From toxic gas exposure to falls from height, there’s no shortage of threats to underground and overhead workers. These include plumbers, HVAC techs and other lone tradespeople. Not only is it vital that workers in these industries take all possible precautions, they also need to be equipped with the right devices if something were to go wrong.

In this article, we’ll outline the dangers faced by workers in various locations, as well as highlighting what can be done to minimise injury and streamline rescue.

Confined space dangers

Working in confined spaces, especially underground, presents a range of hazards. Confined spaces aren’t generally designed for extended human occupancy, with a lack of ventilation creating a potential hazardous atmosphere.

Hazardous atmosphere

This atmosphere leaves you vulnerable to oxygen deficiency, leading to shortness of breath, dizziness and confusion. This is especially dangerous when working with heavy-duty machinery. A complete lack of oxygen may lead to a loss of consciousness, which is highly dangerous when working alone.

It’s not only a lack of oxygen that can cause harm to the atmosphere in a small space. A breakout of dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide from faulty equipment or hydrogen sulfide from sewers can cause severe harm in small areas. Some gases, such as methane or propane, are highly flammable and can combust from a single spark.

Physical dangers

A cramped space can make a quick escape impossible, especially if it’s poorly lit. Poor lighting will also increase the risk of trips and falls, which can cause immediate physical harm.

There’s also the threat of engulfment, whether that’s from a liquid in a sewer or a leak of solids like sand or gravel. This can trap or bury you, potentially leading to suffocation or drowning.

Poor ventilation in a cramped space can make temperatures unpredictable too. Sudden rushes of heat can cause exhaustion and strokes, while extreme cold can limit manoeuvrability.

Carbon monoxide and toxic gas exposure

HVAC techs, plumbers and lone workers are vulnerable to various dangerous gases, including carbon monoxide, depending on the space they’re working in. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer, as it’s colourless, tasteless and odourless. Without a carbon monoxide alarm, you face potentially fatal consequences if you’re exposed to the gas for an extended period.

There are many ways in which you can become exposed to carbon monoxide and other toxic gases, including:

Faulty fuel-burners: Cracked heat exchangers in furnaces, boilers and water heaters can result in carbon monoxide leaks.
Poor ventilation: Poor ventilation or damaged/blocked flues can cause carbon monoxide to get trapped in the air.
Badly installed appliances: Poorly fitted appliances can result in toxic gas leaks. This is an issue with both old and new appliances.
Using equipment unsuitable for indoors: Using petrol-powered tools indoors can expose you to toxic gases and carbon monoxide, especially in small spaces.

While toxic gases remain an ever-present risk for workers, there are ways to reduce the threat:

Wearable detectors: Having a portable gas alarm will allow you to detect gases and evacuate rapidly, reducing the risk of harm.
Lone worker alarms: Exposure to toxic gases is even more dangerous when working alone. SureSafe lone worker alarms have a panic button and automatic fall detection, which can call for help if you fall ill from gas exposure.
Equipment maintenance: Making sure all of your equipment is in good shape will prevent it from leaking toxic gases.
Good ventilation: Ensuring there is good ventilation in the space you’re working can prevent a build up of toxic gas.
Adequate escape routes: These are vital in general when working in confined spaces, especially if there’s a gas leak.

Falls from heights and ladder accidents

Working from height in any profession poses risks, especially for lone workers who don’t have immediate support around them. Common causes of accidents are faulty equipment, poor health and safety adherence, and improper ladder placement. Due to the nature of working at height, accidents can cause major (and sometimes fatal) injuries.

Causes

As mentioned, a large proportion of workplace falls from height stem from faulty equipment. Ladders with bends, broken components and without proper grips and safety locks are a ticking time bomb, putting workers at risk. The placement of the ladder is also vital. It should be placed on stable, flat ground to prevent it from falling.

A lack of safety training and a lack of safety measures in the workplace will also contribute to falls from height and ladder accidents. Carrying heavy objects while climbing, standing on the very top rung of the ladder, and working in poor weather and light conditions are particularly dangerous.

Prevention

Falls from height and ladder accidents are easily preventable. Here’s how:

Frequent inspections: Equipment should be constantly scrutinised and inspected for damage and faults.
Careful setup: Proper care must be taken when setting up the ladder. It should be placed on firm, flat ground.
Correct ladder: The correct ladder should be chosen to suit the job. This is especially the case when working with electrical equipment.
In-depth training: Climbing a ladder safely isn’t as simple as it seems. All workers should be trained properly to ensure they have the right grip and balance when ascending.

Gas detection integration with safety devices

Gas detection integration involves linking various safety systems to respond as quickly as possible to toxic gas leaks. Once toxic gas is detected, multiple devices will be triggered, preventing you from exposure and allowing a quick evacuation. These devices include:

Building management systems: Detection alerts will trigger the building management system to restrict entry into the area affected.
Alarms: Alarm systems will be alerted following a leak, alerting all present workers of the issue and prompting an evacuation.
Lone worker alarms: Wearable alarm systems for lone workers will show the location of the worker using GPS tracking. They’ll also have automatic fall detection and a panic button which can be pressed to alert a monitoring team that they’re in need of help.

With a centralised gas detection system, the processes of detection, evacuation and rescue will all be streamlined. This will reduce mistakes and ensure anyone working in the area can get out safely.

Check-in systems and timed alerts

One way of ensuring safety when working alone is to utilise check-in systems and timed alerts. This involves setting a timer, usually in 30 or 60 minute intervals. After the timer goes off, you can confirm that you’re safe to supervisors or a monitoring team. If you don’t respond within a specific time frame after the timer goes off, the monitoring team will react accordingly.

This allows you to get on with your work without constant supervision. It’s also a simple way of operating, as all you will need is a timer and a lone worker device that allows for two-way communication.

If you’re working in a particularly dangerous area, lowering the timer to every 10 minutes is advisable.

How lone worker devices are a simple solution that can help

The dangers of working alone are clear. However, using lone worker devices can reduce the risks faced by lone workers with their range of features. These include panic buttons, which allow you to alert a response team if you’ve encountered an issue.

Most lone worker devices will also include automatic fall detection, which will raise a panic alarm after a fall. This is vital for both working at a normal level and at height, especially if the fall leaves you incapacitated.

Lone worker devices are also useful for your peace of mind. You can go into the job knowing you have a form of communication if something was to go wrong.

The simplicity of the devices is perhaps their biggest strength. For example, the SureSafeGO device is lightweight and wearable, with easy-to-use buttons. If you find yourself in trouble, you can easily locate the panic button and won’t have to fiddle around with a complicated user interface.

Minimise workplace hazards with SureSafe monitoring devices

With SureSafe lone worker devices, plumbers, HVAC techs and other lone tradespeople can perform their role with the peace of mind that rescue is a click away. Our easy-to-use wearable devices come equipped with GPS trackers, with a 24/7 monitoring team on hand to step in if an emergency was to occur.

We’ve also implemented automatic fall detection into the devices to ensure help will be on its way even if you can’t call for it yourself.

To learn more about our products, contact us on 0808 304 0480, get in touch with our live chat, or request a call back.