Confined Space Entry Training

for University @ Albany

Employees

University @ Albany
Office of Environmental Health & Safety
(442-3495)

(revised) 10/7/10
What is a Confined Space?
Is large enough and so configured that an
employee can enter it and perform work;

Has limited or restricted means of entry;

Is not designed for continuous employee

occupancy
A Permit - required Confined Space
also has one or more of these
hazards.
Potential atmospheric hazard (i.e. not enough
oxygen (O2) or too much Hydrogen Sulfide
(H2S)
Could engulf or trap employees (trenches,
sewer or storm drain pits)
Space is shaped so it could trap an employee or
make it difficult to get out, such as sloping
floors or walls
Any other serious safety and health hazard, i.e.
machinery, electricity, extreme high temp or
cold
Typical Confined Spaces:
Manholes
Storage tanks
Boiler, Degreaser, Furnace
Sewer, Utility Vault
Septic tank, Sewage Digester
Shipyard Barges
Silos, Manure Storage Pits
Trenches, Shafts
Pipeline, Pit, Pumping Station
Reaction or Process Vessel
 A Confined Space entry is never a
solo job!!!

The entrant is the person who enters a confined space.

The attendant is the person who stays outside the

confined space, uses air meter, may assist the entrant
in getting out of the confined space, and calling for
emergency assistance and rescue.

The entry supervisor is responsible for coordinating

the entry into the confined space, communicating
hazards and control measures to team and reviewing
permit. This is usually a foreman, line supervisor or
crew chief.
 Attendant Responsibilities
To monitor atmospheric conditions in the space
prior to and during entry.
To control access to the confined space.
To record air test results.
To look out for changing conditions above and
below.
To order entrants out of space if needed (ex:
medical emergency or if meter fails).
To summon emergency assistance as needed.
To never leave the post without backup.
 Entrant Responsibilities
To follow all safety rules and procedures that
apply to the job.
To be familiar with the work to be performed
and the procedures that apply to the job.
To use the appropriate PPE whenever
necessary.
Maintain communication with attendant
To immediately exit a space, without question,
if attendant tells them to.
Supervisors Responsibilities
To assure that all personnel involved are aware of
hazards of the confined space prior to entry .
To assure adequate protection is provided to the
entrants by verifying adequate lockout/tagout and that
all other hazards are securely isolated, blocked,
blanked, etc and PPE is available.
To support the attendants authority in controlling
access to a confined space.
To notify Power Plant Base before each Confined Space
entry.
To verify that all personnel have exited prior to closing
the space.
To assure that rescue services and the means to
summon them are readily available.
Send completed permit to EHS Chemistry Room B-73
 Sowhat are the hazards?

O2
One of the primary hazards
of entering confined spaces
is oxygen deficiency.

When oxygen level is O2

less than 19.5% the
atmosphere is said to be
oxygen deficient.
 Why? The human body requires
oxygen to carry out cellular

CO2 O2 metabolism. Oxygen is

brought in through the
.
lungs and transported to
cells of body organs by the
red blood cells. When
blood is rich in oxygen it
turns red.

**Note: acceptable O2 level

ranges are 19.5 - 23.5%**
Hazards of Oxygen Deficiency
19.5% minimum acceptable level

15-19% early symptoms , fatigue,

O2 disorientation

12-14% rapid breathing, poor judgment

10-12% rapid breathing, lips blue

CO2 8-10% mental failure, fainting, nausea,

vomiting, unconsciousness

6-8% 8 minutes at this conc.= Death

6 minutes 50-50 chance you might live,
4 or 5 minutes possible recovery

4-6% Coma in 40 seconds. Death

 Hazards Toxic and Flammable
Gases & Vapors
Manholes often remain Manholes may also
covered for long periods accumulate highly
of time. Naturally flammable gases such
occurring toxins, such as Oas methane & ethane.
Hydrogen Sulfide
can accumulate inside of C
manholes.
Carbon monoxide (CO)
Is another common hazard.
H2S
 Hydrogen Sulfide
Decomposition of materials. Human Waste.
Rotten egg odor at low concentrations.
Possibly no warning at high concentrations.
Conc. (ppm) Effect
10 Permissible exposure level ( 8 hours max.)
50 100 Mild irritation eyes, throat
200-300 Significant Irritation
500-1000 Unconsciousness, Death
 Carbon Monoxide
Odorless, Colorless Gas.
Combustion By-Product.
Workers have quickly collapsed at high
concentrations.
PPM Effect
50 Permissible Exposure Level ( 8 hours)
200 Slight headache, discomfort
600 Headache, discomfort
1000-2000 Confusion, nausea, headache,
tendency to stagger, heart palpitations
2000-5000 Unconsciousness
 Confined Space Entry - Hazards
Toxics are
sometimes illegally Material can leach
put into sanitary through soil from
and storm sewers. many miles
?? away.
Leaking oil tanks or
spills may migrate
under ground ??
and seep into
??
manholes.
??
??
 Confined Space Entry - Hazards

