Safe Systems of Work

A Safe System of Work is a formal procedure

based on a systematic examination of the work in
order to:
a. identify all the hazards
b. define safe methods of working which
eliminate those hazards or minimize the risks
associated with them.
 Safe Systems of Work
Anytime a worker needs to bypass or defeat a control
measure in order to do a task, Safe Systems of Work
have to be applied:
• LOTO (Lockout/Tagout) Program
• Confined Space Entry Procedures
• Permit-to-Work Systems
• Hot Work Permitting System
• Electrical Safety
• Work-at-Heights Permitting System, etc.
 Republic Act No. - 11058
Chapter V
Joint and Solidary Liability
Sec. 21. Employer’s Responsibility and Liability. – The
employer, project owner, general contractor, contractor or
subcontractor, if any, and any person who manages, controls
or supervises the work being undertaken shall be jointly and
solidarily liable for compliance with this Act.
 Confined Space Work and
Basic Atmosphere/Gas Testing
 Objectives
At the end of the session, participants will be
able to:
• Appreciate the basic concepts of Safety in
Confined Space Work
• Identify the common hazards that can affect
workers in confined spaces
• Clearly understand procedures and equipment
needed for making confined space work safe
for the entrants
• Understand the requirements for safe
confined space rescue
 Why these guidelines?
Confined spaces can be deadly
• Many workers are injured and killed each year
while working in confined spaces
• An estimated 60% of the fatalities have been
among the would-be rescuers (OSHA)
• Confined space work
pose much greater
hazards than regular
work
What are Confined Spaces?
Confined space?

Boiler drums
Confined space?

Enclosed rooms
Confined space?

Submarine
What are Confined Spaces?
There are three (3) criteria: [OSHA]
• Large enough for an employee to bodily enter
and do work
• Has limited or restricted means of entry and
exit
• Not designed for continuous employee
occupancy
Confined Spaces
Examples:
Storage Tanks

Silos
Confined Spaces
Examples
Septic Tanks

Large pipelines
(inside)
Confined Spaces
Examples

Pits and
excavations
Confined Spaces
Classified into:
• Permit required confined spaces
(PRCS)
• Non-permit confined spaces
(NPCS)
Permit Required Confined Spaces

Have any of four (4) characteristics,

in addition to the three (3) criteria
for confined spaces.
Permit Required Confined Spaces
1. Contain hazardous atmosphere (or have
a potential for it)

Asphyxiant gases Flammable substances Toxic substances

CO2, N2, Ar, etc. Fuel oils, Fuel gas, etc. H2S, CO, Cl, etc.
Permit Required Confined Spaces
2. Contain materials with a potential to
engulf the entrant

Fly ash,
cement or
flour in silo
Permit Required Confined Spaces
3. Has an internal configuration such that an
entrant could be trapped

Hoppers
Permit Required Confined Spaces
4. Contain any other recognized serious
safety or health hazard

Electrical Mechanical Heat

If none of these four (4) hazards are found
in the confined space, then the space is
classified as

Non-Permit Confined Space

 Categorizing confined spaces
Is the space:
Not a
• Large enough to bodily enter ? AND NO
confined
• With limited or restricted entry or exit? AND
space
• Not designed for continuous occupancy?
YES

Confined Space

• Hazardous atmosphere? OR
YES
• Engulfment hazards? OR NO
Permit Required Non-Permit
• Entrapment hazard? OR
Confined Space Confined Space
• Any other recognized
serious hazards?
Best practice
1. Identify/classify all confined spaces in the work
place
2. Put warning signs in all entry points of identified
confined spaces

3. It is advisable to use a barricade system on

entrances to support safety signs
Evaluation of confined spaces
In the evaluation of confined spaces the key
determinant is whether hazards are found and
whether these hazards can be “eliminated” without
the need for entry or merely “controlled”.

