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CONFINED SPACES

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Confined spaces

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Has limited or restricted means of entry or exit.Is large enough for a person to enter to perform tasks.Is not designed or configured for continuous occupancy.Has the potential for a significant hazard to be present.

THE DEFINITION OF A CONFINED SPACE IS GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS A SPACE THAT:

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In the U.S., entry into permit-required confined spaces must comply with regulations promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

These regulations include developing a written program, issuing entry permits, assigning attendant(s), designating entrants, and ensuring a means of rescue.

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According to OSHA, a permit-required confined space (permit space) has the three characteristics listed above (which define a confined space) and one or more of the following:

1.Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere.

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1.Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing the entrant.

2.Has an internal configuration that might cause an entrant to be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor that slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross section.

3.Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazards.

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In addition to the hazards posed by the design of the space, work activities can also pose serious safety hazards (heat, noise, vapors, etc.) that must be taken into account when identifying safety measures that must be taken.

STEAM TUNNELS POSE A THREAT FROM BURST STEAM LINES AND 140+ DEGREE TEMPS.

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CONFINED SPACESSOME EXAMPLES OF CONFINED SPACES;

STORAGE TANKS AND VESSELSSEWERS AND MANHOLESUNDERGROUND UTILITY VAULTSAGRICULTURE SILOSRAILCAR TANKSTUNNELSGRAIN ELEVATORSMARINE VESSEL TANKS

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ATMOSPHERIC HAZARDS

These affect air quality and present immediate hazards to health or life.

Acceptable atmospheric conditions must be verified before entry, and must be monitored continuously while the space is occupied.

The oxygen concentration, the presence of toxic gases, and flammable material are the three conditions that must be monitored.

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ATMOSPHERIC HAZARDS

The presence of combustible substances (methane), carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide or lack or surplus of oxygen must be tested for before anyone can enter a confined space.

Anyone entering a confined space must have the proper training and be certified for confined spaces.

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PPM= Parts per millionLEL= Low explosion limit

FOUR GAS DETECTOR

THE SENSOR IS LOWERED DOWN INTO THE CONFINED SPACE TO SAMPLE THE AIR QUALITY

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The results of the four gas test have to be recorded and documented on the permit

Continued monitoring of the confined space is necessary to ensure continued safety.

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EFFECTS OF OXYGEN ENRICHED & DEFICIENT ATMOSPHERESOXYGEN EFFECTS & CONTENT SYMPTOMS23% Oxygen enriched, extreme fire hazard

20.9% Oxygen concentration in normal air19.5% Minimum permissible oxygen level.

15% to 19% Decreased ability to work strenuously, may impair coordination and may cause early symptoms for persons of coronary, pulmonary or circulatory problems10% to 12% Respiration further increases in rate and depth, poor judgment and blue lips.

8% to 10% Mental failure, fainting, unconsciousness, ashen face, nausea and vomiting.

6% to 8% Recovery still possible after four to five minutes, 50% fatal after 6 minutes, fatal after 8 minutes.4% to 6% Coma in 40 seconds, convulsions, respiration ceases, Death

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PERMIT REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROCEDURE;

Isolate the space Ventilate the space Conduct tailgateComplete permitTest the atmosphereEnter the space.

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CONFINED SPACES RESCUE REQUIREMENTS

When working in confined spaces a worker retrieval system must be utilized.

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Workers must wear a safety line at all times while in a confined space and a standby worker must be present at all times while work is being done in a confined space.

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Injuries and fatalities involving confined spaces are frequent and often involve successive fatalities when would-be rescuers succumb to the same problem as the initial victim.

Approximately 60% of fatalities involve would-be rescuers and more than 30% of fatalities occur in a space that has been tested and found to be safe to enter