Selva Prakash, Margham Dubai Est.

Tel: 00971-50-5516524; Email: sprakash@mde.ae

Thursday, October 16, 2008 Working in Confined Space 1

Objective

Personnel required to enter into

confined or enclosed spaces must
know –

(a) the hazards involved in Confined

Spaces,
(b) the necessary precautions to be
taken, and
(c) the correct procedures for CSE
works

Thursday, October 16, 2008 Working in Confined Space 2

How to Identify Confined Spaces

• Limited Openings for Entry and Exit

• Openings as small as 18 inches in diameter
• Difficult to enter with SCBA or other life-saving
equipment
• Unfavorable Natural Ventilation
• Lack of air movement in and out of the space
• Deadly gases can be trapped inside
• Not Designed for Continuous Worker Occupancy
• Enclose materials or processes
• Storages for products or substances
• Occasional worker entry for inspection, repair, cleanup,
maintenance, etc.

Thursday, October 16, 2008 Working in Confined Space 3

Typical Confined Spaces in Power Plants

• Power Generator enclosures

• Cable Gallery (underground)
• Gas Pipeline Valve Pits
• Straight cut excavation over 4 feet deep
• Fuel Pump Station located within
enclosures
• Boiler, Degreaser, Furnace
• Vessels
• Septic Tank, Sewage Digester
• Silo, Storage Tanks, Floating Roof
• Sewer, Utility Vault, Manholes

Thursday, October 16, 2008 Working in Confined Space 4

Typical Hazards in Confined Spaces in Power Plants

• Oxygen Deficient Atmospheres e.g. O2 level <

19.5% in air
• Oxygen Enriched Atmospheres e.g. O2 level >
22.5% in air
• Flammable Atmospheres e.g. LEL > 0%
• Toxic Atmospheres e.g. H2S, CO, Cl2
• Temperature Extremes e.g. hot & humid
atmosphere
• Engulfment Hazards e.g. cave-ins
• Electricity e.g. live power cables
• Noise e.g. DG enclosure
• Slick and wet surfaces e.g. slip, trip, fall
• Falling Objects e.g.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
unprotected deep
Working in Confined Space 5
Hazard effect: Oxygen Deficiency
Level of Oxygen in Air

~ 20.8 % Normal
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, Blue lips
8 - 10% Mental failure, fainting, nausea,
unconsciousness, vomiting
6 - 8% 8 minutes - fatal
6 minutes - 50% fatal
4-5 minutes - possible recoveryLoss of cabin pressure and consequent
4 - 6% Death or Coma in 40 seconds unconsciousness led Helios Air Crash
pilot

Thursday, October 16, 2008 Working in Confined Space 6

Hazard effect: Oxygen Enrichment

• Fire or explosion
• Supports combustion e.g. burns
violently the combustible
materials
• E.g. Hair, clothing,
materials, etc.
• Oil soaked clothing and
Fires from Oxygen Use during
materials. Head and Neck Surgery

Thursday, October 16, 2008 Working in Confined Space 7

 Flammable Atmosphere

• Flammable / explosive limits {LEL & UEL}

– Gasoline LEL 1.4% - UEL 7.6%
• Flammable gas or vapor or dust may cause fire or
explosion
• Typical Ignition Sources -
– Sparking or electrical tools
– Welding / cutting works
– Smoking
• Spontaneous combustion in coal stack
• Battery Room
• Hydrogen

Thursday, October 16, 2008 Working in Confined Space 8

Toxic Atmospheres

• Natural Gas is toxic (mostly

methane)
• Gas leak from pipeline or
valves may accumulate gas
• Substances stored or absorbed
in confined spaces may
release toxic gas
• Hazardous jobs such as
welding, gas cutting,
painting/coating cause toxic
atmosphere
• CO in coal stack power plant
• Decomposition of materials.
Human
Thursday, waste (H2S)Working in Confined Space
October 16, 2008 9
Carbon Monoxide
• Odorless, colorless gas
• Combustion by-product
• Quickly collapse at high concentrations

PPM Effect Time

50 Permissible Exposure Level 8 Hours
200 Slight headache, discomfort 3 Hours
600 Headache, discomfort 1 Hour
1000-2000 Confusion, nausea, headache 2 Hours
1000-2000 Tendency to stagger 1 1/2 Hours
1000-2000 Slight heart palpitation 30 Min.
2000-2500 Unconsciousness 30 Min.

