3/28/2024

Confined
Spaces
Can and Will Kill You!

Dangers of Confined Spaces

◼ https://www.csb.gov/videos/no-escape-
dangers-of-confined-spaces/

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Four Minutes
◼ “Four minutes is all it takes for a confined
space "rescue" to turn into a "body
retrieval" exercise. After only four minutes
without oxygen, it highly is likely that a
worker who is not wearing a respirator will
experience brain damage or death.”
▪ EHS Today – June 2017

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Oxygen Deficiency
◼ On Oct. 21, 2016, an employee in California entered a drainage
shaft to clean out mud and debris. The worker descended 10 feet
down into the shaft via a bucket.
◼ The worker was not wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus or
personal fall protection as the bucket lowered him down into the
shaft, which was 4.5 ft. in diameter and lined with concrete.
◼ There was not enough oxygen in the shaft to support life and
because he was not wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus,
the worker asphyxiated.
◼ He lost consciousness due to the oxygen-deficient atmosphere in
the confined space and fell 40 feet, drowning in a foot of water at the
bottom of the shaft.

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Statistics Speak
◼ About 2.1 million workers enter permit confined spaces
annually.
◼ According to the National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health (NIOSH), approximately 60 percent of
confined-space fatalities are rescuers, and OSHA
reported that when multiple deaths occur during a
rescue, most of the victims are "would-be" rescuers.

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NIOSH Statistics
◼ 85% of the time a SUPERVISOR was present.
◼ 29% of the dead were SUPERVISORS.
◼ 31% had WRITTEN Confined Space Entry PROCEDURES.
◼ 15% had Confined Space TRAINING.
◼ 60% of "WOULD-BE" RESCUERS died.
◼ 95% were AUTHORIZED by supervision.

◼ Out of 100 deaths that were investigated, the main reasons the
workers entered the confined space were to perform their work
functions of routine maintenance, repairs, and inspections of the
confined space.

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Reason to Enter Confined

Space

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Confined Space Hazard

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Confined Space Hazard

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Standard
◼ Permit-Required Confined Spaces
 29 CFR 1910.146

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29 CFR 1910.146
Permit-Required Confined Spaces
◼ Scope & application ◼ Training
◼ Definitions ◼ Duties of authorized
◼ General requirements entrants
(to include dev. of ◼ Duties of attendants
written plan) ◼ Duties of entry
◼ Permit-required supervisors
confined spaces ◼ Rescue & emergency
◼ Permit system services
◼ Entry permit ◼ Employee
participation
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Appendices
◼ Appendix A - Permit-Required Confined Space Decision
Flow Chart
◼ Appendix B - Procedures for Atmospheric Testing
◼ Appendix C - Examples of Permit-Required Confined
Space Programs
◼ Appendix D - Confined Space Pre-Entry Check List
◼ Appendix E - Sewer System Entry
◼ Appendix F - Rescue Team or Rescue Service
Evaluation Criteria

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Confined Space
◼ Is large enough & so configured that
employee can bodily enter & perform
assigned work.
◼ Has limited or restricted means for entry or
exit.
◼ Is not designed for continuous employee
occupancy.
◼ Name some confined spaces.

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Confined Spaces
◼ Silos
◼ Vessels
◼ Pits
◼ Tanks
◼ Rooms

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Permit-Required Confined Space

Confined space that has one or more of
following characteristics:
◼ Contains or has potential to contain
hazardous atmosphere.
◼ Name a hazardous atmosphere????
◼ Contains material that has potential for
engulfing entrant
◼ Name something that engulf you????

