In confined space incidents, it is rarely just the initial casualty who dies. Colleagues who attempt an improvised rescue — without the right equipment, training, or procedures — often become victims themselves. This well-documented pattern is known as “cascade fatalities”, and it repeats itself wherever unqualified operators enter confined spaces.
The response from legislators has been unambiguous: confined space work requires formal qualification, certified personnel, documented procedures and adequate rescue equipment. Handing the job to the cheapest bidder without verifying their credentials is not only operationally risky — it can expose the principal contractor to criminal liability. FES Global Group holds every certification required to work legally and safely in confined spaces.
What counts as a confined space?
A confined space is any enclosed area with limited access, poor natural ventilation, and a risk of hazardous atmosphere — whether from oxygen deficiency, toxic gases, or flammable vapours. Common examples include:
- storage tanks, process vessels and industrial silos
- sewers, culverts and underground chambers
- boilers, autoclaves and chemical reactors
- tunnels, ducts and cable conduits
- ship holds, ballast tanks and offshore cells
The hazard is frequently invisible. Hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) and carbon monoxide (CO) are odourless at lethal concentrations. Oxygen displacement by inert gases can occur with no warning whatsoever. Loss of consciousness can follow within seconds of entry into an unmonitored atmosphere.
The regulatory framework: DPR 177/2011 and EU safety standards
Under Italian law, all contractors operating in confined or suspect-pollution environments must comply with DPR 177/2011 — a dedicated regulation establishing mandatory qualification requirements for firms and self-employed operators. This sits alongside the broader obligations of D.Lgs. 81/2008, Italy’s Consolidated Health and Safety Act, and aligns with European directives including ATEX (2014/34/EU) and the requirements of ISO 45001.
The regulation is explicit: a minimum of 30% of deployed personnel must hold certified training specific to confined environments; a dedicated, trained site supervisor must be present throughout; compliant rescue equipment must be on site; and the client must receive documentation of the contractor’s qualification before any work begins.
These are legal requirements — not industry best practice. Non-compliance by either the contractor or the client carries criminal and administrative sanctions.
FES certifications for confined space operations
FES Global Group has built a certification framework that satisfies every applicable legal and technical requirement for confined space work. Each certification is issued or verified by an independent third party — not self-declared.
| Certification / Qualification | What it covers |
|---|---|
| DPR 177/2011 Qualification | Mandatory legal qualification for confined space operations — absent in most contractors |
| Confined space specific training (min. 16h + refreshers) | All deployed personnel trained on hazard identification, safe work procedures and emergency response |
| Category III PPE use certificate | Competent use of self-contained breathing apparatus, fall-arrest harnesses and confined space rescue systems |
| ATEX Certification (Directive 2014/34/EU) | Qualified to operate in potentially explosive atmospheres: flammable gases, vapours and combustible dusts |
| Certified multi-gas detection | Instrument-based measurement of O₂, CO, H₂S and LEL before and throughout every operation |
| Fire Safety — High Risk | In-house certified team under D.Lgs. 81/08, mandatory in high-flammability environments |
| First Aid Team | Trained and certified in-house first responders, capable of acting before emergency services arrive |
| ISO 45001 (OH&S Management System) | Third-party certified occupational health and safety management — covering the entire organisation, not just individuals |
| ISO 9001 (Quality Management System) | Certified processes, full traceability of works, documentation compliant with international standards |
Liability exposure when the contractor is not qualified
Under Article 26 of D.Lgs. 81/2008, the client bears a legal duty to verify the technical and professional suitability of every contractor it engages. This means that if a confined space incident occurs and the contractor lacks the required DPR 177/2011 qualification, the client organisation — and its responsible officers — may face criminal prosecution, regardless of whether they were physically present on site.
The practical consequences of engaging an unqualified operator are immediate and serious:
- immediate site shutdown on inspection by enforcement authorities
- insurance invalidation for any resulting injury or damage
- criminal liability for the client’s safety officer and management
- possible exclusion from public tenders for the contracting firm
The apparent cost saving of hiring an unqualified operator is quickly overtaken by the exposure it creates.
Sectors where FES operates
FES Global Group’s confined space qualification applies across a broad range of industrial and infrastructure environments:
- petrochemical plants, refineries and oil & gas facilities
- food processing and pharmaceutical manufacturing (process vessels and tanks)
- water treatment plants, sewage networks and pumping stations
- power generation, cogeneration and electrical substations
- shipyards, port structures and offshore installations
- road and rail infrastructure (tunnels, technical culverts, inspection chambers)
- storage facilities, silos and industrial logistics
In every one of these environments, FES brings not just regulatory qualification but the technical expertise built through years of industrial surface treatment work. The operations carried out inside confined spaces — industrial blasting, anti-corrosion coating, refractory treatments, waterproofing — demand skills that go well beyond the ability to enter the space safely.
Why clients call FES
The answer we hear most often is straightforward: “The other contractors didn’t have the right qualifications.” The DPR 177/2011 licence was missing. The ATEX certification was absent. The rescue equipment was not compliant. FES has all of these — and provides the documentation to prove it before a single operative steps on site.
But certification alone does not deliver a safe project. On every confined space contract, FES provides:
- pre-work technical survey with site-specific risk assessment
- Operational Safety Plan (POS) written specifically for the site and the scope of work
- dedicated trained supervisor present throughout all operations
- continuous communication with operatives inside the confined space
- standby external rescue team active for the full duration of work
Request a confined space assessment
If you have work to carry out inside tanks, vessels, sewers, wells, culverts or any other confined space, contact FES Global Group for a technical site survey. You will receive a site-specific risk assessment, full qualification documentation and a costed proposal based on the actual scope of work.
Working in confined spaces with a qualified contractor is not an added cost — it is the only lawful and safe way to do it.