Thursday, October 16, 2008 Working in Confined Space 10

 Temperature Extremes
• Extremely hot or cold temperatures
• Steam cleaning in confined spaces
• Humidity factors (human tolerance & Heat
Index)
• Extremely cold liquids
• Work processes inside the confined space can
increase temperature extremes
• Personal protective equipment

Thursday, October 16, 2008 Working in Confined Space 11

 Engulfment Hazards

• Cave-ins (excavation works)

• Flooding of confined space.
• Water or sewage flow

Thursday, October 16, 2008 Working in Confined Space 12

 Other Hazards
• Noise
• Amplified due to acoustics within the space
• Damage hearing, affect communication
• Slick / Wet Surfaces
• Slips and falls.
• Increased chance of electric shock
• Falling Objects
• Topside openings expose workers inside
confined space to falling objects
• Wildlife
• Snakes / insects, scorpions / reptiles

Thursday, October 16, 2008 Working in Confined Space 13

 CSE Safety Checklist
• Work Permit / Authorization / Risk Assessment
– Inspection, works may need CSEP only
– Information, Instruction, Training and Supervision
• Ensure potential energy sources are isolated (ensure LOTO
in place)
• Access and egress e.g. ladder safety
• Ventilation – the first option to correct problems
• Use Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) at initial
entry, and SCBA is needed if hazardous condition persists
• Secure life-lines (retrieval line)
– Bowline knot
– Practice pull-signal communication [single for OK, double to
extent, thrice for pull-out, continuous pull when emergency],
Intrinsically Safe Equipment use e.g. Radio

Thursday, October 16, 2008 Working in Confined Space 14

 CSE Safety Checklist
• Gas Test / Continuous Monitoring and Men Entry Record
– Furnish Form-012 Gas Test Record
– Refer permissible limits
• Entry watch / Standby person
• Ensure fall protection devices in place
• Provide appropriate tag
– Danger - DO NOT ENTER tag (holder) if unfit, LEL above 2% cases
– FIT TO ENTER tag (holder + insert) if fit
• Lightings – approved/explosion proof, hand-lamps used in
hazardous area must be of <24 volts
• Warning signposts
• Warning lights and barriers to excavations > 4 feet deep
• PPE – Clear glass, safety shoes, coverall, hardhat and safety
harness

Thursday, October 16, 2008 Working in Confined Space 15

Thursday, October 16, 2008 Working in Confined Space 16
Regulatory requirement

• Refer to DM Technical Guidelines

– ETG-08: Entry into Confined Spaces
• Refer to Code of Construction Safety
Practice

• Local Order
– No.61 of 1991 on Environmental Regulation in
the Emirate of Dubai, requiring employer(s) to
take adequate precautions for the safety and
health of workers

Thursday, October 16, 2008 Working in Confined Space 17

Best practices
• Job planning and notification for all resources in place in advance
• Check SCBA air –not less than 80%, no leak
• Gas detectors – check calibration, battery and probe in non-
hazardous area
• Check radios and arrange necessary tags and lights
• Ventilation is the first option to correct problems
• Holes and openings must be closed or guarded when not attended
• Attendant to remain outside the confined space and be in constant
contact with the workers inside
• A means must be provided for both safe normal entry or exit, and
emergency extrication
• Re-test the confined space before entry
• Know emergency rescue procedures

Thursday, October 16, 2008 Working in Confined Space 18

Emergency Procedures
• The attendants should attempt
to remove the entrant from the
confined space using,
tripods/hoist, and lifelines
• Attendants are NOT TO ENTER
the confined space
• Remember, lethal hazards may
be present within the confined
space
• Civil Defense should be called for
rescue of entrant if needed -
Call 999

Thursday, October 16, 2008 Working in Confined Space 19

Question?

Thursday, October 16, 2008 Working in Confined Space 20