Eliminated NPCS

Controlled PRCS
Evaluation of confined spaces
Hazards commonly found in confined spaces
1. Atmospheric 8. Temperature extremes
2. Engulfment 9. Excessive noise
3. Entrapment 10. Slick/wet surfaces
4. Mechanical 11. Fall hazards
5. Electrical shock 12. Falling object hazards
6. Caustic, corrosive, bio- 13. Lack of lighting
hazard 14. Work-created hazards
7. Dust (e.g., welding, cutting)
Evaluation of confined spaces
Atmospheric hazards
Toxic, flammable, O2 deficient/enriched

Toxic substances Flammable substances Asphyxiant gases

H2S, CO, Cl, etc. Fuel oils, Fuel gas, etc. CO2, N2, Ar, etc.

If control of incoming hazards is by positive

isolation, followed by draining, flushing, then
NPCS. If not, then PRCS
Evaluation of confined spaces
Engulfment hazards
Ex. Fly ash in silo, or flour in storage bins

If control of incoming hazards is by positive

isolation, followed by draining, then NPCS.
If not, then PRCS
 Positive Isolation
Physical disconnection (e.g., spool removal)
Device to be
Fluid isolated

Double block and bleed with spade

Device to be
Fluid isolated

Single block and bleed with spade

Device to be
Fluid isolated
Evaluation of confined spaces
Entrapment – configuration of the confined
space

Adequate temporary working platform can be

considered as hazard elimination - NPCS
Fall-arrest PPE is control - PRCS
Evaluation of confined spaces
Mechanical hazards (moving parts)
Ex. Agitators in tanks or pits

Compliance with Lockout/Tagout Standards is

considered to eliminate the hazard - NPCS
Evaluation of confined spaces
Electrical shock

Compliance with LOTO standards is considered

to eliminate electrical hazards - NPCS
Evaluation of confined spaces
Chemical Storage/Dosing Tanks

If control of incoming hazards is by positive

isolation, followed by draining, flushing &
purging, then NPCS. If not, then PRCS
Evaluation of confined spaces
Water Storage Tank
Basic Atmosphere Testing
Potential Atmospheric Hazards in
Confined Spaces
• Oxygen deficiency/enrichment
• Flammable atmosphere
• Toxic atmosphere
• Others (e.g., dusty atmosphere)
Basic Atmosphere Testing
Potential Atmospheric Hazards in
Confined Spaces

O2 Deficiency or O2 Enrichment
<19.5% >23.5%
concentration
 Oxygen Deficient Atmospheres
• 19.5 % Minimum acceptable oxygen level.
• 15 -19% Decreased ability to work strenuously.
Impair coordination. Early symptoms.
• 12-14% Respiration increases. Poor judgment.
• 10-12% Respiration increases. Lips blue.
• 8-10% Mental failure. Fainting, Nausea,
Unconsciousness, Vomiting.
• 6-8% 8 minutes-fatal, 6 minutes -50% fatal, 4-5
minutes -possible recovery.
• 4-6% Coma in 40 seconds. Death!
 Oxygen Enriched Atmospheres
• Oxygen level above 23.5%.
• Causes flammable and combustible materials
to burn violently when ignited.
• Never use pure oxygen to ventilate.
• Never store or place compressed O2 tanks in a
confined space.
Basic Atmosphere Testing
Potential Atmospheric Hazards in
Confined Spaces
Flammable Atmosphere (LEL values)
• Hydrogen 4.0%
• Methane 5.0%
• Acetlylene 2.5%
• Propane 2.1%
• Gasoline fumes 1.2%
* Space should be at <10% LEL
 Flammable Atmosphere
LEL – the lower limit of concentration in air at
which a flammable substance will burn (below
this, the mixture is too lean – not enough fuel).

UEL – the higher limit of concentration in air at

which a flammable substance will burn (above
this, the mixture is too rich – not enough O2).
Basic Atmosphere Testing
Potential Atmospheric Hazards in
Confined Spaces
Toxic Atmosphere
• Hydrogen Sulfide, H2S
• Carbon monoxide, CO
• Chlorine, Cl2
• Ammonia, NH3
• Gasoline fumes
*Should be <TLV-TWA for the particular gas
Basic Atmosphere Testing
Potential Atmospheric Hazards in Confined Spaces
Toxic Atmosphere TLV-TWA* IDLH*
• Hydrogen Sulfide, H2S 10 100
• Carbon monoxide, CO 25 1200
• Chlorine, Cl2 0.5 10
• Ammonia, NH3 25 300
• Benzene, C6H6, 0.5 500
*Note: All concentrations in parts per million
(ppm) unless otherwise noted.
 Effects Of Hydrogen Sulfide Exposure
ppm Time Effects & Symptoms
10 8 hr Permissible exposure level
50 to 100 1 hr Mild eye and respiratory
irritation
200 to 300 1 hr Marked eye and
respiratory irritation
500 to 700 ½-1 hr Unconsciousness, death
> 1000 Minutes Unconsciousness, death
 Effects Of Carbon Monoxide Exposure
ppm Time Effects & Symptoms
35 8 hrs Permissible Exposure Level
200 3 hrs Slight headache, discomfort

