Working in confined spaces

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# Occupational Safety and Health Administration (cont.) ## B. Entry Permit Required (cont.) apparatus available for immediate use. There shall be at least one additional worker within sight or call of the standby worker. Continuous powered communications shall be maintained between the worker within the confined space and standby personnel. - If at any time there is any questionable action or non- movement by the worker inside, a verbal check will be made. If there is no response, the worker will be moved immediately. Exception: If the worker is disabled due to falling or impact, he/she shall not be removed from the confined space unless there is immediate danger to his/her life. Local fire department rescue personnel shall be notified immediately. The standby worker may only enter the confined space in case of an emergency (wearing the self contained breathing apparatus) and only after being relieved by another worker. Safety belt or harness with attached lifeline shall be used by all workers entering the space with the free end of the line secured outside the entry opening. The standby worker shall attempt to remove a disabled worker via his lifeline before entering the space. - When practical, these spaces shall be entered through side openings - those within 3½ feet (1.07 m) of the bottom. When entry must be through a top opening, the safety belt shall be of the harness type that suspends a person upright and a hoisting device or similar apparatus shall be available for lifting workers out of the space. - In any situation where their use may endanger the worker, use of a hoisting device or safety belt and attached lifeline may be discontinued. - When dangerous air contamination is attributable to flammable and/or explosive substances, lighting and electrical equipment shall be Class 1, Division 1 rated per National Electrical Code and no ignition sources shall be introduced into the area. - Continuous gas monitoring shall be performed during all confined …

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR # Occupational Safety and Health Administration - Part Number: 1910 - Part Number - Title: Occupational Safety and Health Standards - Subpart: 1910 Subpart J - Subpart Title: General Environmental Controls Standard - Number: 1910.146 App C - Title: Examples of Permit-required Confined Space Programs - GPO Source: e-CFR ## Appendix C to § 1910.146- - Examples of Permit-required Confined Space Programs Example 1. - Workplace. Sewer entry. - Potential hazards. The employees could be exposed to the following: Engulfment. - Presence of toxic gases. Equal to or more than 10 ppm hydrogen sulfide measured as an 8-hour time-weighted average. If the presence of other toxic contaminants is suspected, specific monitoring programs will be developed. - Presence of explosive/flammable gases. Equal to or greater than 10% of the lower flammable limit (LFL). - Oxygen Deficiency. A concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere equal to or less than 19.5% by volume. A. Entry Without Permit/Attendant - Certification. Confined spaces may be entered without the need for a written permit or attendant provided that the space can be maintained in a safe condition for entry by mechanical ventilation alone, as provided in $ 1910.146(c)(5). All spaces shall be considered permit-required confined spaces until the pre-entry procedures demonstrate otherwise. Any employee required or permitted to pre-check or enter an enclosed/confined space shall have successfully completed, - as a minimum, the training as required by the following sections of these procedures. A written Submit Feedback

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# Occupational Safety and Health Administration (cont.) ## B. Entry Permit Required (cont.) Potential Hazards. The recognized hazards associated with cookers and dryers are the risk that employees could be: 1. Struck or caught by rotating agitator; 2. Engulfed in raw material or hot, recycled fat; 3. Burned by steam from leaks into the cooker/dryer steam jacket or the condenser duct system if steam valves are not properly closed and locked out; 4. Burned by contact with hot metal surfaces, such as the agitator shaft assembly, or inner shell of the cooker/dryer; 5. Heat stress caused by warm atmosphere inside cooker/dryer; 6. Slipping and falling on grease in the cooker/dryer; 7. Electrically shocked by faulty equipment taken into the cooker/dryer; 8. Burned or overcome by fire or products of combustion; or 9. Overcome by fumes generated by welding or cutting done on grease covered surfaces. Permits. The supervisor in this case is always present at the cooker/dryer or other permit entry confined space when entry is made. The supervisor must follow the pre-entry isolation procedures described in the entry permit in preparing for entry, and ensure that the protective clothing, ventilating equipment and any other equipment required by the permit are at the entry site. - Control of hazards. Mechanical. Lock out main power switch to agitator motor at main power panel. Affix tag to the lock to inform others that a permit entry confined space entry is in progress. Engulfment. Close all valves in the raw material blow line. Secure each valve in its closed position using chain and lock. Attach a tag to the valve and chain warning that a permit entry confined space entry is in progress. The same procedure shall be used for securing the fat recycle valve. Burns and heat stress. Close steam supply valves to jacket and secure with chains and tags. Insert solid blank at flange in cooker vent line to condenser manifold duct system. Vent cooker/dryer by opening access do…

