Confined Space Hazards

& Procedures

What you will Learn

* What is a Confined Space
* Hazards of Confined Spaces
* Basic Entry Requirements

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General Requirements
All employees required to enter confined
or enclosed spaces must be instructed in:
* nature of the hazards
* necessary precautions to be taken
* use of protective and emergency equipment

The employer must comply with any specific

regulations that apply to work in dangerous
or potentially dangerous areas.

What is a Permit Required

Confined Space?

A Permit‐required confined space is confined

space that has one or more of the following
characteristics:

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Typical Confined Spaces
* Boilers & Furnaces
* Pipelines
* Pits
* Process Vessel
* Silo & Storage Tanks
* Sewer & Manholes
* Trenches & Excavations

Hazards of Confined Spaces

* Atmospheric
* Physical Configuration
* Mechanical
* Electrical
* Thermal
* Noise
* Vibration
* Engulfment or Entrapment

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Controlling Confined Space Hazards
Each Confined Space has different hazards. Hazards
can also change with time and usage.

* Post signs to warn of the dangers.

* Use barriers to prevent uncontrolled access
* Develop and use a written space entry program.
* Conduct air monitoring and tests to identify and evaluate
hazards.
* Define acceptable entry conditions.
* Monitor entry conditions
* Eliminate or control the space's atmospheric hazards before
entry
* Lockout all internal hazards prior to entry

Entry Point Hazards

* Small Openings make entry and rescue
difficult
* Sharp edges can tear protective clothing or
air lines
* Temporary ladders and vent gear can make
even large openings difficult to transit
* Vertical entry points are fall hazards

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Ventilation Needed
* Deadly gases can be trapped inside
* Rotting Organic materials create hazardous gases
* Pipe leaks, welding, system material can create
hazardous atmospheres.
* Rust consumes the oxygen you need.

Atmospheric Hazards
* Oxygen Deficient Atmospheres
* Oxygen Enriched Atmospheres
* Flammable Atmospheres
* Toxic Atmospheres
* Corrosive Atmospheres
* Asphyxiating Atmospheres

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Oxygen Deficient
19.5 % is the minimum acceptable
oxygen level for work with out an air
supplied respirator.

Respiration increases. Poor judgment. 12‐14%

Lips blue Mental Confusion 10‐12%
Fainting & Nausea 8‐10%
Causes Death 6‐8%

Asphyxiating Atmospheres
Reduction of oxygen in a confined space may be
the result of either consumption or
displacement.
* Consumption of oxygen takes place during
* Combustion of flammable substances, as in
welding, heating, cutting, and brazing
* Bacterial action, as in the fermentation process
* Chemical reactions as in the formation of rust

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Oxygen Enriched
* Oxygen level above 21%.
* Causes flammable and combustible materials to burn
violently when ignited. Such as:
Hair, clothing, oil soaked materials
* Never use pure oxygen to ventilate.
* Never store or place compressed gas tanks in a
confined space.

Flammable Atmospheres
Required Factors:
* Oxygen
* Flammable Gas, Vapor or Dust
* Ignition Source
‐ Welding
‐ Electric Tools
‐ Sparks
‐ Smoking

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Flammable Atmospheres
Caused by…
* enriched oxygen atmospheres
* vaporization of flammable liquids
* byproducts of work
* chemical reactions
* concentrations of combustible dusts
* fumes from chemicals on inner surfaces

Toxic Atmospheres
* Material in space
‐ Absorbed materials can “gas off”.
‐ Decomposition of materials
* Work being performed
‐ Welding, cutting, brazing, soldering.
‐ Painting, scraping, sanding, degreasing.
‐ Sealing, bonding, melting.
‐ Cleaning, descaling

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Physical Configuration Hazards
The use and shape of a space can create hazardous
conditions
* Use of Ladders & Scaffolding
* Wet or slippery surfaces
* Uneven bottoms
* Bends in tunnels
* Narrow areas that can entrap workers
* Poor lighting
Use retrieval & fall protection when possible

Mechanical Hazards
Some confined spaces have unguarded
mechanical equipment such as:

* Paddles
* Blades
* Shafts
* Chain or belt drives

All equipment must be Locked and Tagged before

entry

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Electrical Hazards
Electric Shock is a possible hazard in Confined
Spaces
Hazard Sources include:
* Broken lighting
* Electrical sensing devices
* Limit switches
* Level indicating devices
* Hazards from equipment taken inside

Temperature Hazards
High and Low Temperatures are Hazards
Burns
Frosbite
Heat Stress
Wearing Protective clothing can increase the heat
stress on a worker

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Worker Comfort
Factors affecting worker comfort:
* Air temperature
* Air velocity though the space
* Humidity
* Radiant heat

Engulfment Hazards
Engulfment is the entrapment of a person by the
contents of a space
* Liquids
* Small granular product such as grain
* Crusting or Bridging of material
* Flooding
* Water Flow
Completely empty the contents before entry
Use retrieval and fall arrest equipment to
prevent sinking into contents of a space.

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Noise Hazards
Noise creates a hazard by
* Causing hearing loss
* Preventing communication
* Lowering worker's effectiveness

Eliminate noise sources prior to entry

Use proper hearing protection

Surface Hazards
Slippery, Wet or Damp Surfaces
* Slips & Falls
* Chemical Exposure
* Possible increased possibility of
electric shock

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Vibration Hazards
* Vibration of the body can cause damage to the
body

* Using Vibrating tools can cause damage to

fingers & hand

* Eliminate equipment vibrations prior to entry

* Use Vibration dampening tools & gloves

Basic Confined Space Entry Procedure

All entrants, supervisors and entry attendants
must be fully qualified

1. Conduct Pre‐Entry Briefing

2. Assemble and check equipment
3. Establish Acceptable Entry Conditions
4. Conduct initial air sampling
5. Execute & Complete Entry Permit
6. Station Entry Attendant

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Entry (continued)
7. Establish Monitoring of Atmosphere
8. Establish Communication
9. Execute Hot Work Permit if applicable
10.Post Confined Space Entry Permit
11. Enter Space
12. Post–entry debrief if problems were
encountered

Testing The Atmosphere

Verify presence of safe work atmosphere.
* Calibrate Air Monitoring Equipment before use
* Test all areas of a confined space
‐ Top, Middle, Bottom
‐ Check for Explosive & Toxic Gases
‐ Check Oxygen level
y Record all readings

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Ventilation
yConsider best of exhaust or supply or both
yProvide workzone exhaust if welding
yPlan ventilation supply and exhaust paths
yEnsure no “re‐circulation” of air supply
yUse continuous ventilation
yRetest the confined space before and during
entry

LOCKOUT!
9Lock & tagging ALL electrical sources.
9Blank & bleeding fluid lines
9Disconnect mechanical drives &shafts.
9Secure mechanical parts
9Lock & Tag all valves

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Rescue Team
9A Qualified Rescue Team and rescue equipment
must be available for entry into all Permit
Required Confined Spaces
9Qualified Entry Attendant must be in constant
communication with workers in the space
9Entry Attendant must have source of
communication with the Rescue Team

Summery
All persons involved in Permit Required Confined
Space Entry must be qualified:
Supervisor
Attendants
Entrants
Rescue Team
Confined Spaces are Dangerous Places – Know how to
control or eliminate hazards

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