400 2 hrs Headache, discomfort

600 1 hrs Headache, discomfort
1000 to 2000 2 hrs Confusion, discomfort
1000 to 2000 ½ to 1 hr Tendency to stagger
1000 to 2000 30 min Slight heart palpitations
2000 to 2500 30 min Unconsciousness
4000 > 1 hour Fatal
 Carbon Monoxide

An engine-driven pump produces

carbon monoxide
 Carbon Monoxide

An engine-driven pump produces

carbon monoxide
Testing confined space atmosphere
Test all areas of a confined space.

– Methane is lighter
than air.

– Carbon Monoxide is
about the same
weight as air.

– Hydrogen Sulfide is
heavier than air.
Testing confined space atmosphere

Testing of atmosphere to be done

regularly, frequency/interval to be
determined by:
• Severity of hazard
• Type of isolation performed
• Prevailing conditions
Testing confined space atmosphere
Gas detector selection is based on:
Purpose of test
Concentrations of gas
Levels of toxicity
Location of work
Number and frequency of tests
Other equipment in use
 Types of gas detector
 Drager Multi-Warn Mark 2 Multiple gas
detector monitors levels

 Impact Neotronics PRO gas detector – for

detecting hydrocarbons in inert
atmosphere

 MSA Tankscope - for detecting

hydrocarbons in inert atmosphere

 Drager vacuum pump and chemical tubes

tests concentrations
 Types of gas detector

Various types of gas

detectors used in Sur- IPP
Testing confined space atmosphere
What PPE do we need?
Respiratory protective equipment
Gloves
Eye protection
Hearing protection
Helmet
Chemical Resistant Clothing
Safety boots
Control of Atmospheric Hazards
• Isolation of source of hazard
• Venting/purging to a level of
concentration acceptable per
standards
Safe equipment isolation (process)
Classes of Isolation [per HSE Guidance 253]
A. Positive Isolation – complete separation of
equipment from other parts of the system
B. Proved Isolation – valved isolation with bleed to
prove effectiveness of isolation
C. Non-proved Isolation – valved isolation with no
provision to prove effectiveness of isolation
Classes of Isolation [per HSE Guidance 253]
A. Positive Isolation – complete separation of
equipment from other parts of the system
1. Physical disconnection (e.g., spool removal)

Device to be
Fluid isolated

2. Double block and bleed with spade

Device to be
Fluid isolated
Classes of Isolation [per HSE Guidance 253]
A. Positive Isolation – complete separation of
equipment from other parts of the system

3. Single block and bleed with spade

Device to be
Fluid isolated
Essential Equipment
 Planning the Work
• Consider if there is a way to do
the job without going in
• If you have to go in, use safe
systems of work
• Make sure you know what the
emergency rescue plan is

Note: Never use oxygen supplies to ‘sweeten’ the

air (this is a very serious fire/explosion risk)
 Consider doing the work from
outside
Have the work done from outside, for example
• blockages can be cleared in silos by use of
remotely operated rotating flail-devices,
vibrators or air purging equipment
• inspection, sampling and cleaning operations
can often be done from outside the space
using appropriate equipment and tools
• remote cameras can be used for internal
inspection of vessels
 Check the size of the entrance
Is it big enough to allow workers
wearing all the necessary
equipment to climb in and out
easily, and provide ready access
and exit in an emergency? For
example, the size of the opening
may mean choosing air-line
breathing apparatus in place of
the self-contained breathing
apparatus.
 Providing Ventilation
You may be able to increase the
number of openings and
therefore improve ventilation.
Mechanical ventilation may be
needed to make sure there is an
adequate supply of fresh air. This
is essential where portable gas
cylinders and diesel-fuelled
equipment are used inside the
space because of the dangers
from build-up of engine exhaust.
 Providing Ventilation
Dilution/Forced Ventilation
(Supplied Air Ventilation)

