NIOSH WORKPLACE ASSIGNMENT

24/04/2024

1) WORK TO BE PERFORMED:

Pulling and connecting cable for the lighting (maintenance purposes)

i. Type lighting – LED explosion-proof high bay
ii. Time used to complete work: 40 minutes

Tank Dimension

H=32.8 ft

Diameter = 9.84 ft

2) THE METHOD OF WORK TO BE USED

❖ Perform confine space work using faced air ventilation and continuous gas monitoring
PREPARATION

i. Review all related documents (JSA, HIRARC, PTW, health record, etc)
ii. Identify all hazards and risks assessed.
iii. Make sure all team members are competent.
a. Worker has been trained
• Authorized Entrance (AE),
• Standby Person (SP),
• Air Gas Tester (AGT),
• Entry Supervisor (ES)
• Permit Issuer (PI).

b. Employees must be certified by the Occupational Health Department (OHD)

as physically and mentally fit, ensuring they do not have any health issues
such as fits, blackouts, heart diseases, high blood pressure, asthma,
bronchitis, shortness of breath, sensory impairments (including defective
hearing, eyesight, or sense of smell), Meniere's Disease, giddiness, loss of
balance, claustrophobia, nervous disorders, back pain, joint trouble limiting
mobility, or any other condition that may compromise their safety and
health in the workplace

iii. Ensure all necessary equipment is prepared and ready for use.
b. Ventilator
c. Air-gas tester
• MSA Safety Gas Detector Gas Detector for H2S, H10, L5 Detection,
Audible Alarm
• Make sure the air gas tester equipment has been calibrated.
d. Personal protective equipment
• Harness
• Safety helmet
• Safety shoes
• Hand glove
• Safety harness
• Rope
• Torchlight
• Breathing apparatus
- EMERGENCY LIFE SUPPORT APPARATUS (ELSA)

iv. Apply for a permit to work (PTW)

a. To prepare a permit to work based on risks identified
b. The duration should be sufficient to complete the work
c. The entry supervisor is responsible for verifying that the permit to work has
been properly completed, required tests have been conducted, and all
procedures and equipment outlined in the permit are in place before
granting endorsement and permitting entry

v. Has updated knowledge about hazards. – signs, symptoms

 vi. SP fill up PTW.

ISOLATION

i. Use blinds or physical disconnects.

ii. Ensure that lock-out/tag-out procedures are fully completed, encompassing all
moving parts.

iii. Ensure all the incoming power supply has been off and lock-out/tag-out procedures
are fully completed

INITIAL CLEANING

i. Clean or flush the equipment to minimise the amount of hazardous materials

present.
ii. Include proper disposal of hazardous materials in draining procedures.

INITIAL VENTILATION

i. V = 3.132 x 4.92² x 32.8 = 2494.7 ft3

ii. Ventilator flow rate = 1000 cfm
iii. t = V(volume confined space/Q(flowrate)
= 2494.7 / 1000 = 2.49 minutes
INITIAL GAS TESTING
i. Make gas mapping

Must check at 6 point

Each 1meter 2 point

Total 6 point

Point at testing in the gas

Gases P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6
O2 20.8 20.8 20.6 20.7 20.7 20.5
LEL O% O% 0.1% 0.5% 0.2% 0.2%
CO 0ppm 0.5ppm 1ppm 1.3ppm 1.2ppm 1.5ppm
H25 0ppm 0.5ppm 1.0ppm 1.5ppm 1.5ppm 2.0ppm
 AGT record in PTW

Gases Result
O2 20.5
LEL 0.5%
CO 1.5ppm
H25 2.0ppm

CONTINUES VENTILATION
i. V = 3.132 x 4.92² x 32.8 = 2494.7 ft3
ii. Q= V(volume confined space) x ACH
= 2494.7 x 10/60 = 415.78 cfm

EQUIPMENT PREPARATION
i. Verify the equipment needs to be used
a. Ventilator
b. Air-gas tester
• MSA Safety Gas Detector Gas Detector for H2S, H10, L5 Detection,
Audible Alarm
• Make sure the air gas tester equipment has been calibrated.
c. Personal protective equipment
• Harness
• Safety helmet
• Safety shoes
• Hand glove
• Safety harness
• Rope
• Torchlight
• Breathing apparatus
- EMERGENCY LIFE SUPPORT APPARATUS (ELSA)
d. Emergency equipment

ISSUANCE PERMIT
i. Step issue PTW
a. AGT carried out the gas test and filled the result in the PTW
b. Entry Supervisor verifies the PTW requested by the Work leader/ Permit
Applicant
c. Validity period and work scope are mentioned in the permit.
d. Authorized entrant and standby person must ensure PTW has been
approved
e. PTW must be displayed in the work area
ii. Acceptable entry conditions.
iii. Result of gas testing and names of AGTES.
iv. Communication procedure
v. Equipment used has been completed.
vi. Name of standby person and rescue arrangements.
 ENTRY AND WORK
i. Brief entry team
a. Hazard
b. PTW requirement
c. Emergency procedures
ii. Record entry time in

POST ENTRY
i. Housekeeping
ii. Debriefing
iii. De isolate re-energize.
iv. PTW closed.
v. Hand over to worksite owner

3) HAZARD THAT EXISTS:

Physical hazard.
i. Restricted Movement: Confined spaces often have limited space to move around,
which can lead to awkward body positions and increased risk of strains, sprains, and
muscle fatigue
ii. Tripping and Slipping: Cables on the floor can create tripping hazards, especially in
tight spaces where maneuvering is difficult. Additionally, if the floor is wet or
slippery, there is a risk of slipping and falling.
iii. Entanglement: Cables can become tangled around equipment or limbs, increasing
the risk of injury
iv. Electrical Hazards: When pulling cables, there's a risk of coming into contact with live
electrical wires, which can cause electric shock or electrocution.
v. Poor Lighting : Can create conditions in the dark and hinder movement until tools or
confined space walls are hit, resulting in injuries.

Chemical hazard.
i. Carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide : breathing in these gases can cause asphyxiation
or respiratory problems.
ii. Flammable gasses ( CH4) : It can easily cause a fire or explosion when sparks occur
on electrical cables.
iii. Ammonia, chlorine, hydrogen chloride/ bromide, nitrogen dioxide : Corrosive gases
will attack and damage human tissue.

4) EMERGENCY AND RESCUE PROCEDURE:

Emergency procedures
i. Rescue plan
a. Immediately stop all work/ activity
b. Remove obstructing objects from the manhole
c. Evacuate the entrants from the confined space
d. Give the victim(s) first aid treatment if been trained
e. Entry Supervisor summoned for assistance
f. Notify Permit Issuer
 ii. Response to first aid case
a. Ensure the victim(s) gets medical care as soon as possible
b. Stay with the victim(s) until help arrives
c. Provide paramedics with information
d. The victim(s) may require Cardio
e. Pulmonary Resuscitation
f. CPR performed by trained personnel only
g. Paramedic may decide whether the victim(s) should be sent for
h. further treatment.

Appoint personnel (voluntary)

i. Make sure the person is available during the time

Training
i. Make sure all the team is properly trained.

Equipment
i. Full body harness with a retrieval line attached.
ii. Hand-cranked mechanical winch and tripod
iii. Stretcher.
iv. Tripod or quadpod
v. Explosion-proof lighting
vi. Breathing apparatus
vii. Personal protective equipment.
viii. Connector (CARABINER)
ix. Pulleys
x. Chemical spillage kit

Drill/simulation