Definition

A confined space can be determined if it meets any of the

following conditions:

• Big enough for a person to enter and work.

• Has limited or restricted means of entry and exit.
• Not designed for continuous worker occupancy.
• Small holes up to 18 inches in diameter.
• It is difficult to enter with a SCBA or other life-saving
equipment.
• It is difficult to remove the fallen agent in the folded or bent
position.
• Getting out of large openings can be difficult due to the
presence of ladders, cranes, etc.

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 Examples

Examples of confined spaces:

• Tanks
• Drilling shafts
• Pipes
• Vessels
• Digesters
• Lift stations
• Step up Transformers
• Turbines
• Chillers
• Manholes
• Mixers / Reactors

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 Examples

Manholes Silo

Storage Tanks Pipelines

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 Confined Space Types

There are two types of designations regarding these risks:

• A Confined Space
• A Confined Space Permit Required (PRCS).

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 Permit-Required Confined Space

The Confined space required a permit has at least one of

the following characteristics:

• Contains or is likely to contain hazardous atmospheres

• Configured internally so that it can be trapped or suffocated
by internally converging walls or a floor that slopes
downward and tapers to a smaller cross-section
• Contains any other serious safety or health hazards

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 Confined Space Hazards

• Flammable/Poisonous Gases & Vapors

• Immersion in a Solid or Liquid Substance
• High Levels of Noise
• Grinding, Crushing, Or Mixing Mechanisms
• High Temperatures
• Chemicals
• Lack Of Lighting
• Reducing Air Movement
• Killer Gases Can Be Trapped Inside.
• Organic Matter Can Decompose.
• The Oxygen May Not Be Sufficient Due to The Presence Of Other
Gases

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 Confined Space Conditions

A confined space Has many Conditions Such As:

• Not Designed to Occupy a Continuous Worker

• Not Designed for Regular Entry and Work.
• Designed For Product Storage.
• Attach Materials or Processes.
• Transportation Of Products or Materials.
• Entering The Worker from Time To Time For Inspection, Repair,
Cleaning, & Maintenance.

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 Confined Space Hazards

Physical hazard
• A Physical Hazard is an Existing or Potential Hazard That
Could Cause Death or Serious Physical Harm.
Examples
• Mechanical
• Explosives
• Electrical
• Radiation & Noise.
• Chemicals Can Cause Death or Serious Bodily Harm
Through Contact with Skin or Eyes.
• Tripping Hazards
• Poor Lighting
• Slippery Floors
• Limited or restricted Holes of entry or exit; likely
to Block the Worker movement to or from an enclosed
space.

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 Confined Space Hazards

Hazardous Atmospheres
Hazardous atmosphere an atmosphere that may put workers at
risk of :
• Death.
• Presence of Flammable Gases.
• Asphyxiation due to not having enough Oxygen.
• Impaired Ability to Self-Rescue (Escape Without The Aid of
A Permit Space).
• Infection.
• Nauseous

NOTE
You Must Do Air Monitoring to Determine If
A Hazardous Atmosphere Exists.
Atmospheric Conditions in A Confined
Space Can Change Very Quickly.

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`
 Hazardous Atmospheres

• Oxygen Concentrations:
23.5% and above = High
20.8 - 21% = Normal
19.5% and below = Deficient

• Dangers of Low Oxygen Levels

16 - 12% O2 Deep Breathing, Fast Heartbeat,
Poor Attention, Poor Thinking, & Poor Coordination.

14 - 10% O2 Wrong Judgment, Interrupted

Breathing, Rapid Fatigue (May Cause Heart Damage) &
Lips Turning Blue
10% or less O2 Nausea (Vomiting), Loss of
Movement & Loss of Consciousness Followed by Death.
Less than 6% O2 Intermittent Breathing,
Convulsive Movement, & Death in Approx. 8 Minutes.
(Lead To a Coma In 40 Seconds)

• Permissible exposure limits can be found in OR-OSHA Div 2/Sub G Occupational Health &
Environmental Controls and OR-OSHA Div 2/Sub Z Toxic and Hazardous Substances &
material safety data sheets.
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 Confined Space Toxic Gases
The most common toxic chemicals in confined space fatalities are
hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide.

• Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas is commonly found in sewers

and can be instantly fatal at higher levels in a confined
space.

• Carbon monoxide (CO) comes from operating internal

combustion and propane-powered engines in or near
confined spaces.
• Fatal levels of CO are quickly reached in confined spaces.

• Other toxic chemicals can include welding fumes, vapors

from liquid residues in storage tanks,
• or chemical products used in the confined spaces. Chemicals
can quickly reach toxic levels in the air of a confined space,
especially gases, solvent vapors, or sprayed products.

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 Entering Permit-Required
Confined Spaces
Confined Spaces Requires Certain Preventative Measures to be
Taken to Ensure Safe Entry for The Workers.
Includes:
• A Written Program
• Entry Permits & Entry Team
• Rescue Plan & Team
• Well Training.
• Proper PPE`s Like Harness, Tripod.
• Continuous Forced Air Ventilation
• Providing atmospheric testing equipment like Ventilator
Multi-gas Tester.
• providing ventilation equipment and respiratory protection
Like SCBA
• Providing Training on Confined Space Permits and The
Written Program
• Developing And Training on Emergency Action and Rescue
Plans

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 Entering Permit-Required Confined
Spaces

hARNE

Multi-Gas
Testing

Harness

Tripod

SCBA

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`
 Entering Permit-Required
Confined Spaces
Permit To Work for Confined Spaces Must Contains

✓ The Date
✓ Location Of the Space
✓ Signature Of the Person Making the Verification
✓ Purpose of the entry
✓ Authorized entrant and Attendant
✓ Entry supervisor and place for signature.
✓ Hazards of the permit space.
✓ The entry conditions
✓ Test results (initial/periodic) with initials/name of tester &
time.
✓ Rescue/emergency services available
✓ Communication procedures between entrant and attendant
✓ All necessary equipment PPE, Testing, Communication
equipment, …
NOTE
The permit must be immediately canceled
when the entry operations have been
completed or a condition not allowed under
the entry permit
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 Confined Spaces Entry Team
The Entry Team and their Roles

The Entry Supervisor

• Knows All Hazards, Symptoms, & Consequences
• Verify the permit by determining whether acceptable entry
conditions exist.
• Authorizes Entry
• Supervises Entry Operations
• Terminates Entry
• Verifies Rescue Services
• Remove Unauthorized Individuals
• Serves As Attendant (If Necessary)
The Attendant
• Knows The Hazards, Symptoms, And Consequences
• Awareness Of Potential Behavioral Effects
• Monitors Entrants & Monitors Hazards
• Monitors Activities In & Outside of The Permit Space
• Remains Outside Entry Point
• Communicates With Entrant
• Controls Entry Point
• Call the rescuers
• Initiates/Performs Non-Entry Rescue (If Required)
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 Confined Spaces Entry Team
The Entry Team and their Roles

The Entrant
• Knows The Hazard(S), Symptoms, & Consequences
• Uses Equipment Properly
• Communicates Regularly with The Attendant
• If The Unexpected Occurs - Alert the Attendant
• Exits Immediately If Any Hazards Happen

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 Confined Spaces Rescue Plans
A rescue plan is an essential part of confined entry planning.
Rescue plans can be general or specific. A general plan will not be
sufficient for more complex situations. Therefore, rescue plans
must contain sufficient information to carry out a safe rescue.

Main Types of Rescues:

• Self-rescue - The Worker Can Get Himself Out of The Confined

Space
For Example: Using Self-Contained Emergency Respirators.

• Rescue on non-entry - A Worker Is Rescued by A Trained Team

That Does Not Need to Enter the Confined Space.
For Example: The Worker Is Pulled Out Through a Tripod & A
Lifeline.

• Rescue on Entry - The Rescue Team Enters the Confined Space to

Retrieve the Worker.
• For Example: In A Complex Confined Space Where It Is Not Just a
Vertical Entrance.
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 Confined Spaces Incident
In the event of any accident occurring in a Confined space, the
procedure must be followed:
✓ The Alarm Must Be Triggered.
✓ The Rescue Team Must Immediately Go to The Confined
Space.
✓ All Work Permits Are Considered Canceled On That Day.

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 Permit To Work Sample

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Permit Required Confined Space Flow Chart

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