Local Exhaust Ventilation

 Ventilation Requirements
The amount of time that is required to remove
the contaminants is dependent on a number of
considerations:
• the concentration of the contaminants
• the mixing factor
• the capacity of the air moving devices used
Ventilation Requirement
(Work with Solvents)
 Ventilation Requirements
NOTE:
The foregoing should only serve as a guide.

There is no substitute for actual confined space

atmosphere testing before entry, and periodic or
continuous monitoring while workers remain
inside.
Entry to Non-Permit Confined Spaces
• Space to be entered is classified as Non-
Permit Required
• No activities are planned to be conducted in
the confined space that could create a
hazard
• No chemicals will be brought inside the
confined space that could create a hazard
• No conditions in or around the space that
could adversely affect entrants
NPCS Entry
Form
NPCS Entry
Form
Permit Required Confined Space Program
• Establish, in writing, and implement a system
for entry permits;
• Implement necessary measures to prevent
unauthorized entry;
• Identify and evaluate permit space hazards;
• Test atmospheric conditions in the permit
space before entry and during entry;
Permit Required Confined Space Program
• Procedures and practices to eliminate or
control hazards for safe permit space entry;
• Appropriate testing for atmospheric hazards in
this sequence: oxygen, combustible gases or
vapors, and toxic gases or vapors;
• Coordinate entry operations when employees
of more than one employer are working in the
permit space;
Permit Required Confined Space Program
• Procedures for summoning rescue and
emergency services, and preventing
unauthorized personnel from attempting
rescue;
• Provide and maintain, at no cost to the
employee, personal protective equipment and
any other equipment necessary for safe entry
and require employees to use it;
Permit Required Confined Space Program
• Review established entry operations annually
and revise the permit space entry program as
necessary; and
• Implement the procedures that any attendant
who is required to monitor multiple spaces
will follow during an emergency in one or
more of those spaces.
Confined Space
Entry Permit
Confined Space
Entry Permit
Confined Space
Entry Permit
 Confined Space Entry
Great care must be taken in ensuring the
personnel involved in the work are:
• Fully trained
• Adequately equipped
• In good health
• Of suitable build (in consideration of physical
layout, entry/exit points)
 Roles and Responsibilities
Entrant

The employee who

will physically enter
the confined space to
perform the work.

85
 Roles and Responsibilities
Authorized entrants are required to:
■ Know space hazards, including information on
the means of exposure such as inhalation or
dermal absorption, signs of symptoms and
consequences of the exposure;
■ Use appropriate personal protective equipment
properly;
■ Maintain communication with attendants as
necessary to enable them to monitor the
entrant’s status and alert the entrant to evacuate
when necessary;
 Roles and Responsibilities
Authorized entrants are required to: (cont’n)
■ Exit from the permit space as soon as possible
when:
o Ordered by the authorized person;
o He or she recognizes the warning signs or
symptoms of exposure;
o A prohibited condition exists; or
o An automatic alarm is activated.
■ Alert the attendant when a prohibited
condition exists or when warning signs or
symptoms of exposure exist.
 Roles and Responsibilities
Attendant
The employee who
remains outside the and:
• monitors the entrant(s)
• guards the space
against unauthorized
entry
• warns the entrants of
any unusual conditions
• summons the rescue
personnel if needed.

