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Confined Space Entry Program

Purpose

To protect health and significantly reduce accidental injury and death associated with entering,
working in and exiting from confined spaces. This program will be used to make employees
aware of hazards associated with confined spaces and to provide them with safe work practices
for these areas. This program will be reviewed annually and revised when additional confined
spaces are identified or if additional hazards are introduced in existing spaces.

Definitions

A. “Confined Space” means a space that:

2. Is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform
assigned work; and

2. Has limited or restricted means for entry or exits; and

2. Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.

B. “Permit Required Confined Space” means a confined space that has one or more of the
following characteristics:

1. Contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere;

2. Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant;

3. Has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by

inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a
smaller cross-section; or

4. Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.

 C. “Hazardous Atmosphere” means an atmosphere that may expose employees to the risk
of death, incapacitation, impairment of ability to self-rescue (that is, escape unaided from
a permit space), injury, or acute illness from one or more of the following causes:

1. Flammable gas, vapor, or mist in excess of 10 percent of its lower flammable limit
(LFL);

2. Airborne combustible dust at a concentration that meets or exceeds its LFL;

3. Atmospheric oxygen concentration below 19.5 percent or above 23.5 percent;

4. Atmospheric concentrations of any substances for which a dose or a permissible

exposure limit is published in Subpart C, Occupational Health and Environmental
Control or in Subpart Z, Toxics and Hazardous Substances, or this part and which
could result in employee exposure in excess if its dose or permissible exposure limit;

5. Any other atmospheric condition that is immediately dangerous to life and health.

D. “Engulfment” means the surrounding and effective capture of a person by a liquid or

finely divided (flowable) solid substance that can be aspired 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.

Confined Space Entry Procedure

A. Implement the measures necessary to prevent unauthorized entry.

1. Untrained or unauthorized individuals shall not be permitted in confined space work

areas.

a. Alerting techniques such as “Danger” signs and barricades shall be used to

prevent unauthorized entry into the work areas.

B. Before entry of a confined space is authorized, a WestPoint Stevens Confined Space

Entry Permit shall be prepared to document that the space is safe to enter.

1. Before entry begins, the entry supervisor identified on the permit shall verify all
necessary precautions have been taken and then sign the entry permit to authorize
entry.

2. The completed permit shall be made available at the time of entry to all authorized
entrants, by posting it at the entry portal so that the entrants can confirm the pre-entry
preparations have been completed.
 3. The duration of the permit may not exceed the time required to complete the assigned
task or job identified on the permit.

4. The entry supervisor shall terminate entry and cancel the entry permit when:

a. The entry operations covered by the entry permit have been completed, or

b. A condition that is not allowed under the entry permit arises in or near the
confined space (e.g., loss of ventilation, a facility or area emergency, etc.).

5. Once the job is complete, and all entrants have exited the space, and the space is ready
to be returned to normal service, the entry supervisor shall debrief personnel involved
in the entry and cancel the permit. Any problems encountered during an entry
operation shall be noted on the permit so that appropriate revisions to the confined
space program can be made.

6. Each canceled entry permit shall be retained for at least 1 year to facilitate the review
of the permit-required program. The safety coordinator is responsible to review the
permit-required confined space program and revise the written confined space entry
program on an annual basis.

C. Any conditions that make it unsafe to remove an entrance cover shall be eliminated
before the cover is removed.

D. When entrance covers are removed, the opening shall be promptly guarded by a railing,
temporary cover or other temporary barrier that will prevent an accidental fall through the
opening and that will protect each employee working the space from foreign objects
entering the space.

E. Identify and evaluate the hazards of confined spaces before employees enter them.

1. Before an employee enters the space, the internal atmosphere shall be tested by the
Plant Engineer or Maintenance Personnel properly trained with a calibrated direct-
reading instrument and the entrant will be given the opportunity to observe the
monitoring and results. The following conditions in the order given will be
monitored:

a. Oxygen content,

b. Flammable gases and vapors, and

c. Potential toxic air contaminants

2. If toxic, flammable, or combustible vapors are found, or if an oxygen deficiency is

found, efforts will be made to eliminate or control these hazards.
 3. If hazards cannot be eliminated, no employee will enter the space until appropriate
measures are taken to protect the employee from the hazards.

4. If entry into a hazardous atmosphere is authorized, entry conditions shall be

continuously monitored in the area where authorized entrants are working.

F. The confined space shall be isolated, removed from service, and completely protected
against the release of energy material into the space by such means as:

1. Blanking or blinding – the absolute closure of a pipe, line, or duct by the fastening of
a solid plate (such as a spectacle blind or a skillet blind) that completely covers the
bore and that is capable of withstanding the maximum pressure to the pipe, line, or
duct with no leakage beyond the plate.

