Transcript Confined-Space - Winton, Ireland, Strom & Green Insurance

Permit Required Confined
Space Entry
Standard 29 CFR Part 1910.146
Presented by: Winton-Ireland, Strom & Green Insurance
Agency Inc.
Agenda
• Permit Required Spaces - Definition
• Hazards and hazard control
• Permit system
• Entry procedure
• Emergency procedures
Confined spaces: What are they?
Confined Spaces:
• Are large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily
enter and perform assigned work; and
• Have limited or restricted means of entry or exit (for example,
tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults and pits are
spaces that may have limited means of entry); and
• Are not designed for human occupancy
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addition to the above, Permit Required Confined Spaces:
Contain, or has the potential to contain, a hazardous atmosphere;
Contain a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant;
Have 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; or
Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard
Atmosphere hazards: Oxygen content
Oxygen deficiency
– Room air contains approximately 20.9% oxygen
– Below 19.5% oxygen we can develop physical problems
– Oxygen deficiency can cause light headedness, nausea, and loss of
coordination and concentration, and the ability to think and react
normally: we can hallucinate, depriving us of our ability to
recognize hazards and to escape from them (self rescue)
Oxygen deficiency can be caused by many things, including:
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Nitrogen or inert gas piped into the space
Chemical processes, including rust
Chemical evaporation or leakage
Exhaust from internal combustion engines or other external
sources
NEVER ENTER AN AREA WITH LESS THAN 19.5% OXYGEN CONTENT
Atmosphere hazards: Oxygen content
Oxygen Enrichment
– Oxygen concentration above 23.5% is called oxygen
enrichment
– Oxygen enrichment causes all combustible materials to
burn with explosive force that makes escape from a fire in
a confined space doubtful
NEVER ENTER AN AREA WITH GREATER THAN 23.5% OXYGEN
Oxygen enrichment can be caused by many things
including:
- Use of oxygen to ventilate a space (which is never allowed)
- Leaking hose on a torch set
- Some chemical processes
Atmosphere hazards: Lower flammable unit
• The lower flammable limit (LFL) is the minimum
concentration of flammable vapor, mist, gas or dust mixed or
suspended in air that will ignite. Technically, 100% of the LFL
must be present to allow a fire or explosion.
• There must be 19.5% or greater oxygen content present in
the area being sampled to get an accurate LFL meter reading
• Since there can be some variation in meter readings, we set
a wide safety margin for acceptable LFL readings
NEVER ENTER AN AREA WITH GREATER THAN 10% LFL
• High LFL can be caused by many things including:
-Flammable chemicals
-Flammable material brought into the space for the project
-External processes that leak or seep into the space
Atmosphere hazards: Toxic and
hazardous substances
• Some confined spaces can contain hazardous materials such as
hydrogen sulfide (in sewers)
• Exposure to chemical vapor and/or gas and/or particulate above the
Permissible Exposure Level (PEL) can cause damage to your health
and impair your ability to exit the confined space
• To determine what toxic or hazardous chemicals might be present
we must know what chemicals were present in the space
• PEL exposure data is listed in the OSHA Standards and on Material
Safety Data Sheets
NEVER ENTER AN AREA WITH AN EXPOSURE FOR A TOXIC OR
HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL GREATER THAN THE PEL (OR OTHER
MAXIMUM EXPOSURE NUMBER)
• A high PEL can be caused by many things including:
-Chemicals stored or used in the space
- External processes that leak or seep into the space
Controlling atmosphere hazards
• All atmosphere hazards are detected and quantified by using
direct reading meters: We always use a meter to check
that the atmosphere is safe prior to space entry
• In addition, we continuously monitor the space throughout
the entry
• We will look at the meter we use for permit confined space
entry now
• Ventilation is occasionally used to improve the atmosphere.
Tips on ventilation are:
-Positive pressure ventilation is always more effective
-Deliver the fresh air as close as possible to the entrant
-Be sure the fan intake is located in clean air
Engulfment hazard
• Engulfment occurs when a person is covered with a
substance from a pipe, hopper, duct or other source of
materials being added to a confined space
• Engulfment can suffocate a person, cause serious injury or
make escape from a space impossible
NEVER ENTER A SPACE WITH ENGULFMENT HAZARDS THAT
HAVE NOT BEEN RENDERED SAFE
• An engulfment hazard can be caused by many things
including:
-Connected pipe lines, ducts and hoppers
• Engulfment hazards are controlled by disconnecting, blanking
or capping connecting pipes, ducts and hoppers
Other hazards
• There are often mechanical, hydraulic, thermal and electrical
hazards in confined spaces
• These other hazards are generally controlled through
standard lockout and tagout (LOTO) procedures: REFER TO
OUR FACILITY PROCEDURE ON LOTO
• Other hazards can be caused by many things including:
-Heating jackets, coils, etc.
-Mixers and agitators
-Moving equipment
-Electrical equipment
NEVER ENTER A SPACE WITH OTHER HAZARDS PRESENT
Hazard summary
Hazards present in permit confined spaces are
extremely dangerous because:
• Space entry and exit is difficult and slow, both for entrants
and for rescuers
• Many of the hazards are difficult to see, feel or smell without
using instruments
• Ventilation of confined spaces is poor unless supplemental
mechanical ventilation is used
Entry permit
The permit contains:
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The names of all involved individuals
A list of steps taken to render the space safe
Atmosphere readings
The time that the permit expires
Information needed for contacting the rescue team
Critical steps in permit completion:
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Isolate or make safe all hazards
Use a meter to determine a safe atmosphere
Provide access into space
Have all equipment ready
Notify the Rescue Service
• COMPLETE ALL INFORMATION REQUESTED ON THE PERMIT
Entry procedure
• A permit is used to control all confined space entry
• All personnel who are involved in the entry must have
current training and be authorized for their role
• Three types of responsible positions are involved in an entry
and each has an equal decision in allowing the entry, not
allowing the entry or cancelling it (if already in progress).
These positions are:
-The entry supervisor
-The entrant
-The attendant
Duties
• Entry Supervisor:
-Makes all arrangements
-Begins permit and oversees completion
-Contacts rescue service to alert them of the entry
-Supervises the entry, frequently visiting the site
-Returns completed permit to program administrator
• Entrant:
-Reviews the permit to assure proper completion and her/his
agreement
-Follows all directions from the Attendant
• Attendant:
-Functions to assure safety
-Continuously evaluates external and internal hazards
-Is willing to terminate the entry for safety reasons
-Is ready to perform a non-entry rescue
Emergency procedures
• Immediately terminate the permit if:
-Any altered level of consciousness is detected in the entrant
(clumsiness, slurred speech, behavior or speech changes)
-An emergency is detected inside the space
-An emergency occurs outside the space
-Communication is lost
• Never enter a space to affect a rescue: practice non-entry
rescue only
• Immediately summon the rescue service and the entry
supervisor if any emergency condition is suspected
• Continue to attempt non-entry rescue and continue to
provide fresh air until the rescue service arrives
• We will now discuss our rescue service
Conclusion
• Permit required confined spaces present many unique
hazards: NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THEM
• Control all hazards:
-Atmosphere
-Engulfment
-Other (mechanical, thermal,. Etc)
• Preparation saves lives: follow the permit system
• Every member of the team has a part to play: the supervisor,
entrant and attendant must all agree on safety and must all
agree on procedures
For more information
For more information regarding Permit Required Confined
Spaces , or other safety issues, please contact:
Winton-Ireland, Strom & Green Insurance
Agency Inc.
209-667-0995