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR # Occupational Safety and Health Administration - Part Number: 1926 - Part Number - Title: Safety and Health Regulations for Construction - Subpart: 1926 Subpart AA - Subpart Title: Confined Spaces in Construction Standard - Number: - Title: - 1926.1201 - Scope. - GPO Source: e-CFR ## 1926.1201(a) This standard sets forth requirements for practices and procedures to protect employees engaged in construction activities at a worksite with one or more confined spaces, subject to the exceptions in paragraph (b) of this section. Note to paragraph (a). Examples of locations where confined spaces may occur include, but are not limited to, the following: Bins; boilers; pits (such as elevator, escalator, pump, valve or other equipment); manholes (such as sewer, storm drain, electrical, communication, or other utility); tanks (such as fuel, chemical, water, or other liquid, solid or gas); incinerators; scrubbers; concrete pier columns; sewers; transformer vaults; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) ducts; storm drains; water mains; precast concrete and other pre-formed manhole units; drilled shafts; enclosed beams; vessels; digesters; lift stations; cesspools; silos; air receivers; sludge gates; air preheaters; step up transformers; turbines; chillers; bag houses; and/or mixers/reactors. 1926.1201(b) Exceptions. This standard does not apply to: 1926.1201(b)(1) Submit Feedback

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# Occupational Safety and Health Administration (cont.) ## 1926.953(a) (cont.) enclosed-space rescue procedures. - 1926.953(d) Rescue equipment. Employers shall provide equipment to ensure the prompt and safe rescue of employees from the enclosed space. - 1926.953(e) Evaluating potential hazards. Before any entrance cover to an enclosed space is removed, the employer shall determine whether it is safe to do so by checking for the presence of any atmospheric pressure or temperature differences and by evaluating whether there might be a hazardous atmosphere in the space. Any conditions making it unsafe to remove the cover shall be eliminated before the cover is removed. Note to paragraph (e): The determination called for in this paragraph may consist of a check of the conditions that might foreseeably be in the enclosed space. For example, the cover could be checked to see if it is hot and, if it is fastened in place, could be loosened gradually to release any residual pressure. An evaluation also needs to be made of whether conditions at the site could cause a hazardous atmosphere, such as an oxygen-deficient or flammable atmosphere, to develop within the space. - 1926.953(f) Removing covers. When covers are removed from enclosed spaces, the opening shall be promptly guarded by a railing, temporary cover, or other barrier designed to prevent an accidental fall through the opening and to protect employees working in the space from objects entering the space. - 1926.953(g) Hazardous atmosphere. Employees may not enter any enclosed space while it contains a hazardous atmosphere, unless the entry conforms to the confined spaces in construction standard in subpart AA of this part. - 1926.953(h) Attendants. While work is being performed in the enclosed space, an attendant with first-aid training shall be immediately available outside the enclosed space to provide assistance if a hazard exists because of traffic patterns in the area of the opening used for entr…

