Protecting the Safety

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Protecting the Safety Health of Hispanic
Workers www.hispanicsworksafe.org
Confined Spaces
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After completing this unit, you will

• Know what a confined space is

• Be able to identify the potential dangers of
  confined enclosed spaces
• Recognize that you need special training and
  equipment before working in confined spaces

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Why is important?
Workers are killed or injured every year!

• From 1980-1989
• 585 fatal incidents (670 victims)
• Only 27 of the workers involved in these
  accidents had any confined space entry procedure

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Why is important?

• Double and even triple-fatality incidents of this
  type are fairly common
• Sixty to 70 percent of the victims in confined
  space accidents are rescuers

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What is a Confined Space?
A space that

• Has limited or restricted means of entry or exit

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What is a Confined Space?
A space that

• Is large enough for an employee to enter and
  performed assigned work,
• Is not designed for continuous human occupancy by
  the employee

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Typical Confined Spaces

• Tanks
• Manholes
• Boilers
• Furnaces
• Sewers
• Silos
• Hoppers

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Typical Confined Spaces

• Vaults
• Pipes
• Trenches
• Tunnels
• Ducts
• Bins
• Pits

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Confined Space Definitions

• The entrant is the person who will physically
  enter a confined space.

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Confined Space Definitions
The attendant is the person who remains outside
the confined space and monitors the entrant (s).
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Confined Space Definitions

• The attendant is responsible for
• Assisting the entrant in exiting the confined
  space,
• Guarding the space against unauthorized entry,
• Warning the entrant of any unusual conditions,
  and
• Calling for emergency assistance when required

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Confined Space Definitions
ENTRY

• The act by which a person intentionally passes
  through an opening into a permit required
  confined space.
• Any part of the body passing through the opening
  is considered entry.

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Confined Space Definitions
IDLH

• IMMEDIATELY DANGEROUS TO
• LIFE OR HEALTH
• Any condition which poses an immediate threat to
  the health of life on an entrant, or
• Would cause irreversible adverse health effects,
  or
• Would interfere with an individuals ability to
  escape unaided from a permit space.

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Confined Space Definitions
Asphyxiating Atmosphere
An atmosphere that could cause unconsciousness or
death due to lack of oxygen or presence of
noxious agents
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Confined Space Potential Hazards

• Not enough Oxygen
• Too much Oxygen
• Flammable Atmospheres
• Toxic Atmospheres
• Temperature Extremes
• Electricity

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Confined Space Potential Hazards

• Noise, Slick/Wet Surfaces, Falling Objects
• Process or equipment related hazards (mechanical
  hazards mixers, crushers)
• Conditions changing from non-hazardous to
  hazardous
• Engulfment hazards

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Confined Space Potential Hazards

• Oxygen Deficient Atmosphere oxygen is present in
  concentrations less than 19.5
• Oxygen Enriched Atmosphere oxygen in
  concentrations greater than 23 is too oxygen
  rich and can cause combustible materials to
  ignite very quickly.

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Oxygen Deficient Atmospheres
19.5 Minimum acceptable oxygen level. 15 -
19 Decreased ability to work strenuously. Impa
ir coordination. Early symptoms. 12-14 Respirati
on increases. Poor judgment. 10-12 Respiration
increases. Lips blue. 8-10 Mental failure.
Fainting. Nausea Unconsciousness.
Vomiting. 6-8 8 minutes - fatal, 6 minutes -
50 fatal 4-5 minutes - possible
recovery. 4-6 Coma in 40 seconds. Death
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Oxygen Enriched Atmospheres

• Oxygen level above 23.
• Causes flammable and combustible materials to
  burn violently when ignited.
• Oil soaked clothing and materials.
• Never use pure oxygen to ventilate.
• Never store or place compressed tanks in a
  confined space.

