The effects of corrosion and it’s control in confined spaces can cause traumatic injury and death to workers who must enter confined spaces. Corrosion-related confined space fatalities have occurred in marine, petro-chemical, and municipal water/wastewater environments in the U.S., particularly Alaska. Rust formation and corrosion control activities can result in worker exposure to oxygen deficient, flammable, and/or toxic atmospheres, as well as numerous physical hazards in these types of confined space environments. Increased hazard awareness and implementation of engineering controls and safe work practices are imperative to prevent injuries related to this type of work. Confined space fatality surveillance in Alaska and other locations has identified risk factors associated with corrosion and corrosion control activities. This information may be useful in developing appropriate injury and hazard
prevention strategies during inspection or corrosion-related work.
Keywords: confined space, hazards, injury, arctic, Alaska, oxygen depletion, toxic substances