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# Occupational Safety and Health Administration (cont.) ## Appendix C to § 1910.146- - Examples of Permit-required Confined Space Programs (cont.) copy of operating and rescue procedures as required by these procedures shall be at the work site for the duration of the job. The Confined Space Pre-Entry Check List must be completed by the LEAD WORKER before entry into a confined space. This list verifies completion of items listed below. This check list shall be kept at the job site for duration of the job. If circumstances dictate an interruption in the work, the permit space must be re-evaluated and a new check list must be completed. Control of atmospheric and engulfment hazards. Pumps and Lines. All pumps and lines which may reasonably cause contaminants to flow into the space shall be disconnected, blinded and locked out, or effectively isolated by other means to prevent development of dangerous air contamination or engulfment. Not all laterals to sewers or storm drains require blocking. However, where experience or knowledge of industrial use indicates there is a reasonable potential for contamination of air or engulfment into an occupied sewer, then all affected laterals shall be blocked. If blocking and/or isolation requires entry into the space the provisions for entry into a permit- required confined space must be implemented. Surveillance. The surrounding area shall be surveyed to avoid hazards such as drifting vapors from the tanks, piping, or sewers. Testing. The atmosphere within the space will be tested to determine whether dangerous air contamination and/or oxygen deficiency exists. Detector tubes, alarm only gas monitors and explosion meters are examples of monitoring equipment that may be used to test permit space atmospheres. Testing shall be performed by the LEAD WORKER who has successfully completed the Gas Detector training for the monitor he will use. The minimum parameters to be monitored are oxygen deficiency, LFL, and hydrogen sulfide co…

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR # Occupational Safety and Health Administration - Part Number: 1926 - Part Number - Title: Safety and Health Regulations for Construction - Subpart: 1926 Subpart AA - Subpart Title: Confined Spaces in Construction Standard - Number: - Title: - 1926.1208 - Duties of authorized entrants. - GPO Source: e-CFR The entry employer must ensure that all authorized entrants: 1926.1208(a) Are familiar with and understand the hazards that may be faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and consequences of the exposure; - 1926.1208(b) Properly use equipment as required by $1926.1204(d); ## 1926.1208(c) Communicate with the attendant as necessary to enable the attendant to assess entrant status and to enable the attendant to alert entrants of the need to evacuate the space as required by $1926.1209(f); 1926.1208(d) Alert the attendant whenever: ## 1926.1208(d)(1) There is any warning sign or symptom of exposure to a dangerous situation; or Submit Feedback

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# confined space, in order to ensure employee safety; and (cont.) ## 1910.146(i) (cont.) Duties of entry supervisors. The employer shall ensure that each entry supervisor: - 1910.146(j)(1) - Knows the hazards that may be faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and consequences of the exposure; - 1910.146(j)(2). - Verifies, by checking that the appropriate entries have been made on the permit, that all tests specified by the permit have been conducted and that all procedures and equipment specified by the permit are in place before endorsing the permit and allowing entry to begin; - 1910.146(j)(3) - Terminates the entry and cancels the permit as required by paragraph (e)(5) of this section; - 1910.146(j)(4) - Verifies that rescue services are available and that the means for summoning them are operable; - 1910.146(j)(5) - Removes unauthorized individuals who enter or who attempt to enter the permit space during entry operations; and - 1910.146(j)(6) - Determines, whenever responsibility for a permit space entry operation is transferred and at intervals dictated by the hazards and operations performed within the space, that entry operations remain consistent with terms of the entry permit and that acceptable entry conditions are maintained. - 1910.146(k) - Rescue and emergency services. - 1910.146(k)(1) An employer who designates rescue and emergency services, pursuant to paragraph (d)(9) of this section, shall: - 1910.146(k)(1).(i) Evaluate a prospective rescuer's ability to respond to a rescue summons in a timely manner, considering the hazard(s) identified; Submit Feedback

