Reduce risk and maintain compliance with our specialist risk management services.
We’re proud to be a leading provider of complete life cycle risk management solutions. From ensuring asset safety and legal compliance with our thorough engineering inspections to driving operational efficiency with our specialist non-destructive testing services, (and much more in between), we’re proud of the long-lasting partnerships we have formed with our customers over the last 160 years, based on the value of our solutions.
Confined Space Access
Obtain accurate and reliable information about structures and facilities within confined spaces.
BES Group access Confined Spaces to provide comprehensive asset inspections, maintenance and emergency call out services. We adhere to the HSE Confined Space Entry 1997 regulations to ensure our teams can safely access and egress confined environments every time. A subset of our engineers are also extensively trained for high-risk working and rescue operations. Discuss your access requirements with a member of our team.
What is Confined Space Access?
We use varied access methods to inspect and maintain assets within confined spaces.
Confined Spaces are areas characterised by limited space and accessibility. These spaces are often difficult to access and egress or contain potential hazards within restricted working spaces. Examples of Confined Spaces may include tunnels, tanks, vessels, containers, and any other similar spaces within an enclosed nature.
These environments often propose dangers such as engulfment, atmospheric hazards, and poor ventilation. To inspect assets within confined spaces, our engineer-led team at BES Group may utilise a range of access solutions dependent on the unique environment including:
- Diving: For complex Confined Spaces within a marine environment, we may utilise our commercial divers to conduct safe and reliable asset inspections. This allows us to reach hard-to-access and challenging environments during underwater works and inspections. Learn more about our underwater inspection services. Learn more about our Underwater Inspections.
- Rope Access: We may combine our rope access techniques and Confined Space Entry procedures to perform inspections, maintenance or rescues in circumstances where traditional access methods such as scaffolding are unsafe, costly or impractical. This may include reaching tanks, silos, industrial boilers, bridges, tunnel shafts and adits. As Level 1, 2 and 3 IRATA qualified rope access specialists, we’re confident in maintaining the highest standards. Learn more about our Rope Access services.
- Remote inspections: To access hazardous and high-level access areas where safety concerns are paramount, we undertake remote inspections using unmanned aerial vehicles or robotic crawlers. Unmanned inspections allow for immediate data collection and efficiency. All devices are equipped with cameras and sensors providing advanced data collection whilst eliminating the need for human entry. Learn more about our Drone Inspection Services.
Ensure the safety and integrity of assets within Confined Spaces
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How can our Confined Space Access solutions help you?
Peace of mind in the integrity and reliability of your assets.
Inspections within Confined Spaces are traditionally complex by nature, they carry an increased risk of accidents, harm or injury. HSE Guidelines heavily restrict or heavily regulate human access to confined spaces due to the risk of asphyxiation, toxic exposure or entrapment.
BES Group are specialists in navigating difficult-to-access and challenging environments using Specialist Access Support. Our engineer-led team safely access Confined Spaces to complete structural investigations,structural inspections and surveys, thereafter advise on necessary remedial actions.
Our safety experts complete thorough Confined Space Risk Assessments prior to any project commencement. Confined Space Solutions from the BES Group include:
- Confined Space Inspections.
- Confined Space Maintenance
- Confined Space Rescue Operations
We access low risk, medium risk and high risk Confined Spaces to complete a variety of operations.
Confined Space Operations from the BES Group
Inspections of Confined Spaces
It’s crucial for asset managers to understand the integrity and reliability of their structures and facilities. Our teams access confined spaces to facilitate structural investigations, inspections and surveys. Confined Space Access enables our engineer-led team to comprehensively inspect, audit and survey a range of critical infrastructure assets which can include:
- Storage and Vessels: Large scale marine vessels and storage units
- Water management systems: Pumping houses, sumps and inspection pits, industrial piping systems, sewers, enclosed drains, tanks, and vats.
- Infrastructure systems: Bridges (box girders or other sealed elements), tunnels (Drainage and ventilation headings), excavations and culverts.
Our team of specialists can also provide:
- Routine Visual Inspection: Simple visual checks to determine signs of defects.
- Routine Tactile Inspection: This requires close and direct interaction with the surface to detect the physical signs of fatigue in assets.
Maintenance of Confined Spaces
Support to maintain and improve the condition of your assets within confined spaces.