Trenches, ravines and other

excavations may also
be considered confined
spaces, if there is a
potential for accumulation
of toxic gases, engulfment
and/or the depletion of
oxygen. ?
 The Confined Space Permit
First things first. Pre-Planning.
The entry of a confined space always starts with the permit.

Confined Space Entry Permit

The OSHA confined
Location and Description of Confined Space:
space standard
Reason for Entry:
requires that an entry
Attendants/Entrants/Supervisor:
supervisor visit the
Atmospheric Monitoring:
work location and
evaluate the conditions
under which entry will
be made.
Pre-planning
Identify hazards of each
confined space entry
job. Complete and
review permit as a
team:
supervisor, attendant,
entrant
Countermeasures,
controls and safety
equipment needed
should be listed on the
permit.
 Pre-planning and hazard controls
Confined Space Entry Permit Safety measures include
Requirements personal protective
Eye protection
Respiratory protection
yes
yes
no
no
equipment (PPE)
Continuous Ventilation yes no
Body Protection yes no
Hand Protection
Foot Protection
yes
yes
no
no
Eye and head injuries are
Weather Protection yes no
always a potential,
therefore safety glasses and
hard hats are required
wear for entrants.

other PPE may also be

needed (i.e. respirators)
 More hazard controls
Confined Space Entry Permit Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) are
Requirements
required for portable electric tools.
Ground Fault Interruption yes no
Lockout of Hazardous
Energy Sources yes no
Lockout and tag equipment
o
both in the confined space
Danger and on adjacent equipment
and processes as needed.
Do not use!
Hazard Controls Isolation
Examples:
Locking and Tagging out electrical
sources and shutoff valves.
Blanking and bleeding pneumatic and
hydraulic lines.
Disconnecting mechanical drives and
shafts.
Securing mechanical parts.
Blanking sewer and water flow.
A means must be provided
for both safe normal entry
or exit, and emergency
extrication.

Tripods with hoist,

lifeline, and full body harness
are often used for emergency
extrication.

Ladders may be used for

ordinary entry and
exit.
Confined Space
Hazard Controls

Use barriers and signs to

prevent students and
pedestrians from falling
into the opening.

Holes and openings must

be closed or guarded
when not
attended.
 Confined Spaces -- Monitoring
Attendants must
constantly monitor Take samples
the confined space before and
for toxic gases, H2S during entry.
oxygen, and O2
combustible gases.
CO
HCN
Use a 4-gas meter CH4
such as the Scott CO2
Scout (available
thru Power Plant)
 Monitoring: Should you ventilate?
Fresh Air
If concentrations of Fresh outside
materials are found to?? air is blown into
be at harmful levels, the space to dilute
the confined space and remove
??
must be ventilated O
to2 contaminants, and
remove them before?? supply oxygen.
entry. O2
?? O2
O2
 Monitoring
Remember: Fresh Air
Should the
concentration ??
of contaminants remain
at harmful levels even O2 ??

after ventilating ??
O2
---DO NOT ENTER---call
?? O2
O2
EH&S (2-3495) for help.
 Confined Spaces - Rescue
Should conditions
develop
which require extrication,
and the entrant cannot
get out of the confined
space on their own,
the attendant must
call for emergency
assistance at once!
Confined Spaces - Rescue

The attendant may attempt to

remove the entrant from the
confined space using tripods, hoist,
and lifelines. Attendants must not
enter to perform rescue. Many
who die in C-S are the wouldbe
rescuers!!

Only properly trained emergency

rescue personnel may enter confined
spaces to make rescues.

(i.e. Albany Fire Department)

 Hazards of Confined Spaces:
Summary
Toxic Atmospheres (H2S, CO, CO2)
Not enough or too much Oxygen
Flammable Atmospheres
Temperature Extremes
Engulfment hazards
Process hazards (welding, degreasing, gas-powered
Equipment, solvents)
Conditions changing from non-hazardous
to hazardous.
Noise, Slick/Wet surfaces, Falling Objects
 Questions?
Contact the EH&S Office (442-3495)
*******************************************************************
References:
OSHA 29CFR 1910.146 Permit-Required Confined
Spaces

University Confined Space Entry Policy