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# Occupational Safety and Health Administration (cont.) ## 1926.953(a) (cont.) Note to paragraph (h): See $ 1926.965 for additional requirements on attendants for work in manholes and vaults. ## 1926.953(i) Calibration of test instruments. Test instruments used to monitor atmospheres in enclosed spaces shall be kept in calibration and shall have a minimum accuracy of +10 percent. ## 1926.953(j) Testing for oxygen deficiency. Before an employee enters an enclosed space, the atmosphere in the enclosed space shall be tested for oxygen deficiency with a direct-reading meter or similar instrument, capable of collection and immediate analysis of data samples without the need for off-site evaluation. If continuous forced-air ventilation is provided, testing is not required provided that the procedures used ensure that employees are not exposed to the hazards posed by oxygen deficiency. ## 1926.953(k) Testing for flammable gases and vapors. Before an employee enters an enclosed space, the internal atmosphere shall be tested for flammable gases and vapors with a direct-reading meter or similar instrument capable of collection and immediate analysis of data samples without the need for off-site evaluation. This test shall be performed after the oxygen testing and ventilation required by paragraph (j) of this section demonstrate that there is sufficient oxygen to ensure the accuracy of the test for flammability. ## 1926.953(I) Ventilation, and monitoring for flammable gases or vapors. If flammable gases or vapors are detected or if an oxygen deficiency is found, forced-air ventilation shall be used to maintain oxygen at a safe level and to prevent a hazardous concentration of flammable gases and vapors from accumulating. A continuous monitoring program to ensure that no increase in flammable gas or vapor concentration above safe levels occurs may be followed in lieu of ventilation if flammable gases or vapors are initially detected at safe levels. Note to paragraph …

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# Occupational Safety and Health Administration (cont.) ## B. Entry Permit Required - Permits. Confined Space Entry Permit. All spaces shall be considered permit-required confined spaces until the pre-entry procedures demonstrate otherwise. Any employee required or permitted to pre-check or enter a permit-required confined space shall have successfully completed, as a minimum, the training as required by the following sections of these procedures. A written copy of operating and rescue procedures as required by these procedures shall be at the work site for the duration of the job. The Confined Space Entry Permit must be completed before approval can be given to enter a permit-required confined space. This permit verifies completion of items listed below. This permit shall be kept at the job site for the duration of the job. If circumstances cause an interruption in the work or a change in the alarm conditions for which entry was approved, a new Confined Space Entry Permit must be completed. - Control of atmospheric and engulfment hazards. - Surveillance. The surrounding area shall be surveyed to avoid hazards such as drifting vapors from tanks, piping or sewers. - Testing. The confined space atmosphere shall be tested to determine whether dangerous air contamination and/or oxygen deficiency exists. A direct reading gas monitor shall be used. Testing shall be performed by the SUPERVISOR who has successfully completed the gas detector training for the monitor he will use. The minimum parameters to be monitored are oxygen deficiency, LFL and hydrogen sulfide concentration. A written record of the pre- entry test results shall be made and kept at the work site for the duration of the job. Affected employees shall be able to review the testing results. The most hazardous conditions shall govern when work is being performed in two adjoining, connected spaces. - Space Ventilation. Mechanical ventilation systems, where applicable, shall be set at 100% outside air. Wh…

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# Occupational Safety and Health Administration (cont.) 3. Has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross- section; or 4. Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard. Permit-required confined space program (permit space program) means the employer's overall program for controlling, and, where appropriate, for protecting employees from, permit space hazards and for regulating employee entry into permit spaces. - Physical hazard means an existing or potential hazard that can cause death or serious physical damage. Examples include, but are not limited to: Explosives (as defined by paragraph (n) of $ 1926.914, definition of "explosive"); mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic energy; radiation; temperature extremes; engulfment; noise; and inwardly converging surfaces. Physical hazard also includes chemicals that can cause death or serious physical damage through skin or eye contact (rather than through inhalation). - Prohibited condition means any condition in a permit space that is not allowed by the permit during the period when entry is authorized. A hazardous atmosphere is a prohibited condition unless the employer can demonstrate that personal protective equipment (PPE) will provide effective protection for each employee in the permit space and provides the appropriate PPE to each employee. - Qualified person means one who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated his ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project. - Representative permit space means a mock-up of a confined space that has entrance openings that are similar to, and is of similar size, configuration, and accessibility to, the permit space that authorized entrants enter. …