Confined Space Training

Permit-Required Confined Spaces

Slide 1 (of 31)

Confined Space Statistics

Leading cause of occupational fatalities in

this country

The Standard covers 240,000 workplaces

and 12.2 million workers

Workers make 4.8 million entries/year

Standard may prevent 85% of fatalities

and nearly 11,000 injuries

Slide 2 (of 31)

Definition of a Confined
Space

(must
meet all means
three criteria)
Limited
for

vaults & pits)

entry or exit (manholes,

Large enough & so configured that an

employee can bodily enter and
perform
assigned work

Not designed for continuous

occupancy

Two types Permit & Non-Permit Required

Spaces
Slide 3 (of 31)

Definition of Permit-Required Confined

Spaces
A confined space that has one or more of the
following characteristics:

Contains or has potential to contain a hazardous

atmosphere

Potential for engulfment

Internal configuration that can trap or asphyxiate

entrant

Any other serious safety or health hazards

(electrical, hot work, drowning . . .)
Slide 4 (of 31)

What is a Hazardous
Atmosphere?

An atmosphere that may expose employees to the risk

of death, incapacitation, impairment of ability to selfrescue or acute illness resulting from the following:

Flammable gas, vapor or mist in excess of 10% of the

LFL

Combustible dust at a concentration that is > or =LFL

Oxygen concentration < 19.5% or > 23.5%

Any substance with concentration > PEL

Any other atmospheric concentration that is IDLH

Slide 5 (of 31)

Permit-Required Spaces on
Campus

Electrical vaults: electrical hazards, low

oxygen and/or asbestos

Sewer manholes: CO, low oxygen

and/or toxic gases

Storm drain manholes:

CO, low oxygen and/or toxic gases

Slide 6 (of 31)

Permit-Required Spaces on Campus

(cont)
Pool Pit: lack of oxygen, toxic gases
and/or drowning

Sewer Tanks: toxic gases, low oxygen,

drowning and/or electrocution hazards

Communication Vaults: low

oxygen, asbestos
and/or electrical hazards
Slide 7 (of 31)

Non-Permit Required Spaces

Spaces that do not contain or, with respect

to atmospheric hazards, have the potential
to contain any hazard capable of causing
death or serious physical harm:
Utility closets
Below-grade trenches
Storage vaults
Utility subbasements

Slide 8 (of 31)

Confined Spaces on Campus

EH&S, Environmental Services and Risk

Management Department will jointly
determine which types of spaces or
specific spaces are defined as confined
spaces.

All confined spaces on campus will be

considered Permit Required until preentry procedures determine otherwise.

Only the Entry Supervisor is authorized

to downgrade entry requirements.
Slide 9 (of 31)

Confined Space Entry

Procedures

Space Evaluation

Alternate Entry Procedures

Permit-Required Entry Procedures

Slide 10 (of 31)

Space Evaluation

Refer to Flow Chart

Entry Supervisor must evaluate & authorize an
entry

This will determine if Alternate Entry or Permit-Required

If the space is reclassified as an Alternate

Entry then the following conditions must
exist:

only hazard is the potential for a hazardous atmosphere; and

potential hazard can be eliminated through continued forced
air ventilation; and
previous & current gas tests must show above two conditions
are true

Slide 11 (of 31)

Slide 12 (of 31)

Alternate Entry Procedures

Procedure that may be used to enter a confined
space if the only hazard present in the space is
atmospheric in nature and:

The atmospheric hazard can be

controlled by mechanical ventilation
alone and;

The permit space will not become

immediately dangerous to life and
health (IDLH) if the mechanical
ventilation shouldSlidefail.
13 (of 31)

Alternate Entry Procedures

(cont)

Entry Supervisor ensures space has been properly

classified
Use guarding/cover/barrier to prevent
falls (when removing cover)
Lock out/tag out all hazardous
energy sources
Complete log
Test for O2, flammable gases/vapors and
potential toxic air contaminants
Set up ventilation (supply air taken from clean
source)
The Entrant will evacuate the confined space if
he/she becomes aware of an unrecognized hazard
Slide 14 (of 31)

Slide 15 (of 31)

Slide 16 (of 31)

Permit Required Entry

Procedures

Entry Supervisor, Entry Attendant and Entrant

must participate
Inspect and setup safety equipment
Entry Supervisor establishes specific rescue
procedures
Lock and tag out all hazardous sources of
energy
Use guarding If removing an entrance cover
Sample and record air for hazardous
contaminants
Entry Supervisor completes Permit prior to entry

Slide 17 (of 31)

