Confined Spaces Flashcards

1
Q

What are confined spaces?

A
  • limited or restricted means of entry or exit
  • Large enough for employees to perform work
  • Not designed for continuous occupancy
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2
Q

What are common typical confined spaces?

A
  • boiler, degreaser, furnace
  • Pipeline, pit, pumping station
  • Reaction or process vessel, mills
  • Septic tank, sewage digestor
  • Silo, storage tank, barges

etc.

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3
Q

What are atmospheric hazards in confined spaces?

A
  • Oxygen enriched atmosphere
    • Oxygen levels above 23.5%
    • Causes flammable and combustible materials to burn violently when ignited
  • flammable atmosphere
  • Three critical factors
    • Oxygen Contant in the air
    • Presence of flammable, gas, or vapor
    • Presence of dust (visibility of 5 inches or less)
  • proper air/gas mixture can lead to explosion
  • toxic atmospheres
  • Product stored in a confined space:
    • Gas is released when cleaning
    • Materials absorbed into walls of confined space
    • Decomposition of materials in the confined space
  • Hazardous atmosphere (hydrogen, sulfide, carbon monoxide temperature)
    • Hydrogen sulfide
    • Carbon monoxide
    • Extreme temperature * engulfment hazards
    • Noise
    • Slick
    • Falling objects
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4
Q

Hazards surrounding limited opening for entry and exit?

A
  • openings are small as 18 inches in diameter
  • Difficult to enter with SCBA or other life-saving equipment
  • Difficult to remove down worker and fold it up or bent over position
  • Exit large openings may be difficult due to presence of ladders, hoists, etc
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5
Q

What are the regulatory requirements for confined spaces?

A
  • 29 CFR1910.146
  • Employer must:
    • Written program
    • Assess and evaluate hazards within confined spaces
    • instruct hazards and precautionary measures
    • Permit
    • Inform use of PPE
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6
Q

What are the two types of confined spaces?

A

Permit required and non-permit required

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7
Q

What are permit-required confined spaces?

A
  1. Contains/potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere.
  2. Contains the material that has the potential to engulf an entrant
  3. Internal configurations: an entrant could be trapped/officiated by inwardly
    converging walls; the floor, that slopes downward, and tapers to small section
  4. Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard
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8
Q

What are nonpermit required confined spaces?

A
  • must develop and implement safe work procedures
  • Example: assess the conditions and precautions needed for safe entry, identify what constitutes a change in conditions, which would require a reevaluation of the confined space
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9
Q

What are entry permit requirements?

A
  • intent- provide systematic review for hazards, communicate that information to all involved and provide an approval process for entry
  • permit must be completed prior to entry
  • Verifies pre-entry precautions have been taken in the spaces is safe to enter
  • Must be signed by entry supervisor
  • Name and phone numbers of rescue and emergency services
  • Communication procedures
  • Special equipment and procedures
    * Personal protective equipment
    * Alarm procedures
    * Rescue equipment
    * Respirators
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10
Q

What is atmospheric testing in confined spaces?

A
  • Verify presence of safe work atmosphere
  • Oxygen content between 19.5% and 23.5%
  • Test all areas - top, middle, bottom:
    • Methane is lighter than air
    • Carbon monoxide is the same as air
    • Hydrogen sulfide is heavier than air
  • continuously test & monitor all areas before entry & during
  • List any toxic materials that could be present and they permissible exposure limits(PEL)
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11
Q

What is the safety procedure for confined spaces?

A
  • authorized entrance can enter a permit space only after it’s been tested and found safe for entry
  • The signed entrant has to know what equipment to use and how to use it
  • Once prepared, you want to get in and out and do the task quickly and
    efficiently as possible
  • Alert the attendant immediately if you recognize a sign or symptom of
    exposure to a dangerous situation
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12
Q

What is the necessary equipment for confined spaces?

A
  • gas meter
  • Special (atmospheric)
  • Ventilator, and flex duct
  • Permit – required
  • Communication system,
  • Retrieval system,
  • Full body harness
  • SCBA
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13
Q

What are the duties of the entry supervisor?

A
  • verifies the permit is filled out, and all safety steps listed are taken, then
    signs the form
  • check conditions to ensure they stay safe throughout the work
  • Sees that any unauthorized people are removed
  • When work is complete, cancels the permit, and concludes the operation
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14
Q

What are duties of the attendent?

A
  • know the hazards, and be aware of behavioral effects of hazards
  • Keep count of entrants
  • Remain outside permit space until relieved
  • Communicate with entrant
  • Summon rescue squad
  • Warn authorized persons
  • Perform non-entry rescues
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15
Q

What are the duties of the entrant

A
  • knows the hazards of the space and signs of exposure
  • follows PPE training carefully
  • keep in contact with the attendant leave space at once, if instructed to do
    so
  • it’s always ready to evacuate quickly
  • Leaves the space, and tells the attendant if there is danger
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16
Q

What is a self-rescue?

A

an entrant evacuates the space with no help

17
Q

What is non-entry rescue?

A

only workers training and rescue can enter the space for
the purpose of rescue, and only when there is another attendant present

18
Q

What are emergency and rescue procedures?

A
  • rescuers must be able to respond in a timely manner based on hazards
  • notify rescuers of hazards
  • If EE’s will be doing rescues
    • Must be trained
    • Must know first aid and CPR
    • must practice at least once every year