CONFINED SPACE

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CONFINEDSPACE
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• Introduction Confined Spaces are spaces that can
  be physically entered but have limited means of
  entry and exit. These spaces are not meant for
  continues human occupancy.

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• Entrant The person or persons responsible for
  working in a confined space.
• These persons should understand the program in
  its entirety. Understand the permit. How to
  recognize the hazards, and what to do when they
  find a new hazard in the space that was not
  previously known to exist.
• When you are in a confined space and any unknown
  hazards are found you should exit the space
  immediately.

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• Attendant The person responsible for the health
  and well being of the employees working inside
  the confined spaces (entrants ) is the attendant.
  
• The attendant also has to understand the program
  in its entirety. The responsibility of the
  attendant is to remain in constant communication
  with the entrants.
• Know how and when to contact emergency personnel.
  The attendant will at no time be allowed to place
  any part of their body (ie. Hand, foot, head,
  etc. ) in the space at any time. No exceptions.

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• Authoritative Individual Space Monitoring The
  person or persons responsible for monitoring
  shall be knowledgeable of the equipment they use
  to check the atmospheric hazards in the space.
  They should also be knowledgeable in the physical
  hazards that could occur in the space and must be
  able to convey those hazards in writing on the
  confined space permit.

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• Supervisor At times the supervisor is overlooked
  as a person that needs to be trained in confined
  space procedures. But a supervisor must know the
  possible hazards that exist in confined spaces,
  they must know the procedures to work in a
  confined space and they must know each persons
  responsibility in a confined space operation.
  That is why it is imperative that the supervisor
  be trained at a minimum to the same level of the
  employees they have working for them.

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• About Confined Spaces Confined spaces can be
  identified in many ways.
• One of the most common ways of identification is
  that the area is not built for continuous human
  occupancy. This could be in the way of a tank
  car, bin, hopper, an open pit or trench, or a
  number of other areas.
• Confined spaces are usually more than 4 feet deep
  and do not have easy access or egress.
• But confined spaces are not limited to these.
  Keep in mind the idea that if it is not built for
  continuous human occupancy, no matter the
  configuration, it could and probably is a
  confined space. As always if you are not sure,
  ask.

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• Atmospheric Hazards A number of atmospheric
  hazards could expose employees to the risk of
  illness, limited ability or even death. This
  could happen if we do not prepare properly for a
  confined space. Some atmospheric hazards include
• LEL of airborne combustible dust
•     Oxygen concentration below 19.5. (Lack of
  oxygen)
•    Oxygen concentration above 23.5. (Oxygen
  enriched)
•     Any other substance, know what was in the
  area you are entering.
•   Flammable gasses, vapors, or mists that are
  over 10 of the LEL. 

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• Physical Hazards A number of physical hazards
  could exist in any confined space. Some
  include      Engulfment a liquid or
  flowable solid that could immerse you.    
  Entrapment spaces converging inward making
  escape difficult.     Heat From the
  environment or man made from welding or
  cutting     Falling unstable footing ,
  separate elevations     Noise from enclosed
  area and man made noises.      Inadvertent
  starting from improper lockout/tagout

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• When setting up for confined space it is very
  important to check the space for atmospheric
  hazards. These hazards can be a number of
  different substances as we already discussed.
  After air monitoring occurs, this information
  should be documented on the entry permit.
  Remember different clients may have their own
  permit to use. It is imperative you understand
  the permit you will be working with and
  understand how to identify any potential hazards
  that could be noted on that permit.

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• A number of problems can arise while working in
  confined spaces. We must always keep in mind this
  training is to help prevent those problems from
  arising, but as we all know, it is better to be
  prepared. If the problems do occur we are ready
  to address those problems immediately.

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•        Know how to contact the rescue team
•        Know what each employee must do as
  part of the rescue team
•        Insure the rescue equipment is
  available
•        Insure the people required to use the
  equipment know how to use it

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• Summary We have discussed the job duties of each
  person involved in confined spaces, we have also
  discussed the atmospheric and physical hazards,
  associated with confined spaces, know these
  hazards, look for these hazards, identify these
  hazards. In this program we have looked for the
  need for monitoring spaces, and the need for
  monitoring the employees working in these spaces.
  

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• In closing just remember that confined spaces
  kill, over 50 of the fatalities that occur in
  confined spaces are rescuers. Know how to
  identify a confined space, know how to protect
  yourself from being a statistic. This program is
  only as good as the common sense the employees
  use to make the decisions required to support
  this program, if your not sure ask. Make good
  decisions, your life and your job depend on it.