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Permit-Required Confined
Space
◼ Has internal configuration such that
entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by
inwardly converging walls or by floor which
slopes downward & tapers to smaller
cross-section
◼ Contains any other serious safety or
health hazard

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Internal Configuration

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Can You Name A Few

Examples?
◼ Pits
◼ Aboveground Tanks
◼ Underground Storage Tanks
◼ Utility Vaults
◼ Sewers (Sanitary AND Storm)
◼ Silos
◼ Mixing Tanks
◼ Trenches
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Characteristics
◼ Internal configuration
 Open - no obstacles, barriers or obstructions
within space (i.e. water tank)
 Obstructed - permit space contains some type
of obstruction that rescuer would need to
maneuver around, such as baffle or mixing
blade
◼ Large equipment, such as ladder or scaffold
brought into space for work purposes, would be
considered obstruction if positioning or size of
equipment would make rescue more difficult
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Characteristics
◼ Elevation
 Elevated- permit space where entrance portal
or opening is above grade ≥ 4 ft
◼ Usually requires knowledge of high angle rescue
procedures because of difficulty in packaging &
transporting patient to ground from portal
 Non-elevated - permit space with entrance
portal located ≤ 4 ft above grade
◼ Will allow rescue team to transport injured
employee normally

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Characteristics
◼ Portal size
 Restricted - portal ≤ 24” in least dimension
◼ Too small to allow rescuer to simply enter space
while using SCBA
◼ Too small to allow normal spinal immobilization of
injured employee
 Unrestricted - portal ≥ 24” in least dimension
◼ These portals allow relatively free movement into
and out of permit space

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Characteristics
◼ Space access
 Horizontal - portal located on side of permit
space
◼ Use of retrieval lines could be difficult
 Vertical
- portal located on top of permit space;
rescuers must climb down, or at bottom of
permit space, rescuers must climb up to enter
space
◼ May require knowledge of rope techniques or
special patient packaging to safely retrieve downed
entrant
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How Do You Define Entry?

◼ Entry
 Action by which person
passes through opening into
permit-required confined
space
 Entry includes ensuing work
activities in space and is
considered to have occurred
as soon as any part of
entrant’s body breaks plane
of opening into space

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WHY IS CONFINED SPACE

TRAINING IMPORTANT?

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POTENTIAL EXPOSURE
TO
HAZARDOUS ATMOSPHERES

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Hazardous Atmospheres
◼ Atmospheres that may expose employees
to risk of death, incapacitation, impairment
of ability to self-rescue (i.e. unaided
escape from permit space), injury or acute
illness.

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Types of Hazardous Atmospheres

 Oxygen Deficiency and Enrichment

 Flammable Gases or Vapors
 Toxic Atmospheres
 Airborne Combustible Dust
 Absence of Free Air Flow In and Out
 Temperature Extremes
 Other Hazards

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O2 Deficiency and Enrichment

◼ Normal Atmospheric O2
>19.5% or <23%
◼ Outside that safe range
spells trouble
◼ Causes of O2 deficiency
includes
 Leaking Materials
 Decomposition
 Corrosion

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Flammable Atmospheres
◼ The presence of gases or
vapors at flammable or
explosive concentrations
◼ Lower Explosive Limit
(LEL)
 Lower Flammable Limit
(LFL)
◼ Upper Explosive Limit
(UEL)
 Upper Flammable Limit (UFL)

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Common Combustible Gases

Common Combustible Gas LEL's and UEL's
LEL UEL
Acetone (CH3)2CO 2.15% 13.0%
Acetylene C2H2 2.5% 100%
Benzene C6H6 1.2% 8.0%
Ethane C2H6 3.0% 15.5%
Ethyl Alcohol CH2H5OH 3.3% 19.0%
Ethyl Ether (C2H5)2O 1.7% 36.0%
Hexane C6H14 1.1% 7.5%
Hydrogen H2 4.0% 75.6
Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) (CH3)2CHOH 2.0% 12.7%
Methane CH4 5.0% 15.0%
Methanol CH3OH 6.0% 36.0%
Pentane C5H12 1.5% 7.8%
Toluene C7H8 1.2% 7.0%

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Methanol

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Toxic Atmospheres
◼ Atmospheric
concentration of any
substance for which dose
or Permissible Exposure
Limit (PEL) could result in
employee exposure in
excess of dose or PEL.
◼ Any other atmospheric
condition that is
Immediately Dangerous
to Life and Health (IDLH).

