CONFINED SPACES

Note to GEOLOG personnel

GEOLOG personnel must not conduct

any work activities in confined spaces
unless they have received training and
certification on confined space entry
procedures and have a Permit To Work.
Without adequate training, you place
yourself and rescue personnel at risk
by attempting confined space
entry operations.
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 What is a Confined Space?
A confined space is:
1. A place which is substantially enclosed
(though not always entirely)
– Large enough and so configured that a
person can bodily enter and perform work;
– Has limited or restricted means of
entry/exit;
– Not designed for continuous occupancy;
– Some work areas may only become a
confined space due to the nature of the
task you are carrying out.
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 What is a Confined Space?
A confined space is:
2. A place where serious injury can occur
from hazardous substances or conditions
within the space or nearby. Example:
– Enrichment or lack of oxygen;
– Free flowing solids;
– Liquids;
– Asphyxiating or toxic/poisonous gases;
– Explosive or flammable vapours or gases;
– Hot working conditions;
– High concentrations of dust;
– Residues left in the enclosed space.
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More confined spaces

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 Confined Space Incidents
Some incident and injury statistics for confined space:
• At least one serious incident occurs out of every 100 confined
space entries.
• 85 % of the incidents resulted in serious injury.
• 70 % of the serious injuries resulted in fatalities.

• 60 % of all confined space fatalities were «would-be rescuers».

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 Identifying a confined space
All areas that have been identified as
confined spaces should be restricted to
authorised personnel only.
Confined spaces can be identified by:
• Warning signs;
• Barriers around the entry area to
prevent unauthorized access;
• During confined space work, a current
permit-to-work must be posted outside
the entry area during the entire
procedure.
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 Unidentified confined spaces
Even if an area has not been identified and signposted
as a confined space, this does not mean that it does
not pose a confined space danger to you.
Before entering any space, you should consider
whether it poses any of the following threats:
• Any condition which poses an immediate threat
to the health or life of an entrant, or:
• Would cause irreversible adverse health effects, or:
• Would interfere with an individual’s ability to escape
If any of these conditions are found, then this space is
Immediately Dangerous to Health and Life (IDHL) and
should be treated as you would any other confined space.
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 Reducing confined space hazards
Techniques developed to reduce confined
space hazards include:
• Avoiding entry where possible;
• Never perform a work in confined spaces alone
(one must stay outside as safety measure);
• Following a ‘safe system of work’ when entry is
unavoidable;
• Use of a ‘permit-to-work system’ for entry;
• Atmospheric testing;
• Ventilation of hazardous atmospheres;
• Isolation of equipment and entry points;
• Specific confined space entry training;
• PPE/rescue equipment;
• Rescue personnel/teams available.
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 Permit To Work

A Permit To Work (PTW) is required for ALL

tasks where the work area is identified as a
Confined Space.
A PTW ensures that a formal check is undertaken
to make sure all the elements of a safe system of
work are in place before people are allowed
to enter or work in the confined space.
It is also a means of communication between site
management, supervisors, and those carrying out
the hazardous work.

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 Permit To Work features
Essential features of a Permit To Work are:
• Clear identification of who may authorise
particular jobs (and any limits to their authority);
• Who is responsible for specifying the necessary
precautions (e.g. isolation, air testing,
emergency arrangements etc);
• Making sure that contractors engaged to carry
out work are included;
• Training and instruction in the issue of permits;
• Monitoring and auditing to make sure that the
system works as intended.
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 Permit To Work
Permit must be signed by the Entry
Supervisor or other designated responsible
person, posted at all entrances, and made it
available to entrants before they enter in a
confined space.

The duration of entry permits must not

exceed the time required to complete an
assignment (the PTW must state the
required amount of time for the task
to be completed).

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 Permit To Work
Permit must verify that pre-entry
preparations have been completed
and should include the following:
– Specific permit space
identification.
– Purpose and date of entry.
– Duration and authorization.
– Names of authorized entrants.
– Name of authorized attendant
and entry supervisor.
– Hazard identification and Risk
analysis.
– Controls and isolation methods
to be used.
– Acceptable entry conditions.
– Results of initial and periodic
atmospheric testing.
– Rescue and emergency services
to be summoned.
– Communication procedures
between attendant and entrants.
– Equipment to be provided.
– Other permits (e.g. Hot works).
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Confined space entry

• Entry into a confined

space does not require
that you go all the way
into the space.
• Entry in a confined
space is defined as
placing any part of your
body in the confined
space.

