Confined Spaces

Question 1

What are confined spaces?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What are common typical confined spaces?

Answer 2

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

etc.

Question 3

What are atmospheric hazards in confined spaces?

Answer 3

• 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

Question 4

Hazards surrounding limited opening for entry and exit?

Answer 4

• 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

Question 5

What are the regulatory requirements for confined spaces?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What are the two types of confined spaces?

Answer 6

Permit required and non-permit required

Question 7

What are permit-required confined spaces?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What are nonpermit required confined spaces?

Answer 8

• 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

Question 9

What are entry permit requirements?

Answer 9

• 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

Question 10

What is atmospheric testing in confined spaces?

Answer 10

• 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)

Question 11

What is the safety procedure for confined spaces?

Answer 11

• 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

Question 12

What is the necessary equipment for confined spaces?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

What are the duties of the entry supervisor?

Answer 13

• 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

Question 14

What are duties of the attendent?

Answer 14

• 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

Question 15

What are the duties of the entrant

Answer 15

• 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

Question 16

What is a self-rescue?

Answer 16

an entrant evacuates the space with no help

Question 17

What is non-entry rescue?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

What are emergency and rescue procedures?

Answer 18

• 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