that we can use for group bookings, contact a member of the PPS team to find out how we can help you.

Hampshire

The Hampshire training location is in the town of Tadley, just north of Basingstoke.

Ramsgate, Kent

The training location in Kent is easily accessible via road and public transport. It is a 20 min walk or a 5 minute tax ride from Ramsgate station and a 10 minute drive from the A299 exit.

Please download the course overview below; easy to print and email if you need to share course information with a manager or colleague. If you would like an overview sent to you, please fill out the form below.