29 CFR 1910.

146

CONFIND
SPACE
ENTRY
 What is a Confined Space? 2

A space that:
 Is large enough and so
configured that an
employee can enter
bodily and perform work;
 Has limited or restricted
means of entry or exit;
 Is not designed for
continuous human
occupancy.
 Examples of Confined
Spaces:
3

 Tanks  Vaults
 Manholes  Pipes
 Boilers  Trenches
 Furnaces  Tunnels
 Sewers  Ducts
 Silos  Bins
 Hoppers  Pits
 Potential Hazards in 4

Confined Spaces
 Oxygen Deficiency  Toxic Materials
 <19.5% or >23.5% oxygen  Carbon Monoxide
concentration
 Hydrogen Sulfide
 Combustibles  Welding fumes
 Methane  Corrosives
 Hydrogen
 Electricity
 Acetylene
 Mechanical Hazards
 Propane
 Mixers
 Gasoline fumes
 Crushers
Oxygen Deficient 5

Atmospheres
19.5 % Minimum acceptable oxygen level.
15 - 19% Decreased ability to work
strenuously.Impair coordination.
Early symptoms.
12-14% Respiration increases. Poor
judgment.
10-12% Respiration increases. Lips blue.
8-10% Mental failure. Fainting. Nausea
Unconsciousness. Vomiting.
6-8% 8 minutes - fatal, 6 minutes –
50% fatal 4-5 minutes – possible
recovery.
4-6% Coma in 40 seconds. Death
Oxygen Enriched 6

Atmospheres
• Oxygen level above 23.5%.
• Causes flammable and combustible materials to
burn violently when ignited.
• Hair, clothing, materials, etc.
• Oil soaked clothing and materials.
• Never use pure oxygen to ventilate.
• Never store or place compressed tanks in a
confined space.
Flammable Atmospheres 7

• 2 Critical Factors:
 Oxygen content in the air.
 Presence of a flammable gas, or vapor
 Presence of dust (visibility of 5’ or less)
• Proper air/gas mixture can lead to
explosion
• Typical Ignition Sources:
 Sparking or electric tool.
 Welding / cutting operations.
 Smoking
Toxic Atmospheres 8

• Product stored in a confined space:

 Gases released when cleaning.
 Materials absorbed into walls of confined
space.
 Decomposition of materials in the confined
space.
• Work performed in a confined space:
 Welding, cutting, brazing, soldering.
 Painting, scraping, sanding, degreasing.
 Sealing, bonding, melting.

• Areas adjacent to a confined space.

Hydrogen Sulfide 9

• Decomposition of materials.
Human waste.
• Rotten egg odor at low
concentrations.
• Possibly no warning at high
concentrations.
PPM Effect Time
10 ppm Permissible Exposure Level 8 Hours
50 - 100 Mild Irritation - eyes, throat 1 Hour
200 - 300 Significant Irritation 1 Hour
500 -700 Unconsciousness, Death 1/2 - 1 Hour
>1000 Unconsciousness, Death Minutes
 Carbon Monoxide 10

• Odorless, Colorless Gas.

• Combustion By-Product.
• Quickly collapse at high concentrations.
PPM Effect Time
35 Permissible Exposure Level 8 Hours
200 Slight headache, discomfort 3 Hours
600 Headache, discomfort 1 Hour
1000-2000 Confusion, nausea, headache 2 Hours
1000-2000 Tendency to stagger 1 1/2 Hours
1000-2000 Slight heart palpitation 30 Min.
2000-2500 Unconsciousness 30 Min.
Engulfment Hazards 11

• Loose, granular materials stored in bins and

hoppers - grain, sand, coal, etc.
• Crusting and bridging below a worker.
• Flooding of confined space.
• Water or sewage flow.
12
Other Hazards 13

• Noise
 Amplified due to acoustics within the space.
 Damaged hearing, affect communication.

• Slick / Wet Surfaces

 Slips and falls.
 Increased chance of electric shock.

