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Confined Spaces Program (continued)


Equipment
The Department of Safety & Risk Management will provide and maintain one GasTech gas detector for use by University personnel. Departments may wish to purchase their own gas detectors or may borrow the detectors from Safety & Risk Management.

Contractors
Contractors who enter confined spaces on campus shall be apprised of this written program and the entry procedure. The University shall inform the contractor of hazards present in the space, the University's experience, any precautions or procedures. When employees of the University and the contractor enter a confined space together the entry shall be coordinated to minimize hazards to the employees.

Specific Procedures and Work Practices
The Confined Space Entry procedure does not cover all possible situation or conditions that could be encountered. Additional or different safety features or procedures may be necessary for specific operations.

Entering Confined Spaces


Application
This procedure must be followed when entering confined spaces such as manholes, vaults, boilers, ductwork, vessels, etc. Its intent is to protect entering personnel against such hazards as oxygen deficiency, combustible gas and vapors, toxic gases and vapors, mechanical hazards, entrapment, etc.

Confined spaces may be closed on all sides, top and bottom, with entry provided through restricted openings, or may be open completely on one side, top or bottom. Entry is defined as breaking the plane of the confined space with any part of the body.

Permit - required confined spaces are of greater hazard than non - permit required confined space. The entry points to permit - required confined spaces are marked with red stenciled signs stating: Danger - Permit - Required Confined Space, Do Not Enter. The entry points to non - permit required confined spaces are marked with yellow stenciled signs stating: Caution, Confined Space, Authorized Entry Only.

It is important to realize that a non - permit required confined space may require re - classification based on the type of work to be performed. For example, an underground vault may be classified as non - permit required, however, if an employee will be applying a solvent within this space it could be upgraded to permit - required.

Procedure
WARNING: SMOKING IS NOT PERMITTED IN A CONFINED SPACE NOR NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO A CONFINED SPACE AT ANY TIME. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WHEN THE SPACE IS BEING INITIALLY OPENED AND THE ATMOSPHERE TESTED.
WARNING: ALL ENERGY SOURCES MUST BE LOCKED OUT OR TAGGED OUT PRIOR TO ENTRY, UNLESS OTHERWISE APPROVED BY THE AUTHORIZED ENTRY SUPERVISOR.
  1. Prior to entering the confined space, the following minimum requirements must be observed:
    1. No person may enter the confined space without specific training in confined space entry and approval of their supervisor;
    2. Any conditions making it unsafe to remove an entrance opening cover shall be evaluated and the necessary precautions applied before the cover is removed;
    3. When an entrance opening cover is removed, the opening will be promptly guarded by a railing, temporary cover or other temporary barrier that will prevent an accidental fall through the opening and will protect each employee working in the space from foreign objects entering the space.
    4. Before an employee enters the space, the internal atmosphere shall be tested with a calibrated direct - reading instrument for oxygen content, flammable gases and vapors and toxic gases and vapors (in that order). Note that some instruments test for multiple gases simultaneously. If the presence of a toxic gas or vapor is suspected in a confined space, other than carbon monoxide or hydrogen sulfide, contact Safety & Risk Management for advice on air sampling. Hot air and steam shall be ventilated from steam vaults prior to testing the atmosphere.
      1. If possible, the atmosphere immediately inside the cover (entry point) shall be tested without removing the cover. This can be accomplished using a short section of plastic tubing and the hand - held aspiration bulb attached to the gas meter. If the cover does not have a sampling port, carefully open the cover a small amount and check the atmosphere immediately inside the cover or inserting the tube and using the hand held aspiration bulb.
      2. After testing the atmosphere immediately inside the confined space, carefully remove the cover. Test the atmosphere from the top to bottom and around ductwork and uneven surfaces. This can be done by slowly lowering the gas meter extension probe. Do not let the gas meter or extension probe submerge in any water that might be present. For horizontal confined spaces and confined spaces that must be entered from the bottom, it will be necessary to use a pole to test the atmosphere;
      3. Avoid leaning over the space or placing your head inside the confined space you are testing.
    5. If the oxygen concentration test indicates an oxygen deficiency (less than 19.5%) or an excess (more than 23.5%), the gas meter should sound an alarm and forced ventilation of the confined space shall be required. No entry into the confined space shall be permitted until follow - up tests after ventilation indicate that the atmosphere is safe.
    6. If the flammability test (combustible gas) indicates a flammable concentration greater than 10% of the lower explosive limit, the gas meter should sound an alarm and forced ventilation must be provided. No entry shall be permitted until follow - up tests indicate that the atmosphere is safe.
    7. The gas meters test for carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide. Carbon monoxide is produced by internal combustion engines and hydrogen sulfide is often found in sewers. If the gas meter indicates levels of either carbon monoxide that exceed 25 parts per million (ppm) or hydrogen sulfide that exceed 10 ppm, the gas meter should sound an alarm and forced ventilation is required. No entry shall be made until the atmosphere is safe.
    8. After purging, sufficient ventilation shall be supplied to the confined space where needed, making sure that your source of ventilation air is not contaminating the confined space (i.e. carbon monoxide from traffic).
    9. At this point the confined space entry permit (for permit - required confined spaces) or check list (non - permit required confined spaces) must be completed. Each person entering the confined space must sign the confined space entry permit. The confined space entry permit must be posted near the entrance to the confined space. For outdoor entry points during wet or windy weather, the permit may be kept in a nearby location such as a department vehicle. It is now acceptable to enter the confined space.
    10. Pre - entry retesting for air contaminants in the confined space atmosphere must be made after every work break.
    11. If a hazardous atmosphere is detected while individuals are in the space, each employee shall leave the space immediately.
    12. If an attendant outside the confined space orders an evacuation or if the gas meter signals an alarm, all employees shall immediately evacuate the confined space. The space shall not be re - entered until the source of the problem has been identified and corrected.
    13. The completed confined space entry permit or checklist must be kept in the department files and a copy forwarded to the Safety & Risk Management Office.
  2. In addition to the minimum requirements before entry, the following procedures must be observed for entry into a permit - required confined space:
    1. An attendant must be stationed outside the confined space to maintain voice and/or visual contact with entrants and to recognize early symptoms of danger in the space. The attendant must be fully familiar with the proper rescue procedures and recognition of hazardous conditions. The attendant must not enter the confined space in an emergency. The attendant shall order an evacuation of the confined space if a hazardous condition develops or when the workers inside the confined space appear to be in danger.
    2. When applicable, a lifeline or full - body harnesses shall be provided for each person in the confined space. In some cases, it will not be possible to use these rescue features based on the shape, size or contents of the particular confined space.
    3. A portable radio or other device shall be used to maintain communication between the attendant and the entrant(s);
    4. The number of employees allowed to enter a permit - required confined space shall be kept to a minimum.
    5. The supervisor on site, or a designated authorized person, shall complete the entry permit and make sure all entrants have signed it prior to entry. The supervisor shall cancel the permit at the completion of the job or when conditions substantially change within the confined space such that the permit is no longer valid.
  3. Rescue procedures
    1. If an employee is injured, or becomes unconscious in a permit - required confined space, they shall be retrieved using the rescue tripod and winch or lifeline (if provided). Emergency personnel shall be summoned via 911 as soon as possible after it is recognized that a problem exists. In some instances, the notification may have to be delayed until the injured person has been removed from the space.
    2. The attendant must never enter a confined space. If rescue cannot be accomplished outside the confined space by using a tripod/winch or lifeline, then rescue assistance shall be summoned immediately by calling 911 or the use of portable radios to contact the dispatcher.
Guide to Mechanical Ventilation of Confined Spaces
In many situations, it will be necessary to ventilate a confined space prior to entry and to maintain forced ventilation while the space is occupied. This is required to remove air contaminants, provide oxygen and to keep the air as clean as possible. The following is a guide to help ventilate confined spaces. Some confined spaces have a single opening; others have multiple openings or are connected to tunnels, etc.