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Common Toxic Gases

Encountered

◼ Carbon
Monoxide
◼ Hydrogen
Sulfide

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Exposure Limits
Exposure Limits

Limit Carbon Monoxide (CO) Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)

TWA 35 ppm 10 ppm

STEL 200 ppm 15 ppm

IDLH 1200 ppm 100 ppm

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Carbon Monoxide Exposure

CO ppm Hours Effects on Humans

50 8 Permissible Exposure Limit

200 3 Slight headache, discomfort

600 1 Headache, discomfort

1000 – 2000 2 Confusion, nausea, headache

1000 – 2000 1 Tendency to stagger

1000 – 2000 ½ Slight heart palpitation

2000 – 2500 ½ Unconscious

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Hydrogen Sulfide Exposure

H2S ppm Hours Effects on Humans

10 8 Permissible Exposure Limit

50 – 100 1 Mild irritation of eyes, throat

200 – 300 1 Significant irritation

500 – 700 ½-1 Unconsciousness, Death

>1000 Minutes Unconsciousness, Death

0.005 - Odor Threshold Value

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Combustible Dusts
◼ Loading, unloading or conveying grain
products, finely ground chemical products,
nitrated fertilizers
◼ Static electricity build up at <50% humidity
◼ Combustible dust concentration exceeds
LEL when dust obscures vision at 5 feet or
less.

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Imperial Sugar Explosion

◼ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg7mL
SG-Yws&t=14s

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Temperature Extremes
◼ Extremely hot or cold spaces
◼ Warm spaces decrease working efficiency and
can make a person tired sooner. Prone to more
mistakes
◼ Humidity factors
◼ Steam heating while cleaning
◼ Heat from welding
◼ PPE

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Other Hazards
◼ Engulfment
◼ Falling Objects
◼ Noise
◼ Slick/Wet Surfaces
◼ Vibrations

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Engulfment
◼ Surrounding & effective capture of person by
liquid or finely divided (flowable) solid substance
that can be aspirated to cause death by filling or
plugging respiratory system.
◼ Can exert enough force on body to cause death
by strangulation, constriction or crushing.

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Other Hazards
◼ Unstable or dangerous work surfaces
◼ Falling objects
◼ Generating welding fumes

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Other Hazards
◼ Insects or animals
◼ Biological
 Molds
 Bacteria
 Viruses

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Atmospheric Testing
◼ Process by which hazards that may confront
entrants are identified & evaluated
◼ Testing includes specifying tests to be performed
in permit space
 Note:testing enables employers to devise &
implement adequate control measures for protection
of authorized entrants & determine if acceptable entry
conditions are present immediately prior to & during
entry

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Testing Protocol
◼ BEFORE employee enters space, internal
atmosphere must be tested, with
calibrated direct-reading instrument, for
following conditions in order given
 Oxygen content
 Flammable gases & vapors
 Potential toxic air contaminants

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Testing Equipment
◼ Portable Gas
Detection Instruments
 Single-Gas
 Multi-Gas

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GAS DENSITY

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Sampling Interval

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Methanol

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Ventilation
◼ Mechanical
Ventilation Control
Preferred by OSHA
◼ ACH – Air changes
per hour
◼ Duct configuration
and length a concern

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Air Exchanges Per Hour

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Isolation
◼ Process by which permit space is removed from
service & completely protected against release of
energy & material into space by:
 Locking out electrical sources
 Blanking and bleeding pneumatic and hydraulic lines
 Disconnecting belt and chain drives, and mechanical
linkages on shaft-driven equipment
 Securing mechanical moving parts within confined
spaces with latches, chains, chocks, blocks or other
devices.

