29 CFR

1910.146
CONFINED
SPACE
ENTRY
 What is a Confined Space?

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. 2
 Examples of Confined
Spaces:
Tanks Vaults
Manholes Pipes
Boilers Trenches
Furnaces Tunnels
Sewers Ducts
Silos Bins
Hoppers Pits

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Enclosed Water
Tanks

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Pits

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Hoppers

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Fuel Tanks

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Process
Tanks

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Tanker trucks are
also confined
spaces

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 Potential Hazards in
Confined Spaces
Oxygen Toxic Materials
Deficiency – Carbon Monoxide
– <19.5% or – Hydrogen Sulfide
>23.5% oxygen – Welding fumes
concentration
– Corrosives
Combustibles
Electricity
– Methane
– Hydrogen Mechanical
– Acetylene Hazards
– Propane – Mixers
– Gasoline fumes – Crushers
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Oxygen Deficient 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
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Oxygen Enriched 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.
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 Flammable Atmospheres
• 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

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 Toxic Atmospheres
• 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.

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 Hydrogen Sulfide
• 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

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 Carbon Monoxide

• 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.
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2000-2500 Unconsciousness 30 Min.
 Engulfment Hazards
•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.
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 Other Hazards
•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.
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 Testing The Atmosphere
•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.
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 Test the Atmosphere
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.
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 Ventilation
•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. 26
 Ventilate the Space
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. 27
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Ventilating Confined Spaces

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 LESSON 3

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
 Inerting (Note: Inerting with a gas
such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide
will result in an oxygen deficient
atmosphere)

 Flushing

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 Isolate the Space
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 33
Conduct a Tailboard Briefing

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
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Complete Entry Permit Form
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. 35
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 Test the Atmosphere
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.
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 NOTICE:
Any time a limit is exceeded,
no matter what the reason,
all personnel shall
immediately exit the space,
and no others shall enter
until atmospheric conditions
are returned to safe levels.

THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS! 38

Atmosphere Testing Shall
Be 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.
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 Enter the Space and
Proceed 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. 40
 When the Job is Done:

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.)
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 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
 Entrant Responsibilities
To assure that the space has been
adequately ventilated, isolated,
emptied, or otherwise made safe for
entry.
To immediately exit a space, without
question, upon word of the attendant,
no matter what the reason.
To follow all safety rules and
procedures that apply to the job.
To be familiar with the work to be
performed and the procedures that
apply to the job.
To use the appropriate PPE whenever
necessary.
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 Attendant
 An individual stationed outside one or
more permit spaces who monitors the
authorized entrants and performs all
attendant’s duties assigned in the
employer’s permit space program

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 Duties of Attendants
 Knowledge of the hazards of the
space

 Aware of possible behavioral effects

of hazard exposure in authorized
entrants

 Continuously maintains an accurate

count of authorized entrants
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 Duties of Attendants
 Remains outside the space
during operations until relieved
by another attendant

 Communicates with authorized

entrants

 Monitors activities inside and

outside the space
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 Duties of Attendants
 Summons rescue and other
emergency services

 Performs non-entry rescues as

specified by the employer's rescue
procedure

 Performs NO duties that might

interfere with monitoring and
protecting the entrants 52
Supervisor Responsibilities
To assure adequate protection is
provided to the entrants by
verifying adequate
lockout/tagout and that all
hazards are securely isolated.
To support the attendant’s
authority in controlling access to
a confined space.
To verify that all personnel have
exited prior to closing the space.
To assure that all personnel
involved are aware of the hazards
associated with the space.
To assure that rescue services are
available prior to entry.
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Rescue Operations

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