Confined Space
Hazard Awareness

Know the spaces that can hurt you — before you ever step inside them.

Working in a scrap yard means constant exposure to heavy machinery, towering material piles, narrow processing corridors, and powerful moving equipment. While oxygen-deficient atmospheres are not a primary concern for our operation — most work happens outdoors or in well-ventilated bays with large open doors — there is a very real category of confined space danger that every employee must understand: physical entrapment and engulfment hazards.

A confined space does not have to be underground or airtight to be deadly. Anytime a space limits your ability to move freely, exit quickly, or be reached by a coworker in an emergency — you are in a confined space scenario. In our environment, those spaces are everywhere.

Definition

What Makes a Space “Confined” at a Scrap Yard?

In the context of our operations, a confined space is any area where:

• Your ability to move freely is restricted by surrounding material, equipment, or structure
• An unexpected shift, collapse, or mechanical movement could trap or crush you
• Exit pathways could quickly become blocked
• You could not easily be seen or reached by a coworker in an emergency

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Key Point

You do not need to crawl into a pipe or go underground to be in a dangerous confined space. A pile of scrap, a car compactor bay, a shredder chute, or a narrow aisle between stacked material can all create confined space conditions.

Primary Hazards

The Physical Hazards in Our Confined Spaces

01 – Crush Hazard – Getting Caught Between

Crush hazards occur when an employee becomes caught between two fixed or moving objects. These situations arise frequently near:

• Balers, shears, and compactors with hydraulic press plates
• Material handlers and grapple equipment moving near walls or piles
• Forklifts or loaders operating in tight aisles between stacked material
• Vehicle doors or tailgates being raised or lowered near workers
• Conveyor pinch points where material feeds into chutes or hoppers

Protect Yourself

• Maintain a clear line of sight with equipment operators at all times
• Never position yourself between a piece of equipment and a fixed structure
• Stay out of the path of travel — even when you think the operator sees you
• Follow lockout/tagout procedures before entering any equipment area

02 – Mousetrap Hazard – Sprung Without Warning

A mousetrap hazard occurs when a space that appears safe suddenly closes or constricts — trapping the person inside with no time to react. Common scenarios include:

• Climbing into a pile or bin of loose scrap that shifts and collapses inward
• Walking through stacked material that falls and blocks the exit path
• Entering a shredder or baler feed area while a cycle is mid-sequence
• Working inside a roll-off container while a loader unloads material overhead
• Stepping into a pocket in a scrap pile that then shifts around you

⚠️ Danger

Mousetrap hazards give almost no warning. The space looks open and safe right up until the moment it isn’t. Always assess every entry point for what COULD go wrong — not just what looks fine right now.

Protect Yourself

• Never enter a bin, hopper, trailer, or pile area alone
• Assess the stability of surrounding material before entering any tight area
• Ensure equipment operators have confirmed a full work stoppage
• Identify your exit before you enter any space with limited clearance

03 – Overhead Hazard – Falling Debris & Dropped Loads

Overhead falling debris hazards in confined or semi-confined areas are especially dangerous because limited space restricts your ability to move clear quickly. Risks include:

• Unsecured scrap falling from overhead grapple loads or crane buckets
• Material tumbling from unstable stacks when disturbed by vibration or equipment
• Shrapnel and projectiles generated by shredding or shearing operations
• Suspended loads from magnets that may lose power or grip unexpectedly
• Debris dislodged from elevated platforms, mezzanines, or loading structures

Protect Yourself

• Always wear a hard hat in any area where overhead material movement occurs
• Never stand directly under an active grapple, magnet, or suspended load
• Check above and around you before entering any tight or enclosed work area
• Know where loads will be released before positioning yourself nearby
• Communicate with crane and equipment operators before entering their work radius

04 – Pinned Hazard – Immobilized & Unable to Signal

Being pinned means you are immobilized but may not have sustained a fatal injury yet. However, pinning situations can quickly become fatal through loss of blood flow, inability to signal for help, or continued equipment movement. Incidents occur when:

