Confined Spaces • General Industry

Standard1910.146

• Construction Industry 1926.21(b)(6)1926.353(b) 352(g)

Confined Space A 33-year-old man

died while cleaning out an ink tank in Providence printing company. He entered the tank through a small opening wearing a supplied air respirator.

Vapors began to collect in the tank. His respirator failed, and no one was prepared to rescue him.

Bronx Employer Jailed on State Charges after Worker Nearly Dies in an Underground Tank

Two weeks ago the owner and the manager of a Bronx junkyard were convicted of charges that they nearly killed an employee by sending him into an underground tank containing waste oil and gasoline without any protective equipment. The lack of oxygen in the tank caused the employee to lose consciousness. He was rescued by a city firefighter.

Confined Space Facilities must survey for

confined spaces.

OSHA • Large enough to enter and perform

work• Not designed for continuous

occupancy• Restricted entry exitall three must be present to define a

confined space

Large enough to enter and perform work

Not designed for continuous occupancy

• Boiler, degreaser, furnace

• Pipeline, pit, pumping station

• Reaction or process vessel, mills • Septic tank, sewage Digester

• Silo, storage tank, barges

• Sewer, utility vault, manhole

• Trenches, shafts, caissons

Not Designed for Continuous Worker Occupancy

• Not designed to work in on a regular basis

• Designed to store a product

• Enclose materials or processes

• Transport products or substances

Restricted entry/ exit• Openings as small as 18 inches in

diameter

• Difficult to enter with SCBA or other life-saving equipment

• Difficult to remove downed worker in folded up or bent over position

Searching for Permit Required Spaces

Space large enough to enter &;Limited or Restricted entry or exit &; Not designed for continuous worker occupancy.

NONot a confined Space

YES Confined Space

Hazardous Atmosphere

Engulfment Hazard

Configuration Hazard

Any other recognized serious hazard

Permit-

Required

Confined

Space

Non

Permit

Required

Space

YES NO

Or

Or

Or

PRCS: Hazardous atmosphere

• Risk of death, incapacitation, impair self –rescue,

• Cause injury or acute illness

Hazardous atmosphere

• Oxygen enriched atmosphere[<23.5%]

Causes flammable and combustible materials to burn violently when ignited

• Flammable atmospheres [gas,vapor,mist] >10.5% of LEL

• Oxygen deficient atmosphere [>19.5%]

Hazardous atmosphere

Combustible dusts that meets or exceeds LEL

Approximately dust obscures vision at a distance of 5feet [1.53 meters] or less

PRCS: Engulfment Hazards

• Surrounding and capture of employee by material liquid or fine solids in the space

• Loose, granular materials stored in hoppers

• Crusting and bridging below

• Flooding of confined space

PRCS:Configuration Hazard

Shape of the space or equipment in the space that poses an immediate or delayed threat to life or irreversible health effects; or that would interfere with a worker’s ability to escape the space, unaided.

PRCS: Any other recognized serious hazard

Physical hazards: radiation, noise, electric

Moving parts (grinding equipment, agitators, steam, mulching equipment)

Corrosive chemical hazards

Biological hazards

Present an immediate danger to life or health or impair an employee’s ability to escape.

Dangerous Combinations

• Working in and around the space

• Rescue operations during emergencies

• Worsened conditions due to work activities:• Welding and cutting, use of bonding agents• Cleaning with solvents, use of other

chemicals• Use of gas-powered equipment

OSHA Permit (PRCS) system

Designed to prohibit entry

Entry permitted for only those trained and qualified

Special Permit Required Spaces

The employer must develop a written permit entry program for permit required spaces (PRS).

Such a program must address procedures for evaluating spaces, precautions during entry, protection during work, and backup in case of emergencies.

Testing The AtmosphereTest all areas of a confined space

• Top - methane is lighter than air

• Middle - carbon monoxide is the same as air

• Bottom - hydrogen sulfide is heavier than air

• Remain vigilant for Oxygen Deficiency

Ventilation• Best option to remove contaminants and

restore natural atmosphere

• Air intake in a safe location to draw fresh air only

• Continuous ventilation whenever possible

• Retest the confined space before entry

• Consider continuous monitoring during work

Isolation• Locking and tagging out electrical sources.

• Blank and bleed ALL lines, pipes, etc.

• Disconnecting mechanical drives and shafts.

• Locking and tagging out shutoff valves.

Standby / Rescue

• Constant communication with the workers inside

• Line of Sight

• Radio Contact

• Know emergency rescue procedures.

Rescue

Rescue:NFPA 1670

awareness

ops

tech

Standby / Rescue

• 35% of workers who die in confined spaces are would-be rescuers

• Trained in use of emergency rescue equipment and PPE

Permit Entry Systems

• Designed to prohibit entry for those not trained and qualified

• Written permit signed by entry supervisor

• Verifies pre-entry precautions have been taken and the space is safe to enter

Permit Entry Systems

• Posted at entry to confined space

• Specifies apparent hazards and corrective actions taken prior to entry

• Requires termination of permit when task is completed or when new conditions exist

Entry Permit Requirements

• Date, location, and name of confined space

• Purpose of entry and known hazards

• Duration of entry permit time

Entry Permit Requirements

• Authorized entrants, attendants, supervisors

• Air testing results - signature of tester

• Protective measures to be taken Ventilation, isolation, flushing Lockout / Tag-out, purging

Entry Permit Requirements• Communication procedures

• Special equipment and procedures• Personal protective equipment• Alarm procedures• Rescue equipment• Respirators

Entry Permit Requirements

• Id All authorized entrants in confined space

• Id All attendants and rescue team members

Training and Education

• Prior to initial work assignment

• Retraining: Job duties change Change in permit-space program New hazards are present Job performance indicates deficiencies

RICOSHJames CelenzaRI Committee on Occupational Safety and

Heath741 Westminster stProv RI 02903

(401)751-2015(401)751-7520

This material was produced under grant number SH-26285-14-60-F-37 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor.  It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.