At BES Group, we also provide Routine maintenance and cleaning services, including the removal of minor debris or obstructions from the entrance of a confined space (e.g. clearing a drainage gate). Get in touch to learn more of our maintenance services.
Our team also provides independent professional audits and reviews of confined space operations. If you need support and advice for operations, remedial and new works following an inspection, we provide an independent consultancy service bespoke to your requirements. Learn how we can help.
Confined Space Rescue Operations
A subset of experts on our team are extensively trained for high-risk rescue operations within confined spaces.
High-risk rescue operations within Confined Spaces are inherently dangerous and require meticulous planning, specialised equipment, and trained personnel to execute safe access and exits.
As infrastructure specialists, we’re proud to facilitate high risk rescue operations across Confined Spaces which may include: Underground tunnels, Drainage systems , Hollow bridge sections, Cathedral abutments alongside Shafts and Adits.
We recognise the importance of responsive, well-coordinated strategies to execute safe and efficient Confined Space rescue operations.
Benefits of our Confined Space Access solutions
Industry experience:
As access specialists, we pride ourselves on extensive industry experience which enables us to reach infrastructure assets across various challenging environments.
Hazard management
Safety is a priority across all operations. Confined Space technical and operational personnel are fully trained in Confined Space Entry and operation. All Operations are led by expert engineers who facilitate comprehensive Risk Assessments before entry. Our engineers are also equipped with advanced technology and the latest PPE.
Responsive Access
We provide emergency call out response for infrastructure inspections within Confined Spaces. A subset of our team also provides more complex high risk rescue operations within these challenging environments.
Turnkey approach:
We provide independent inspections, detailed forensic surveys and audits of confined spaces. Our end-to-end solutions also comprise of support and advice in promoting remedial and new works required following the inspection.
Industry experience:
As access specialists, we pride ourselves on extensive industry experience which enables us to reach infrastructure assets across various challenging environments.
Hazard management
Safety is a priority across all operations. Confined Space technical and operational personnel are fully trained in Confined Space Entry and operation. All Operations are led by expert engineers who facilitate comprehensive Risk Assessments before entry. Our engineers are also equipped with advanced technology and the latest PPE.
Responsive Access
We provide emergency call out response for infrastructure inspections within Confined Spaces. A subset of our team also provides more complex high risk rescue operations within these challenging environments.
Turnkey approach:
We provide independent inspections, detailed forensic surveys and audits of confined spaces. Our end-to-end solutions also comprise of support and advice in promoting remedial and new works required following the inspection.
Contact Our Team
Confined Space Access FAQ’s
What constitutes a confined space?
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The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) determines a Confined Space to be any space of an enclosed nature where there is a risk of death or serious injury. Some enclosures with limited openings include silos, vessels and drains. Others may be less obvious and can include ductwork, vats and open-topped chambers.
Is Confined Space Access safe?
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Confined Spaces are inherently dangerous to access due to their enclosed nature. Wherever possible, working in confined spaces must be avoided. Conversely, if access is mandatory, it is crucial that confined spaces are only accessed by competent people trained to adequately manage the associated risks.
BES Group is competent provider of independent professional inspections, surveys and audits. Our expertise extends to remedial, maintenance and rescue operations.
We pride ourselves on advanced training, regulation compliance and specialist support tools that facilitate safe access. Our time-served engineers are available to support across a range of sectors, get in touch with our specialist access team for bespoke support.
What are low risk confined spaces?
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Low risk confined spaces have minimal or no immediate hazards. These spaces are well-ventilated, and lack any physical dangers such as moving parts or stored energy.
Examples include: Crawl spaces, open tanks, or trenches where the air quality is stable and there are no significant environmental or physical hazards.
What are medium risk confined spaces?
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Medium risk Confined Spaces present potential atmospheric hazards which may include oxygen deficiency and the presence of toxic gases. Control measures can be implemented to reduce these risks to an acceptable level.
Examples include: Underground vaults or storage tanks where hazards like gas buildup are possible, but continuous atmospheric monitoring and ventilation can mitigate the danger.
What are high risk confined space?
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High risk Confined Spaces host multiple or severe hazards that could pose a threat to life or cause serious injury. Examples include Chemical tanks with residual substances, spaces with moving machinery or areas with high voltage energy sources.
High risk confined spaces are inherently dangerous and should only be accessed by trained personnel. Due to the complex layout of these spaces, there is an increased risk of entrapment or engulfment.