2. Misaligning or removing sections of lines, pipes, or ducts.

3. A double block and bleed system – the closure of line, duct, or pipe by closing and
locking or tagging two in line valves and by opening and locking or tagging a drain or
vent valve in the line between the two closed valves.

4. Lockout, tagout, and tryout all sources of electrical, pneumatic, mechanical, chemical
and thermal energy or,

5. Blocking or disconnecting all mechanical linkages.

G. Purge, inert, flush, or ventilate the confined space as necessary to eliminate or control
atmospheric hazards.

1. Continuous forced air ventilation shall be used, as follows:

a. The forced air ventilation shall be so directed as to ventilate the immediate

areas where an employee is or will be present within the space and shall
continue until all employees have left the space.

b. The air supply for the forced air ventilation shall be from a clean source and
may not increase the hazards in the space.

2. Inerting means the displacement of the atmosphere in a permit space by a

noncombustible gas (such as nitrogen) to such an extent that the resulting atmosphere
is noncombustible. This procedure produces an IDLH oxygen deficient atmosphere.

H. Provide pedestrian, vehicle, or other barriers as necessary to protect entrants from

external hazards.
 I. Test or monitor the confined space as necessary to determine if acceptable entry is being
maintained throughout the duration of an authorized entry.

J. At least one attendant is required outside the confined space, into which entry is
authorized, for the duration of entry operations.

K. The confined space shall be evacuated immediately under any of the following
conditions:

1. If the entrant of attendant detects a prohibited condition.

2. If the entrant recognized any warning sign or symptom of exposure to a dangerous

situation.

3. If the attendant detects the behavioral effects of the hazard exposure in an authorized
entrant.

4. If the attendant detects a situation outside the space that could endanger the
authorized entrant, or,

5. If the attendant cannot effectively and safely perform all required duties.

Rescue Procedures

A. At least one member of the rescue service holding current certification in first aid and in
CPR shall be available.

B. To facilitate non-entry rescue, retrieval systems or other methods shall be used whenever
an authorized entrant enters a confined space, unless the retrieval equipment would
increase the overall risk of entry or would not contribute to the rescue of the entrant.
Retrieval systems shall meet the following requirements.

1. Each authorized entrant shall use a chest or full body harness, with a retrieval line
attached at the center of the entrant’s back near shoulder level or above the entrant’s
head.

2. The other end of the retrieval line shall be attached to a mechanical device or fixed
point outside the confined space in such a manner that rescue can begin as soon as the
rescuer becomes aware that the rescue is necessary. A mechanical device shall be
available to retrieve personnel from vertical confined spaces of more than 4 feet deep.
 C. If in the process of a confined space entry, an attendant becomes aware that an entrant
needs assistance in escaping from confined space hazards, the attendant shall:

1. Summon rescue and other emergency services, and

2. Begin non-entry rescue procedures.

D. Attendants may enter a confined space to attempt a rescue if they have been trained and
equipped for rescue operations, and if they have been relieved by another attendant.

E. If an injured entrant is exposed to a substance for which a material safety data sheet
(MSDS) or similar written information is required to be kept at the worksite, that MSDS
or written information shall be made available to the medical facility treating the exposed
entrant.

Duties of Affected Employees

C. It is the duty of Authorized Entrants to:

1. Know the hazards that may be faced, including signs and symptoms and
consequences of exposure.

2. Properly use equipment, such as:

a. Testing and monitoring

b. Ventilating

c. Personal protective equipment

d. Communications

e. Lighting

f. Barriers and shields

g. Equipment for safe entrance and exit

h. Rescue and emergency

i. Any other necessary equipment

3. Communicate with attendant as necessary.

 4. Alert the attendant when:

a. Entrant recognizes any warning sign or symptom of dangerous exposure

b. Entrant detects a prohibited condition

5. Exit from confined space as quickly as possible whenever:

a. An order to evacuate is given by the attendant or the entry supervisor

b. Entrant recognized any warning sign or symptom of dangerous exposure

c. Entrant detects a prohibited condition

d. An evacuation alarm is activated

C. It’s the duty of the Attendants to:

1. Know the hazards that may be faced, including signs and symptoms and
consequences of exposure.

2. Monitor employee in confined space for any irrational behavior or signs of

sickness (headaches, nausea, quickened pulse, coughing, sneezing, choking
sensations, pressure in chest or heat).

a. Either the attendant or the entry supervisor should have current certificate in
first aid and CPR.

3. Continuously maintain an accurate count of entrants and ensure adequate

identification of entrants.

4. Remain outside the space in constant visual contact with the individual in the
confined space until relieved by another attendant.