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Confined Spaces Potential Hazards

• Presence of combustible gases and liquids
• Methane
• Hydrogen
• Acetylene
• Propane
• Gasoline fumes

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Confined Spaces Potential Hazards

• Presence of toxic materials
• Carbon Monoxide
• Hydrogen Sulfide
• Welding fumes
• Corrosives

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Confined Spaces Potential Hazards
Engulfment Hazards
" Engulfment" means the surrounding and effective
capture of a person by a liquid or finely-divided
(flowable) solid substance that can be aspirated
to cause death by filling or plugging the
respiratory system or that can exert enough force
on the body to cause death by strangulation,
constriction, or crushing.
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Confined Spaces Potential Hazards
Mechanical/Entrapment Hazards

• Agitators
• Augers
• Unguarded chains
• Unguarded pulleys
• Unguarded rotating blades

• Unguarded belts
• Unguarded fans
• Moving parts
• Rotating parts

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Confined Spaces Potential Hazards
Noise Hazards

• Distraction
• Physical damage to ear
• Interference with communications
• Stress

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Confined Spaces Potential Hazards
Other Hazards

• Unstable or dangerous work surfaces
• Falling objects
• Insects or animals
• Biological

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Confined Space Case Study 1
HYDROGEN SULFIDE POISONINGA maintenance worker
entered a sewer manhole to repair a pipe and
collapsed at the bottom. A coworker, who had been
observing the initial entrant, entered the
manhole, lost consciousness, and fell to the
bottom. A supervisor looked into the manhole, saw
the would-be rescuer, and entered to attempt
rescue. The supervisor became dizzy, climbed from
the manhole, and passed out. When he regained
consciousness, the supervisor summoned rescue and
emergency services. Both the initial entrant and
the first would-be rescuer died of hydrogen
sulfide poisoning.
(Ashfal, 2003)
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Confined Space Case Study 2
SAND ENGULFMENTTwo Ohio foundry employees
entered a sand bin to clear a jam. While they
were working, sand that had adhered to the sides
of the bin began to break loose and fall on them.
One employee quickly became buried up to his
chest, just below his armpits. The other employee
left the bin to obtain a rope, intending to use
it to pull his coworker out of the sand. He
returned to the bin, tied the rope around the
partially buried employee and tried to pull him
free. He was unsuccessful. During his attempted
rescue, additional sand fell, completely covering
and suffocating the employee who had been only
partially buried.
(Ashfal, 2003)
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Potentially Hazardous Roofing Spaces
Some roofing work spaces may meet several of the
hazardous characteristics, but not be defined as
Confined Spaces

• Bottoms of drainage pits and other areas where
  you may be applying waterproofing coatings
• In corners against walls
• Crawl spaces
• Under and around tanks and AC units
• Any place where you are cramped, and generating
  solvent vapors and there is little or no air
  movement!

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Causes of Confined Space Accidents

• Bringing a known hazard into the space.
• Failing to test, monitor ventilate spaces.
• Entering spaces without a permit program.
• Failure to block, blind, bleed or isolate energy
  sources.
• Failure to guard live electrical parts.
• Failure to implement Lock-out/Tag-out.
• Entry by unqualified untrained personnel.

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Recognizing a Safe Confined Space

• Are access/exit equipment such as ladders and
  steps in good working condition?

• Has the C.S. been properly purged of the toxic
  vapors and other toxic substances?
• Are all lines that transport potentially
  hazardous substances into or through the C.S.
  turned off and properly capped?

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Recognizing a Safe Confined Space

• Has proper ventilation (natural or mechanical)
  been provided?
• Has the C.S. been properly ventilated?

• Has the atmosphere inside the C.S. been checked
  by appropriately sensitive detection devices?
• Have provisions made to monitor continually the
  atmosphere inside the C.S. during work?

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Permit-Required Confined Spaces

• A PRCS has one or more of the following
  characteristics
• Contains or has the potential to contain a
  hazardous atmosphere,

• Contains a material that has the potential for
  engulfing an entrant,

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Permit-Required Confined Spaces

• A PRCS has one or more of the following
  characteristics
• Has an internal configuration such that an
  entrant could become trapped or asphyxiated, or
• Contains any other recognized serious safety or
  health hazards

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Permit-Required Confined Spaces

• Under the PRCS OSHA Standard, employers must
• Evaluate all confined spaces to determine permit
  required versus no permit required
• Analyze, evaluate and identify all
  permit-required spaces in their workplaces
• Prevent unauthorized entry into these spaces
• Protect authorized workers from hazards through a
  PRCS program

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Permit-Required Confined Spaces
Fatalities

• 47 Air (Oxygen, Gases, Vapors)
• 21 Drowning (Engulfment)
• 19 Toxic (Liquids, Vapors, etc above PEL
• 10 Blunt Force Trauma

• 2 Electrocution
• (Mostly due to objects the victim took in with
  them)
• 1 Burns

