ADSSC: Confined Space Safety Video

The Problem

Working in confined spaces presents a wide range of life-threatening hazards, especially in sectors like wastewater management where toxic gases, flammable atmospheres, and oxygen-deficient environments are common.

For Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC), ensuring that all personnel understand the risks and control measures associated with confined space entry is essential.

The challenge was to create an effective confined space training animation that would engage a wide audience, clearly explain complex hazards, and reinforce ADSSC’s safety standards without overwhelming viewers with technical jargon.

The Solution

The finished confined space training animation runs for 4 minutes and 38 seconds. It is fully 3D animated, featuring a mix of character animation, environmental scenes, labelled visuals, and hazard simulations.

The confined space safety video begins by defining confined spaces in the context of ADSSC’s work, with 3D visuals showing examples such as underground tanks, lifting stations, and manholes. Character animation was used to help viewers relate to the worker entering and assessing these spaces.

From there, the animation breaks down the hazards one by one, with each explained using tailored 3D scenes

Hazard Topics Covered:

• Toxic atmosphere: Formation of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) due to sewage decomposition, visualised as gas build-up within an enclosed chamber.
• Flammable atmosphere: Methane accumulation shown with gas meter readings and ignition risk.
• Oxygen deficiency: Replacement of oxygen by other gases visualised using a digital oxygen meter inside a narrow space.
• Oxygen enrichment: Increased oxygen levels represented as raising fire or explosion risk, supported by close-up visuals.
• Engulfment: Simulation of sudden sewage flooding, demonstrating drowning and biological risk.
• Excessive heat: Enclosed heat buildup without ventilation, leading to worker collapse due to heat stroke.
• Electrical hazards: Faulty or exposed cables shown in damp environments inside lifting stations, highlighting electrocution risks.
• Restricted movement: Confined geometry shown limiting escape or rescue, increasing worker vulnerability.

Each hazard was animated to clearly show cause and effect, often tied to real tasks ADSSC employees perform, such as entering access chambers, conducting inspections, or managing lifting station maintenance.

The confined space safety training animation then moves into a structured review of control measures. These are not just listed but visualized step-by-step in operation

Confined Space Hazard Control Measures

• Avoid entry if possible: Showcasing scenarios where external inspection or maintenance methods are viable.
• Hazard identification and risk assessment: Animating workers using checklists and site reviews before work.
• Permit to work: Visuals of forms being filled, signed, and authorised.
• Training and competency: Showing that only qualified, medically fit, and vaccinated personnel are approved for entry.
• Access and egress: Depicting clear, unobstructed manholes and ladders for both entry and escape.
• Electrical isolations: Demonstrating the shutdown and lockout of live energy sources before entry.
• Atmosphere testing: Detailed animation of calibrated gas detectors being used to test top, middle, and bottom sections before, during, and after entry.
• Emergency response plan: Visual walkthrough of rescue planning, with roles, equipment, and drills being shown.
• Attendant stationed outside: Showing a designated person maintaining communication, monitoring, and prepared to raise the alarm and activate rescue procedures.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE): Workers shown in full safety gear, including disposable coveralls, safety harnesses, lifelines, gas masks, breathing apparatus, rubber gloves, and non-sparking lighting tools.

Every item was modelled in 3D to give visual accuracy to ADSSC’s actual kit and protocols. The layout and design of confined spaces were built to reflect the real environments where workers operate. This includes sewage chambers, access points, and station interiors.

The voiceover script was delivered in neutral, instructional tone, with visuals matched to narration to ensure clarity. The animation was designed for repeated use in safety inductions, toolbox talks, and refresher training.

Impact and Outcome

The confined space safety training video was well received by ADSSC safety personnel and is now used as part of its official training materials. The animation helps bridge the gap between written procedures and real understanding by giving workers a visual model of both the risks and the control measures.

In less than five minutes, the confined space safety video delivers comprehensive training in an accessible, practical format that supports compliance and helps prevent serious incidents.

By animating each hazard and response, the video ensures that staff understand what to expect, how to prepare, and how to respond in confined space scenarios. It also reinforces ADSSC’s focus on using proactive training as part of its broader safety strategy.

The confined space training animation has been adapted for both classroom-based and field-based training, used on tablets, laptops, and training room screens. It complements written safety documentation, giving instructors a powerful visual aid when delivering confined space safety training.

Additional Projects

In the same production cycle, we also created a second training animation for ADSSC focused on excavation safety. This video followed the same structure and visual style, helping ensure consistency across ADSSC’s animated safety training library.

Together, the confined space safety animation and excavation safety training video form part of a broader effort by ADSSC to improve safety culture through high-quality visual education tools.

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