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 Confined space hazards
Deficient Oxygen – below 19.5%
It can have any number of causes, however it should
be noted that hot work such as welding will consume
oxygen in a confined space. Therefore, fresh air should
be provided to replace air used during the works.
– 19.5 % Minimum acceptable oxygen level.
– 15 - 19% Decreased ability to work strenuously.
Impaired coordination.
– 10-14% Respiration increases. Poor judgment. Lips turn blue.
– 8-10% Mental failure. Fainting. Nausea.
Unconsciousness. Vomiting.
– 6-8% 4-5 minutes - possible recovery
6 minutes - 50% fatal
8 minutes - fatal
– 4-6% Coma in 40 seconds. Death
Always check oxygen levels before and during a confined space entry.
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 Confined space hazards
Enriched Oxygen atmosphere: over 23.5%
• Increased fire/explosion hazard
– Combustibles burn more easily
– Flammable gases and vapours ignite over a
broader concentration range
• Behavioural effects; Disorientation
If purging/ventilation is required, ensure this is
done with air, not oxygen.
Ensure oxygen lines to equipment do not leak.
Do not take oxygen cylinders into confined spaces.
Always check oxygen levels before and during a confined space entry.
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 Testing & Monitoring
Perform in the following order:
1. Check for Oxygen Content
• Between 19.5% and 23.5%
2. Check for Flammables or Combustibles
• Below 10% of LEL (Lower explosive limit: the minimum
concentration (% in air) of a substance in air which is
required for ignition)
3. Check for Toxic Gasses/Vapors
• Less than PEL (Permissible exposure limit: limit (ppm or
mg/m3) in the United States for exposure of an
employee to a chemical substance or physical agent)
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 Confined space hazards
Toxic/poisonous gas, fume or vapour, above its
specific exposure limit can result in:
• Asphyxiation
– Simple - e.g. Nitrogen (N2), Methane (CH4)
– Chemical - e.g. Carbon monoxide (CO), Hydrogen
Sulphide (H2S)
• Irritants or corrosives
– Primary - affects respiratory system, eyes, skin
– Secondary - may produce systemic toxic effects in
addition to surface irritation
Hot works (e.g. welding) in Conf. Spaces can contribute to these conditions
Always check a confined space for gas contamination before and during a
confined space entry.
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 Carbon Monoxide (CO)
- Odorless, Colorless Gas.
- Combustion by-product.
- Quickly collapse at high concentrations.
PPM Effect
200 Slight headache
500 Death in 4 hours
1,500 IDHL (Immediately Dangerous to Health and Life)
1,600 Headache, dizziness, nausea in 20 minutes,
death in 1.5-2 hours
6,400 Death in 10-15 minutes
10,000 Immediate unconsciousness, death in 1 minute

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 Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
- Originated from decomposition of materials and human
waste.
- Rotten egg odor at low concentrations.
- Very difficult to detect at high concentrations without
proper sensors (no smell).
PPM Effect
20 Permissible Exposure Level
100 Strong unpleasant odor but not intolerable
200-300 Eye inflammation, respiratory tract irritation
after 1 hour
500-700 Death in 30 minutes to 1 hour
700-1,000 Rapid death
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 Confined space hazards

• Fire and explosions – e.g. from flammable

vapours, excess oxygen, explosive dusts, etc.

• Anaerobic digestion of bacteria causes

methane and H2S amongst other things.

• Entrance of gases from pipe work, etc.

• Residues left in tanks, vessels, etc., or

remaining on internal surfaces, which can
give off gas, fume or vapour.

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 Confined space hazards
Hot conditions leading to a dangerous increase
in body temperature.

Conditions may not immediately appear to be

dangerous, but can develop due to:
• Hot work;
• Duration of the task;
• Individual fitness/health;
• Effects of external weather/temperature on
confined space internal temperature.

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 Entry Supervisor
Entry Supervisor
plays an important role in
confined space entry.