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Controlling the hazardsPRCS procedures
Isolate the space Ventilate the space Conduct
Tailboard Complete permit Test the
atmosphere Enter the space
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Permit Entry Systems

• Written permit signed by entry supervisor
• Verifies pre-entry precautions have been taken
  and the space is safe to enter
• Posted at entry to confined space
• Specifies apparent hazards and corrective actions
  taken prior to entry

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Permit Entry Systems (cont.)
Duration of entry permits must not exceed the
time required to complete an assignment
Permits are valid for up to 12 hours
Employer must keep all canceled entry permits for
at least 1 year
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Entry Permits
Entry permits must include the following
information

• Test results
• Testers initials or signature
• Name and signature of supervisor who authorizes
  entry
• Name of permit space to be entered, authorized
  entrant(s), eligible attendants, and
  individual(s) authorized to be entry
  supervisor(s)
• Purpose of entry and known space hazards

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Entry Permits
Entry permits must include the following
information

• Measures to be taken to isolate permit spaces and
  to eliminate or control space hazards
• Name and telephone numbers of rescue and
  emergency services
• Date and authorized duration of entry
• Communication procedures and equipment to
  maintain during entry
• Acceptable entry conditions

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Entry Permits
Entry permits must include the following
information

• Additional permit(s), such as for hot work, that
  have been issued to authorize work in the permit
  space,
• Special equipment and procedures, including PPE,
  respirators, alarm systems, rescue equipment,
• Any other information needed to ensure employee
  safety

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Duties and Responsibilities Attendant

• To monitor entrants during the job and during
  entry exit to help insure their safety.
• The attendant may not abandon his post for any
  reason while personnel are in the space unless
  relieved by another qualified attendant.
• To monitor atmospheric conditions in the space
  prior to and during entry.
• To control access to the confined space.

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Duties and Responsibilities Attendant

• To summon emergency assistance as needed.
• To assess hazards in and around the space, and
  take action on the same.
• To keep records of confined space work, such as
  air test results, personnel entry/exit, etc.

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Duties and Responsibilities Entrant

• To assure that the space has been adequately
  ventilated, isolated, emptied, or otherwise made
  safe for entry.
• To immediately exit a space, without question,
  upon word of the attendant, no matter what the
  reason.

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Duties and Responsibilities Entrant

• To follow all safety rules and procedures that
  apply to the job.
• To be familiar with the work to be performed and
  the procedures that apply to the job.

• To use the appropriate PPE whenever necessary.

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Duties and ResponsibilitiesSupervisor

• To assure adequate protection is provided to the
  entrants by verifying adequate lockout/tagout and
  that all hazards are securely isolated.
• To support the attendants authority in
  controlling access to a confined space.

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Duties and ResponsibilitiesSupervisor

• To verify that all personnel have exited prior to
  closing the space.
• To assure that all personnel involved are aware
  of the hazards associated with the space.
• To assure that rescue services are available
  prior to entry.

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Confined Space Entry Labels
Confined spaces are required to be labeled!
Workers should obey signs and follow permit
procedures before entry.
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Training and Education

• Who? When?
• All workers who must enter confined spaces

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Training and Education

• Who? When?
• All attendants and rescue team members including
  cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first-aid
  training
• Prior to initial work assignment

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Training and Education (cont.)
Upon completing the training

• Employers must ensure that employees have
  acquired the understanding, knowledge, and skills
  necessary for the safe performance of their
  duties
• Employees must receive a certificate of training
  that includes the employees name, signature or
  initials of trainer(s), and dates of training

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Training and Education (cont.)

• Additional training is required when
• The job duties change,
• There is a change in the permit-space program or
  the permit space operation presents a new
  hazards, and
• When an employees job performance shows
  deficiencies

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And dont forget!
Our families need us!
Everyday, they expect us to return home safe and
healthy.
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Questions?
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Training Evaluation
What did you like about this training?
What suggestions do you have for changes?
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Acknowledgements
This training program was developed by
Hispanics Work Safewww.hispanicsworksafe.org
How to contact us? Maria Julia
Brunette Department of Work Environment
University of Massachusetts LowellOne
University Ave., Lowell, MA 01854Phone
978-934-3248 Fax [phone]Email
Maria_Brunette_at_uml.edu
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Acknowledgements
This training program was funded by grants
from Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA)
This material was produced under grant number
46A3-HT15 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.