Title: The confined spaces and their additional risks: the reality of condominiums in Recife and greater Recife

Authors: Cláudia Cândida de Lima Eustáquio; Felipe Mendes da Cruz; Rogério Pontes de Araújo; Augusto César Cabral Santos

Addresses: Polytechnic School of Pernambuco, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil ' Polytechnic School of Pernambuco, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil ' Polytechnic School of Pernambuco, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil ' Polytechnic School of Pernambuco, University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

Abstract: Hazardous atmospheres pose significant risks to activities conducted in confined spaces, resulting in fatalities. The objective of this article is to investigate the atmospheric risks in confined spaces in condominiums, as well as to analyse the additional risks present in these locations, considered to be relevant. To this end, inspections were conducted in a commercial condominium and fifteen residential condominiums, applying a research checklist to characterise the confined spaces. A field experiment, using r apid-response sensors, was also conducted to measure the presence of gases and the deficiency or enrichment of oxygen in the business condominium. Measurements of concentrations and oxygen levels analysed the gases O₂, CO, CO₂, H₂S, and LEL and did not reveal the presence of harmful agents to the health, safety, and life of workers, according to the standard parameters. As for the residential condominiums, it was found that the risk of falls from height was very significant.

Keywords: confined spaces; additional risks; hazardous atmospheres; atmospheric risks; rapid-response sensors.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEE.2025.149485

International Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2025 Vol.13 No.3, pp.201 - 219

Received: 01 Apr 2024
Accepted: 01 Apr 2025
Published online: 04 Nov 2025 *

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