He/she is the designated person

responsible for determining if acceptable
entry conditions are present at a confined
space where entry is planned (all tests,
including atmospheric testing, are
conducted), for authorising and overseeing
entry operations, and for terminating the
permit when entry operations are over.
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 Entry Supervisor duties
• Know specific space hazards including
information on the mode of exposure, signs
or symptoms and consequences.
• Verify emergency plans and specified entry
conditions such as permits, tests,
procedures and equipment before allowing
entry.
• Terminate entry and cancel permits when
entry operations are completed or if a new
condition exists.
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 Entry Supervisor duties
• Verify that rescue services are available and
that the means for summoning them are
operable.
• Take appropriate measures to remove
unauthorized entrants.
• Ensure that entry operations remain
consistent with the entry permit and that
acceptable entry conditions are maintained.

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 Safety Attendant
Safety Attendant
• Remains outside the confined space
during entry operations unless relieved
by another authorized attendant.
• Maintain constant contact with entrants.
• Summon rescue and other services
during an emergency.
• Ensure that unauthorized people stay
away from confined spaces or exit
immediately if they have entered the
confined space.
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 Safety Attendant duties
• Perform non-entry rescues only when
specified by the rescue procedure.
• Know existing and potential hazards,
including information on the mode of
exposure, signs or symptoms,
consequences and physiological effects.
• Maintain constant and direct
communication with people inside the
confined space and keep an accurate
account of those workers.
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 Safety Attendant duties
• Order evacuation of the confined space when:
– A prohibited condition exists;
– A worker shows signs of physiological effects of hazard
exposure;
– An emergency outside the confined space exists;
– The attendant cannot effectively and safely perform required
duties.
• Inform authorized entrants and the entry supervisor if any
unauthorized person enters the confined space.
• Perform no other duties that interfere with attendant’s primary
duties.
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 Authorised Entrant/s
Authorised Entrant/s
• Should be the only person/s that enter the
confined space to complete the task assigned,
unless an emergency occurs that requires the
specially trained confined space entry team to
enter for the purpose of enacting a rescue.
• Know space hazards, including information on
the means of exposure such as inhalation or
dermal absorption, signs of symptoms and
consequences of the exposure.
• Alert the attendant when a prohibited condition
exists or when warning signs or symptoms of
exposure exist.
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 Authorised Entrant duties
• Use appropriate PPE in the correct way.
• Maintain communication with attendants as necessary to
enable them to monitor the entrant’s status and alert the
entrant to evacuate when necessary.
• Exit from the confined space as soon as possible or when:
– Ordered by the authorized person;
– He or she recognizes the warning signs or symptoms
of exposure;
– A prohibited condition exists;
– An automatic alarm is activated.
• Carry out the primary task as safely and efficiently as
possible.
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 General requirements
• An air-supplied respirator must
always be present at the site for
emergency use.
• Appropriate PPE (clothing, goggles,
gloves, boots, chemical suits, etc.)
shall be worn when potential hazards
exist.
• A full body harness and lifeline are
mandatory for all entries.

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 General requirements
• Always clear and/or purge the confined
space prior to personnel entry.
• Keep entrances free from obstructions
(e.g. Cords, hoses, cables, etc.) at all times
to ensure a safe job.
• Remind people entering the confined
space of all potential hazards.
• Airline respirators which supply breathing
air to respirator must be worn when
welding in confined spaces where
adequate ventilation is not present.
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 In case of an Emergency
If unsafe conditions are identified during a confined
space entry, the entrant should attempt to leave by:
• Self-rescue methods;
• Extraction from outside space using harnesses,
tripods, hoists, and lifelines if entrant becomes
insensible or unconscious;
• Entry-rescue by specialist rescue team only:
– Lethal hazards may be present within a
confined space, so only properly equipped and
trained emergency rescue personnel may enter
confined spaces to make rescues.

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 Keep in mind!!!

GEOLOG’s employees are

NOT AUTHORIZED to enter confined
spaces to perform rescue operations.
Rig rescue team will be contacted to
perform ALL entry rescues.
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 Thanks for your attention!
If you have any question, feel free to contact your local base or the QHSE
department (qhse@geologinternational.com)

Please complete now the Quiz.

Use the excel file “QHSE training answers” and insert the number of the
correct answers in the columns related to each module.

Please return the excel file with your answers to

qhse@geologinternational.com

Remember that you have to answer to ALL questions.

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