Permit Required Entry Procedures

(cont)
Attendant verifies acceptable entry

conditions
Entrant wears retrieval equipment during
entire operation
Attendant continuously monitors
atmosphere & records readings with the
portable gas detector
Immediately evacuate space if safety
equipment fails or space becomes or has
potential to become immediately hazardous
Upon completion, Entry Supervisor
completes permit and files
Slide 18 (of 31)

Potential Confined Space

Hazards

Engulfment

Oxygen deficiency (19.5% or less)

Oxygen enrichment (23.5% or higher)

Flammable gases or vapors

Combustible dusts

Toxic substances

IDLH atmospheres

Physical hazards
Slide 19 (of 31)

Monitoring Confined Space Air

Quality
Prior to entering any confined space, prepare the

gas detector
Conduct a bump test. Breathe into the gas
detector probe and look for a decrease in oxygen
concentration - should alarm
Sample air quality by slightly removing lid or
through hole in lid before completely opening the
space
Monitor with probe slowly at different vertical
heights
Measure in the following order:
Oxygen, LEL, H2S, CO
Record results on the Confined Space Entry Permit
Record Sheet
Slide 20 (of 31)

Monitoring Confined Space Air Quality

(cont.)

The gas detector must be on during the ENTIRE

entry operation
Will be regularly inspected by the Attendant.
Record gas readings at a minimum of one hour
intervals
Cease entry operations and remove entry
personnel if the following concentrations are
exceeded at any time:

Oxygen reading less than 19.5% or greater than

22.5%
Combustible gas reading greater than 9% LEL
H2S reading greater than 9 ppm
CO reading greater than 34 ppm
Slide 21 (of 31)

Ventilating a Confined
Set up one or more blowers to provide adequate
Space
ventilation for the space. Ventilation must be

forced draft discharge of clean air into space

(not exhaust of space)

Ensure ventilation air supply is from clean source

Allow enough time for blowers to clear the space before

entering.

Ensure that the blowers remain on during the entire entry

procedure. If the blower fails, the Entrant must leave the
space immediately

Note: this applies to both Permit Required and Alternate

Slide 22 (of 31)
Entry procedures

Types of Personal Protective

Equipment
Protective clothing

Welding apron/sleeves

Respirators

Gloves

Safety glasses
Slide 23 (of 31)

Retrieval Equipment

Rescue harness (chest or full body)

Rescue tripod

Rope or cable (inspect for damage)

Slide 24 (of 31)

Department Responsibilities

Risk Management Department &

Communication Services, Environmental
Services and EH&S Department

Establish & update written program

provide training
review records & provide consultation
Ensure all involved employees receive
training & follow procedures
provide and maintain equipment
maintain records
Slide 25 (of 31)

Entry Supervisor
Responsibilities

Ensure all persons involved in a confined

space entry are properly trained

Evaluate and classify the confined space

prior to entry

Complete the Confined Space Entry

Permit (if required)

Ensure canceled permits are properly

filed
Slide 26 (of 31)

Entrant Responsibilities

Completed Confined Space training

Must stay in constant contact with the

Attendant (I.e. sight, voice or radio) during
a Permit Required Confined Space entry

Use the appropriate safety equipment as

specified on the Entry Permit

Slide 27 (of 31)

Entry Attendant
Completed Confined Space Training
Responsibilities

Obtain & install required safety equipment for

Permit Required Confined Space entries
Monitor pedestrian barriers to protect
entrant(s) from external hazards
Monitor the atmosphere during the entire entry
operation
Must remain in position until relieved by
another trained Attendant
Ensure all lockout/tagout measures (if
implemented) remain in place
Responsible for ordering an evacuation if a
situation develops that could endanger the
Entrant
Slide 28 (of 31)

Rescuer Responsibilities

Understand the hazards of the space

All rescues attempted by CSUN personnel will
be Non-Entry Rescues (i.e. rescuer will not
enter the space at any time during rescue)
Retrieval equipment is required for all Permit
Required vertical entries greater than 5 feet
Be certified in emergency first aid and CPR
Entry Supervisor must determine how
emergency personnel will be notified
Understand appropriate entry procedures
Know how to use rescue equipment
Practice confined space rescues at least
annually
Slide 29 (of 31)

Training

All CCSD employees who participate in

Permit Required or Alternate Entry
Procedures including Entrance Supervisors,
Attendants and Entrants, must receive
training in the requirements of this
program

All CCSD employees who are designated as

rescue personnel must be trained in proper
rescue techniques as well as CPR and First
Aid
Slide 30 (of 31)

REMEMBER . . .

Call Environmental Services and/or Risk

Management if area is questionable
99% of entries are alternate entry
The campus/location has changed over
time and is still changing, so dont rely on
past history
Use the decision flow chart each time!
Only the Entry Supervisor may downgrade
All rescues are non-entry
Be safe!
Slide 31 (of 31)