88
 Roles and Responsibilities
The attendant is required to:
■ Remain outside the permit space during entry
operations unless relieved by another authorized
attendant;
■ Perform non-entry rescues when specified by
the employer’s rescue procedure;
■ Know existing and potential hazards, including
information on the mode of exposure, signs or
symptoms, consequences and physiological
effects;
 Roles and Responsibilities
The attendant is required to: (cont’n)
■ Maintain communication with and keep an
accurate account of those workers entering the
permit space;
■ Order evacuation of the permit space when:
o A prohibited condition exists;
o A worker shows signs of physiological effects of
hazard exposure;
o An emergency outside the confined space
exists; and
o The attendant cannot effectively and safely
perform required duties.
 Roles and Responsibilities
The attendant is required to: (cont’n)
■ Summon rescue and other services during an
emergency;
■ Ensure that unauthorized people stay away
from permit spaces or exit immediately if they
have entered the permit space;
■ Inform authorized entrants and the entry
supervisor if any unauthorized person enters the
permit space; and
■ Perform no other duties that interfere with the
attendant’s primary duties.
 Roles and Responsibilities
Entry Supervisor
The employee responsible
for:
• Confirming “safety” of
the confine space before
allowing entry
• Coordinating entry into
the confined space.
• Ensuring all entrants
have exited prior to
closing the space

92
 Roles and Responsibilities
Entry supervisors are required to:
■ Know 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;
 Roles and Responsibilities
Entry supervisors are required to: (cont’n)
■ Verify that rescue services are available and
that the means for summoning them are
operable;
■ Take appropriate measures to remove
unauthorized entrants; and
■ Ensure that entry operations remain consistent
with the entry permit and that acceptable entry
conditions are maintained.
 IMPORTANT!

Any time a limit is exceeded, no matter

what the reason, all personnel shall
immediately exit the space, and no
others shall enter until atmospheric
conditions are returned to safe levels.

ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS TO
THIS RULE!
 Emergency Rescue
Emergency rescue teams
must be available while
authorized entrants are
in the confined space.
• Rescue Teams within
the company
• Rescue Teams that can
be called in during
emergencies
 ~ 6 out of 10 fatalities
are would-be rescuers!

96
 Rescue Equipment
Employees who conduct rescues must be
provided with proper personal protective
equipment and trained in the proficient
use of that equipment. Employers must
evaluate a rescuer’s ability to respond in a
timely manner (the specific hazard
involved will determine what is considered
to be timely).

97
 Rescue Equipment
• Each entrant must be provided with retrieval
equipment, such as an approved body harness with a
retrieval line.
• The other end of the retrieval line must be attached
to a mechanical device or fixed point outside the
space.
• A mechanical device must be available to retrieve
personnel from a vertical space more than 5 feet
deep.
• Equipment that can become tangled or will not work
because of the configuration of the space must not
be used.

98
 Rescue Techniques
There are 3 types of rescue techniques
(depending on the hazards involved):
1. Non-entry
2. Entry by others
3. Entry by Trained employees from the
company

99
 Rescue Techniques

1. Non-entry – Rescue
that is conducted without
entry into the confined
space. This can be
conducted by such means
as a rope or winch.

100
 Rescue Techniques
2. Entry by others –
Some companies do not
have trained personnel for
emergency rescue. They
depend on others to
conduct emergency
rescues such as the Fire
Department.

101
 Rescue Techniques
2. Entry by others
continued – in this case
the Fire Department
would need to be
familiar with:

• the types of confined spaces located in the facility,

• the entry means into the confined spaces,
• the types of rescue equipment to effect a rescue,
• the types of PPE required for any potential rescue.

102
 Rescue Techniques
3. Entry by Trained employees from the company –
some companies have trained personnel within the
company to conduct rescues.

Members of the rescue

team must be specially
trained in confined space
rescue work, as well as
First Aid/CPR

103
 Emergency Rescue
 If a rescue is required, the rescue service must close off the area,
get authorized entrants out of the space and perform first aid
when needed.
 It is best to use a retrieval system to bring the employee out of
the space. Never enter the space without proper training and
equipment, and only if it is absolutely necessary.
 Authorized entrants should
wear harnesses connected to
the retrieval line. The
retrieval equipment must be
in place before employees
enter the permit space.

104
 Clear Points
• Many workers are injured and killed each year
while working in confined spaces, with an
estimated 60% of the fatalities being among
the would-be rescuers
• All confined spaces should be identified, and
barriers and safety signage should be in place
• Proper entry procedures will protect workers
from the hazards of confined spaces
• Only properly trained personnel should do
confined space work and rescue operations
Questions?
Thank you!