  1. It is best to blow air into the confined space and draw it out simultaneously. This generally requires two or more openings. For ventilation purposes, it is generally best to open as many of the adjacent entry points as possible.
  2. With a confined space that has only a single entry point or when only a single exhaust fan is available, air should be blown into the confined space. A flexible hose is helpful in directing the air to the bottom of the confined space.
  3. It is important that the intake for ventilation air not be contaminated. In some cases, a portable gasoline powered generator will be used to power the ventilation fan(s). The generator should be located as far as possible from the fan air intake. Motor vehicles or other internal combustion engines should not be allowed to operate with their exhaust pipes located near the air intakes.
  4. When using ventilation, it is important to have a rough idea of the volume of the confined space to be entered. It is also important to know the rating of the ventilation fan. When forced ventilation of a confined space is required, at least three air changes should be provided prior to resampling. Here is an example:

    An underground fault is 10 feet wide by 8 feet high by 10 feet long. Multiplying these three dimensions yields 800 cubic feet. The fan to be used is rated for 400 cubic feet per minute.

    800 cubic feet
    400 cubic feet per minute

    Thus it will take the fan two minutes to ventilate the confined space. It will take 6 minutes to provide the necessary three air changes.
Equipment for Confined Space Entry
 The following is a list of equipment that may be necessary for safe entry of the confined space:
  1. Fire Extinguisher - if work presents a fire hazard.
  2. When using a portable ladder, it must extend at least three feet above the entry point.
  3. Lock, key, multiple - lock hasp, tags and other necessary equipment for lockout/tagout.
  4. Respirator approved for the expected hazards.
  5. Other personal protective equipment that is necessary such as coveralls, safety shoes, eye protection, hearing protection, etc.
  6. Portable communication radios.
  7. Lighting equipment suitable for use in confined spaces.
  8. Temporary barriers to prevent falls into a confined space.
  9. Permit form, for permit - required confined spaces or a pre - entry checklist for non - permit - required spaces.


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