A Guide to Safety in Confined Spaces by Ted Pettit and Herb Linn U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service Centers for Disease Control National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health July 1987 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Congremsional Sales Office US. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402What is NIOSH? The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) was formed in 1971 to conduct research, develop educational and training resources, and develop criteria for recommended standards in the area of occupational safety and health. NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Public Health Service under the Department of Health and Human Services in the executive branch of the U.S. Federal Government. NIOSH employs about 850 administrators, scientists, engineers, technicians, and support staff at its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, and its laboratories and offices in Cincinnati, Ohio and Morgantown, West Virginia, This guide was developed by the NIOSH Division of Safety Research in Morgantown, West Virginia. DHHS (NIOSH) PUBLICATION NO. 87-113INTRODUCTION If you are required to construct or work in a: BOILER, CUPOLA, DEGREASER, FURNACE, PIPELINE, PIT, PUMPING STATION, REACTION OR PROCESS VESSEL, SEPTIC TANK, SEWAGE DIGESTER, SEWER, SILO, STORAGE TANK, SHIP’S HOLD, UTILITY VAULT, VAT, or similar type enclosure, you are working in a confined space (See examples on page 3). How Can You Identify a Confined Space? A confined space is a space which has any one of the following characteristics: « limited openings for entry and exit « unfavorable natural ventilation e not designed for continuous worker occupancy. Limited openings for entry and exit: Confined space openings are limited primarily by size or location. Openings are usually small in size, perhaps as small as 18 inches in diameter, and are difficult to move through easily. Small openings may make it very difficult to get needed equipment in or out of the spaces, especially protective equipment such as respirators needed for entry into spaces with hazardous atmospheres, or life-saving equipment when rescue is needed. However, in some cases openings may be very large, for example open-topped spaces such as pits, degreasers, excavations, and ships’ holds. Access to open-topped spaces may require the use of ladders, hoists, or other devices, and escape from such areas may be very difficult in emergency situations.