• A piece of equipment rolls over or contacts an employee, pinning them against a surface
• A shifting pile of material holds an employee down or covers them partially
• A mechanical component — such as a ram or tailgate — closes on a limb
• An employee falls into a tight space and cannot self-extricate
• Heavy material slides off a truck or conveyor and lands on a worker

🚨 If a Coworker is Pinned

Do NOT attempt to pull them free without understanding what is holding them. Moving them incorrectly can worsen injuries or cause additional material movement. Call for help immediately and stabilize the scene.

Protect Yourself

• Always work with a buddy in areas where material movement or equipment is active
• Use spotters when equipment is operating in tight or congested areas
• Do not position yourself where you could be pinned against a wall or fixed structure
• Always carry communication — radio or phone — in confined work areas

05 – Trapped Hazard – No Way Out

A trapped scenario occurs when an employee’s exit becomes blocked after they have entered a space — whether by material movement, equipment malfunction, or structural shift. This happens in areas like:

• The interior of roll-off containers being loaded from above
• Narrow corridors between stacked cars or baled material that shift or collapse
• Processing pits or equipment access areas surrounded by operational equipment
• Trailer beds being unloaded when material shifts to block the rear exit
• Enclosed hoppers or feed areas where a gate closes unexpectedly

Protect Yourself

• Never enter an enclosed area during active loading, unloading, or processing
• Confirm equipment is stopped and locked out before entering
• Identify at least two exit paths before entering any restricted-access area
• If your exit becomes blocked — stay calm, stay put, and signal for help

Contributing Hazards

Slip, Trip & Fall — The Gateway to Bigger Problems

Slips, trips, and falls may seem minor compared to the hazards above — but in a scrap yard, they are often the first step in a more serious injury chain. A fall in the wrong place can put you directly into a crush, pin, or trap situation.

Common Slip, Trip & Fall Hazards at Our Facility

Uneven, shifting, or unstable scrap piles used as walking surfaces

Wet or oily floors near processing equipment and vehicle maintenance areas

Hoses, cables, and lines crossing walkways in active work areas

Loose metal pieces, wire coils, and small scrap debris in travel paths

Poor lighting in indoor processing areas, especially near equipment access points

Abrupt grade changes between yard surfaces, concrete pads, and gravel areas

Climbing over material piles rather than using designated access points

A slip or trip near a baler, shredder, pile, or active equipment lane doesn’t just result in a bruise — it can send you into a confined zone with no time to recover. Prevention basics every employee must follow:

• Walk — do not run — in all yard and facility areas
• Use only designated walkways; never cut through active equipment zones
• Wear slip-resistant boots with ankle support appropriate for uneven terrain
• Keep your work area clear of loose material and trip hazards at all times
• Report poor lighting or damaged walkway surfaces to your supervisor immediately
• Use three points of contact when climbing any ladder, platform, or elevated structure

Your Role

Responsibilities for All Yard Employees

Awareness is only half the equation. Every employee plays an active role in confined space hazard prevention.

BEFORE Entering Any Confined or Tight Area	WHILE Working in Confined or Tight Areas
Assess all overhead, lateral, and underfoot hazards	Maintain constant communication with your buddy or spotter
Notify your supervisor and confirm equipment is locked out	Do not rush — take time to reassess as conditions change
Identify at least two clear exit paths	Keep your exit path clear and unobstructed at all times
Confirm all equipment operators know you are entering the area	Signal immediately if conditions change or you feel unsafe
Have a radio or communication device on your person	Never silence or ignore safety signals or alarms

If You See a Hazard — Say Something

You are the last line of defense against confined space incidents at this facility. If something looks wrong — a pile that seems unstable, an area that is too congested, an equipment operator who does not appear to see a coworker — speak up immediately. The few seconds it takes to stop and communicate could prevent a life-altering injury.