5. Communicate with entrant as necessary to monitor entrant’s status and to alert

entrants of the need to evacuate.

6. Monitor activities inside and outside the confined space to determine if it is safe
to remain, or order evacuation if:

a. The attendant detects a prohibited condition

b. The attendant detects behavioral effects of hazard exposure in an entrant.

 c. The attendant detects a situation outside the space, which could endanger
entrants.

d. The attendant cannot effectively and safely perform his/her duties.

7. Summon rescue as soon as the attendant determines entrant may need help in
escape.

a. In case of an emergency, never leave position; Do not enter the Confined

Space. Use radio if necessary to summon help.

8. Perform non-entry rescue.

C. It is the duty of the Entry Supervisors to:

1. Know the hazards that may be faced, including signs and symptoms and
consequences of exposure.

2. Verify, by checking entries made on the permit, that all test specified by the
permit have been conducted and that all procedures and equipment are in place
before signing the permit allowing entry to begin.

3. Oversee attendant assignments.

a. If necessary, attendant should be assigned personal protective equipment that

the area may require.

4. Terminate entry and cancel permits when:

a. Entry operations have been complete.

b. A condition that is not allowed in the permit arises.

5. Verify rescue services are available and the means to summons them are operable.

a. Insure that the attendant has a radio to summon assistance without leaving the
entry area.

6. Remove unauthorized individual(s) who enter or attempt to enter a confined space

during entry operations.

7. Determine that entry operations are consistent with the terms of the permit.
Training For Confined Space Entry

A. Training sufficient to allow the entrant to safely perform work in the confined space shall
be provided to each affected employee (authorized entrant, attendant, and entry
supervisor):

3. Before the employee is first assigned confined space operations duty,

2. Before there is a change in assigned duties,

3. Whenever there is a change in confined space operations that presents a hazard about
which an employee has not been trained, and

4. Whenever the employer has reason to believe that there are deviations from confined
space procedures or that there are inadequacies in the employee’s knowledge or use
of these procedures.

B. The training shall establish employee proficiency in the duties required of authorized
entrants, attendants, entry supervisors and rescue service members, and shall introduce
new or revised procedures, as necessary.

C. Once trained, each employee serving as authorized entrant, attendant, entry supervisor or
rescue service member shall be certified. The certification shall contain:

1. Each employee’s name,

2. The signatures or initials of the trainers, and

3. The date of training

The certification shall be available for inspection by employees and their authorized
representatives.

D. Employees who enter permit spaces to perform rescue services shall receive all of the
training normally given to authorized entrants, attendants, and entry supervisors. In
addition their training shall also include the following:

1. The proper use of any personal protective equipment or rescue equipment necessary
for making rescues from permit spaces.

2. The specific duties required for rescue personnel.

3. Practice making permit rescues at least once every 12 months, by, means of simulated
rescue operations in which they remove dummies, mannequins, or actual persons
from the actual or representative confined spaces.
 4. Basic first-aid including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Contractors Working In Confined Spaces

A. When the employer hires a contractor to perform work that involves confined space
entry, the maintenance supervisor or the plant engineer shall be responsible for:

1. Informing the contractor that the workplace contains permit-required confined spaces
and that confined spaces entry is allowed only through compliance with the
employer’s written confined space entry program.

2. Apprising the contractor of the hazards identified with the space and the employer’s
experience with the space.

3. Apprising the contractor of any precautions or procedures that the employer has
implemented for the protection of employees in or near confined spaces where
contractor personnel will be working.

4. Debriefing the contractor at the conclusion of the entry operations regarding the
confined space program and any hazards confronted or created in confined spaces
during entry operations.

5. Coordinating entry operations when employees of more than one employer are
working simultaneously as authorized entrants in a permitted space, so that
employees of one employer do not endanger the employees of another employer.

B. Each contractor who is retained to perform confined space entry operations shall:

1. Comply with all confined space requirements outlined in the written confined space
entry program.

2. Obtain any available information regarding confined space hazards and entry
operations from the company.

3. Coordinate entry operations with the employer, when both employer personnel and
contractor personnel will be working in or near confined spaces.

4. Inform the employer of the confined space program that the contractor will follow
and any hazards confronted or created in confined spaces, either through a debriefing
or during operation.
Contractor Providing Confined Space Rescue

A. When the employer arranges to have persons other than its own employees perform
permit space rescue, the employer shall:

1. Inform the rescue service of the hazards they may confront when called on to perform
rescue at the employer’s facility.

2. Provide the rescue service with access to all confined spaces from which rescue may
be necessary so that the rescue service can develop appropriate rescue plans and
practice rescue operations.