• Falling Objects
 Topside openings expose workers inside confined
space to falling objects.
Testing The Atmosphere 14

• Verify presence of safe work atmosphere.

• Test all areas of a confined space.
 Top, Middle, Bottom
• Methane is lighter than air.
• Carbon Monoxide is the same as air.
• Hydrogen Sulfide is heavier than air.
• Oxygen Deficiency.
Test the Atmosphere 15

In this order:
 Check for Oxygen Content:
 At least 19.5% and less than 23.5%

 Check for Combustibles:

 Less than 10% of the LEL

 Check for Toxic Gasses:

 Most commonly carbon monoxide (PEL <35 ppm)
 or any other hazardous materials as determined by the use of
the space.
16
Ventilation
17

• First option to correct problems.

• Must be aware of hazards you are trying to correct in the
confined space.
• Air intake in a safe location to draw fresh air only.
• Continuous ventilation whenever possible.
• Retest the confined space before entry.
Ventilate the Space 18

 Use mechanical ventilation

 Fans
 Air horns
 Ventilate at the rate of at least
twenty (20) volumes per hour
 Larger spaces require more
ventilation
 Make sure air supply is not
contaminated
 Ventilation air supply must be from
fresh air uncontaminated with
flammables, toxins, etc.
19
VENTILATING THE SPACE

 Use mechanical
ventilation - such as fans
or forced air blowers

 Make sure air supply is

not contaminated -
ventilation air supply
must be from fresh air
uncontaminated with
flammables, toxins, etc.
Other Control Techniques 21

✓ Inerting (Note: Inerting with a gas such as

nitrogen or carbon dioxide will result in an
oxygen deficient atmosphere)

✓ Flushing
Isolate the Space 22

from all hazards

 Close Valves
 Double block & bleed, or
 Blank flange

 Empty the Space

 Depressurize, vent & drain

 Lockout/Tagout Equipment
 Electrical sources
 Rotating/reciprocating parts
 Hazardous materials

 Clean residue from the space

Conduct a Tailboard Briefing 23

 Entire crew must attend

 Attendants, entrants, entry supervisor
 Review hazards of entry and work
 Review PPE
 Review procedure for contacting rescue
 verify rescue available
 Complete permit
Complete Entry Permit Form 24

 Permit must be correctly and

completely filled out prior to entry.
 Permit must be activated by Entry
Supervisor’s signature to be valid.
 No entry is allowed without a valid
permit.
 Permits are valid for up to 12 hours.
 When work is completed, permit and
tailboard form should be returned to
safety.
 Cancelled permits must be kept on
file for at least one year.
25
Test the Atmosphere 26

In this order:
 Check for Oxygen Content:
 At least 19.5% and less than 23.5%

 Check for Combustibles:

 Less than 10% of the LEL

 Check for Toxic Gasses:

 Most commonly carbon monoxide (PEL <35 ppm)
 or any other hazardous materials as determined by the use of
the space.
Atmosphere Testing Shall Be 27

Performed:
 Prior to every entry when the space is vacant;
 After a 10 minute ventilation period (if ventilation
is necessary);
 At least hourly for permit-required confined
spaces.
 More frequently, if conditions or suspicions
warrant.
Enter the Space and Proceed 28

with work:
 An attendant shall be posted near the
entrance for the duration of the work. He
shall be in constant communication with
the entrants while the job is in progress.
 All entrants shall sign the sign in log when
entering the space and sign out when
exiting.
 The attendant shall maintain the permit
and sign in log for the duration of the
work.
When the Job is Done: 29

 Remove all personnel, tools, and debris from the space.

Sign off the log.
 Close the space.
 Cancel the permit.
 Review the job with the host employer (hazards, problems,
other employers, etc.)
Confined Space Personnel

 Authorized Entrant
 Attendant
 Entry Supervisor
 Rescue
Service Member
Confined Space Personnel

Authorized
Entrant
Confined Space Personnel

Attendant
Confined Space Personnel
Confined Space Personnel

Rescue
Service
Member