Permit-Required Confined Spaces 29 CFR 1910.146

1. Permit-Required Confined Spaces29 CFR 1910.146

2. Why Comply???? • Confined space entry is a leading cause of occupational fatalities in this country.

3. Statistics • 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

4. Definition of a Confined Space • Limited means of egress • Can be bodily entered • Not designed for continuous occupancy

5. Definition of Permit-RequiredConfined Spaces • Contains or has potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere • Contains the potential for engulfment • Internal configuration that can trap or asphyxiate entrant • Any other serious safety or health hazards

6. Typical Permit-Required Spaces • Chemical storage tanks • Waste or storage pits • Grain bins • Underground tunnels • Railroad cars under construction

7. Typical Non-Permit-Required Spaces • Utility closets • Below-grade trenches • Storage vaults • Utility subbasements

8. 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

9. Atmospheric Testing • Hazards must be tested in this order: • Oxygen content • Combustibility/flammability • Toxic atmospheres • Entrants must be allowed to observe monitoring

10. Reasons for Space Ventilation • Maintain oxygen levels above 19.5% • Maintain toxic gases and vapors at acceptable levels

11. Types of Personal Protective Equipment • Harnesses • Retrieval lines • Chemical protective clothing • Welding apron/sleeves • Respirators • Gloves • Safety glasses

12. Safety Department Responsibilities • Formulate and manage the confined spaces program • Maintain a space inventory • Maintain a list of “Authorized Personnel” • Maintain copies of space permits • Direct the confined space training program • Maintain rescue equipment • Coordinate contractor activities

13. Supervisor Responsibilities • Conduct a pre-entry briefing • Ensure that personnel are evacuated when necessary • Ensure that permits are complete and removed when work is finished • Ensure that all necessary equipmentis returned to its proper location • Oversee all necessary confined space activities

14. Attendant Responsibilities • Attend pre-entry briefing • Know the hazards of the space • Control access to the space • Maintain communication with entrants • Not to enter the space for rescue • Summon emergency services • Assist rescue efforts from outside the space

15. Attendant Responsibilities (cont.) • Remain at the site while entrants are inside • Order a space evacuation when conditions warrant such an action • Maintain an accurate count of the number of entrants

16. Entrant Responsibilities • Attend the pre-entry briefing • Know the hazards of the space • Use appropriate equipment properly Exit the space if: • An alarm is activated • Communication is lost • Unknown exposures are encountered • Ordered to do so

17. Authorized Person Responsibilities • Familiarize themselves with characteristics of spaces • Verify that all hazards and sources of energy have been controlled in the space • Ensure that confined space permit is posted • Rescind any permit for noncompliance with permit requirements

18. Rescuer Responsibilities • Understand the hazards of the space • Be certified in emergency first aid and CPR • Understand appropriate entry procedures • Know how to use rescue equipment • Practice confined space rescues at least annually

19. Quiz 1. A confined space is defined as having limited egress, can be bodily entered, and is not designed for ______________________ and _____________________. 2. All confined spaces must be permit-required. True or False 3. The three hazards that must be tested for in a confined space are __________ __________, combustibility and flammability, and toxic atmospheres. 4. Since entrants will view the hazards while in the space, it is not necessary that they know or review the hazards prior to entry. True or False 5. If a chemical storage tank is empty, it would not be considered a confined space. True or False

20. Quiz (cont.) 6. Two examples of typical non-permit-required confined spaces are ________________ and ________________. 7. Confined space entry is a leading cause of occupational fatalities in the United States. True or False 8. Annual __________ drills are required by the OSHA Confined Space Standard. 9. An attendant should be available to be the first person into the space to conduct a rescue. True or False 10. An entrant should exit a confined space if ordered to do so, unknown exposures are encountered, communication is lost, or _______________________.

21. Quiz Answers 1. A confined space is defined as having limited egress, can be bodily entered, and is not designed for continuous occupancy. 2. False. Some confined spaces may be classified as non-permit-required. 3. The three hazards that must be tested for in a confined space are oxygen content, combustibility and flammability, and toxic atmospheres. 4. False. Entrants must be familiar with all hazards prior to entering a confined space. 5. False. Just because it is empty does not preclude its being defined as a confined space.

22. Quiz Answers (cont.) 6. Examples of typical non-permit-required confined spaces are utility closets, below-grade trenches, storage vaults, and utility subbasements. 7. True. Confined space entry is routinely one of the leading causes of occupational fatalities. 8. Annual emergency drills are required by the OSHA Confined Space Standard. 9. False. An attendant should never enter a confined space to rescue unless someone else is available to fill the duties as attendant. 10. An entrant should exit a confined space if ordered to do so, unknown exposures are encountered, communicationis lost, or an alarm is sounded.