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Confined Spaces Program (continued)

Definitions:
Acceptable Entry Condition:
the conditions that must exist in a permit space to allow employees involved with a permit - required confined space entry can safely enter and work within the confined space.

Attendant:
an individual stationed outside one or more permit spaces who monitors the authorized entrants and who performs all attendant duties assigned in the employer's permit space program.

Confined Space:
a space that: (1) is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work; (2) has limited or restricted means of entry or exit; and (3) is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.

Engulfment:
the surrounding and effective capture of a person by a liquid or finely (flowing) solid substance that can be aspirated or cause death by filling or plugging the respiratory system or that can exert enough force on the body to cause death by strangulation, constriction, or crushing.

Entrapment:
a condition where an uninjured person is unable to remove themselves, or any body part, from a confined space. Entrapment occurs as a result of the configuration of a confined space and is often associated with converging or convoluted surfaces.

Entry Permit:
the written or printed document that is provided by the employer to allow and control entry into a permit space.

Entry Supervisor:
the employer, foreman, or crew chief responsible for determining if acceptable entry conditions are present at a permit space where entry is planned, for authorizing entry and overseeing entry operations, and for terminating entry as required.

Flammable or Explosive Limits:
when flammable vapors are mixed with air in the proper proportions, the mixture can be ignited. The range of concentrations over which the flash will occur is designated by the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) and the Upper Explosive Limit (UEL). Flammable limits (explosive limits) are expressed as percent volume of vapor in air.

Hazardous Atmosphere:
an atmosphere that exposes employees to the risk of death, incapacitation, impairment of ability to self - rescue, injury, or acute illness from one or more of the following causes:
  • Flammable gas, vapor, or mist in excess of 10 percent of the lower flammable limit.
  • Airborne combustible dust at a concentration that meets or exceeds the lower flammable limit.
  • Atmospheric oxygen concentration below 19.5 percent or above 23.5 percent.
  • Atmospheric concentration of any substance for which a dose or a permissible exposure limit is published. Note: An atmospheric concentration of any substance that is not capable of causing death, incapacitation, impairment of ability or self - rescue, injury, or acute illness due to is health effects is not covered by this provision.
  • Any other atmospheric condition that is immediately dangerous to life or health.

Hot Work:
any work involving burning, welding, riveting, or similar fire producing operations, as well as work which produces a source of ignition such as drilling or abrasive blasting.

Inerting:
displacement of an area's atmosphere by a nonreactive gas (such as nitrogen) to such an extent that the resulting atmosphere is noncombustible.

Isolation:
the process whereby the confined space is removed from service and completely protected against an inadvertent release of material. Examples are: blanking off lines, lockout of electrical systems and disconnecting mechanical linkages.

Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL):
the maximum 8 hours weighted average of an airborne contaminant to which an employee may be exposed. At no time shall the exposure level exceed the ceiling concentration for the contaminants as listed in 29 CFR 1910 Subpart Z.

Permit - Required Confined Space:
a permit confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics:
  • Contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere
  • Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant
  • Has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross - section
  • Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.

Permit System:
the employer's written procedure for preparing and issuing permits for entry and for returning the permit space to service following termination of entry.

Purging:
the method by which gases, vapors, or other airborne impurities are displaced from a confined air.

Threshold Limit Valve (TLV):
an occupational exposure guide published by the American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienist (ACGIH), extensively used to judge acceptable exposure levels to hazardous substances.
General Safety Hazards
  1. Mechanical
    If the activation of any electrical or mechanical equipment could cause injury to persons in a confined space, each piece of equipment shall be manually isolated and inactivated (locked out) before workers are allowed to enter a confined space. Also, there may be other hazards associated with confined spaces such as flammable vapors or gases in which special precautions must be taken. Preventing vapor leaks, flashbacks, and other hazards by closing valves is not sufficient. All pipes must be physically disconnected or isolation blanks bolted in place. Some tanks or vessels must also be blanked off and a blanket of inert gas placed within the tank to prevent a build - up of flammable vapors.


  2. Communications for Permit - Required Confined Spaces
    Communications between the worker and personnel outside is of the utmost importance. If a worker becomes unconscious or suddenly feels distressed, an injury may quickly become a fatality without proper communication. Communications should include visual monitoring at a minimum. Frequently, there are situations where visual monitoring is impossible and communication by means of a voice or alarm - activated type of communication system shall be necessary.


  3. Entry and Exit
    The extent of the time required to enter and exit is of major significance as a physical limitation and is directly related to the potential hazard of the confined space. The extent of precautions taken and the standby equipment needed to maintain a safe work area will be determined by the means of access and rescue. The following should be considered:
    • Type of confined space to be entered.
    • Access to the entrance.
    • Number and size of openings.
    • Barriers within the space.
    • Occupancy load.
    • Time required to exit confined space.

Training

Training of employees for entering and working in confined spaces is required because of the potential hazards. To insure worker safety, the training program must be especially designed for the type of problems encountered. Instructional areas to be covered in the training program are:

  1. Potential dangers of confined space work.
  2. Emergency exit procedures.
  3. Use of respirators.
  4. Lockout and Tagging procedures.
  5. Fire Protection.
  6. Communications.
  7. Air Quality Monitoring.
  8. Space Ventilation Procedures.
  9. Permitting requirements training of employees must be done by a qualified person or someone knowledgeable in all relevant aspects of confined space entry procedures. The qualified person must be proficient in the following areas:
    • Types of confined spaces that employees will be entering.
    • Chemical and Physical Hazards.
    • Work practices and techniques.
    • Testing requirements, permissible exposure limits, etc.
    • Safety equipment such as respirators, protective clothing and other protection such as helmets and shields.
    • Rescue procedures.
    • Knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and Local regulations.
    • Evaluation and test methods.
The effectiveness of the training program can be determined by the qualified person to see if safe work practices are being followed and testing the employee for knowledge of the operations and hazards. Training shall be provided by the affected departments in conjunction with Safety & Risk Management or any other approved source.

Confined Space Identification and Warning
All confined spaces located on campus shall be identified and posted with appropriate signs to discourage the entry of unauthorized individuals. Where possible they shall be secured to prevent unauthorized entry. The Department of Safety & Risk Management shall identify, classify, and log the location of confined spaces on campus. A copy of the log shall be provided to the rescue service, and to departments on campus that have employees who enter confined spaces. Contractors that enter confined spaces shall be provided with a list of the confined spaces in the building or areas in which they will be working. If a location is encountered on campus that appears to meet the definition of a confined space, and it is not posted as such nor does it appear on the log, contact Safety & Risk Management.

Permit Retention and Record Keeping
All completed permits and pre - entry checklists shall be forwarded to Safety & Risk Management. Individual departments should maintain a copy of these forms. The records kept by Safety & Risk Management shall be retained for the time period specified below. The following records shall be maintained:

  1. Training. Information to include the date, location, instructor, content of course, name and signature of trainee, etc. 3 - years.
  2. Permits and pre - entry check lists. 3 - years.
  3. Equipment calibration and maintenance log. 3 - years.
  4. Confined space log. Indefinitely.
  5. Equipment signout log. 1 - year.


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