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PPE
◼ Evaluated separately
◼ Respirators
◼ SCBA
◼ SAR

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Entry Permits
◼ Permit space to be entered
◼ Purpose of entry
◼ Date & authorized duration of permit
◼ Authorized entrants
◼ Authorized attendants
◼ Name & signature of entry supervisor
◼ Hazards of permit space to be entered
◼ Isolation of hazard control measures
◼ Acceptable entry conditions
◼ Results of initial & periodic atmospheric monitoring
◼ Rescue & emergency services
◼ Communications procedures
◼ Equipment required for entry & rescue operations
◼ Other necessary information & other required permits
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Confined Space Entry

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Confined Space Entry

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PRCS Signage

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Players in the Game

◼ Authorized Entrants
◼ Attendant
◼ Entry Supervisors

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Authorized Entrant
◼ Employee
authorized by
employer to enter
permit space

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Duties of Authorized Entrants

◼ Know hazards that may be faced during entry,
including information on mode, signs or
symptoms & consequences of exposure
◼ Properly use equipment
◼ Communicate with attendant as necessary

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Duties of Authorized Entrants

◼ Alert attendant whenever:

 Entrant recognizes any warning sign or
symptom of exposure to dangerous situation
 Entrant detects prohibited condition

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Duties of Authorized Entrants

◼ Exit from permit space…
 Order to evacuate is given by attendant or
entry supervisor
 Entrant recognizes any warning sign or
symptom of exposure to a dangerous
situation
 Entrant detects prohibited condition
 Evacuation alarm activated

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Attendant
◼ Individual stationed
outside one or more
permit spaces who
monitors authorized
entrants & performs
all attendant’s duties
assigned in
employer’s permit
space program

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Duties of Attendants
◼ Knows hazards that may be faced during entry
◼ Aware of possible behavioral effects of hazard
exposure in authorized entrants
◼ Continuously maintains accurate count of
authorized entrants
◼ Remains outside permit space during entry
operations until relieved by another attendant

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Duties of Attendants
◼ Communicates with authorized
entrants
◼ Monitors activities inside & outside
space
◼ Summons rescue & other
emergency services
◼ Performs non-entry rescues as
specified by employer's rescue
procedure
◼ Performs no duties that might
interfere with primary duty to
monitor & protect authorized
entrants

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Entry Supervisor
◼ Person (such as employer, foreman or crew chief)
responsible for determining if acceptable entry
conditions are present at permit space where entry is
planned, for authorizing entry & overseeing entry
operations & for terminating entry
 Note: entry supervisor may serve as attendant or
authorized entrant, as long as that person is
trained & equipped as required for each role filled
◼ Duties of entry supervisor may be passed from one
individual to another during entry operations

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Duties of Entry Supervisor

◼ Knows hazards that may be faced during entry,
including information on mode, signs or
symptoms & consequences of exposure
◼ Verifies, by checking that appropriate entries
have been made on permit, all tests specified by
permit have been conducted & all procedures &
equipment specified by permit are in place
before endorsing permit & allowing entry to begin
◼ Terminates entry & cancels permit

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Duties of Entry Supervisor

◼ Verifies that rescue services are available & means for
summoning are operable
◼ Removes unauthorized individuals who enter or attempt
to enter permit space during entry operations
◼ Determines, whenever responsibility for permit space
entry operation is transferred & at intervals dictated by
hazards & operations performed within space, that entry
operations remain consistent with terms of entry permit &
acceptable entry conditions are maintained

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Rescue Service
◼ Personnel
designated to rescue
employees from
permit spaces
 Note:rescue personnel
may be industry
emergency personnel,
outside rescue service or
combination of teams

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Rescue & Retrieval

◼ In-house Rescue
◼ Outside Rescue
◼ Employer who designates rescue &
emergency services must:
 Evaluate prospective rescuer's ability to
respond to rescue summons in timely
manner, considering hazard(s) identified

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Retrieval System
◼ Equipment (including
retrieval line, chest or
full-body harness,
wristlets, if
appropriate, & lifting
device or anchor)
used for non-entry
rescue of persons
from permit spaces

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Rescue Ropes
Kernmantle Wire Rope

Vertical lifelines must have a minimum breaking strength of 5000 lbs

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Identifying Damaged Rope

Kernmantle “Boogers” Wire Rope

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Full Body Harness

◼ Hardware (D-Rings)
◼ Webbing
 ANSI Standard 5000 lb
tensile strength
◼ Pads

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Lanyards

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Tripods and Winches

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DON’T LET THIS BE YOU!

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