Confined Space Entry Training

1. Confined Space Entry Training Wade Behnke, MPH Environmental, Health, and Safety Director Colby College

2. Learning Objectives • Define "CONFINED SPACE" • Recognize hazards associated with confined space entry and how they may change • Discuss the abnormal behavior and emergency procedures associated with confined space entries • Understand your role and responsibilities as they apply to Colby College • Know proper entry procedures and requirements found in the Colby College written program • Discuss the proper techniques for monitoring confined spaces

3. Case Study • Autopsies of two workers who collapsed and died while repairing a submersible pump in a pump storage tank at a Kennebunkport, Maine, hotel on Sept. 27 (2011) reveals they were exposed to high levels of hydrogen sulfide gas. It is suspected that the men did not test the atmosphere before they entered the tank. • Between them, they had nearly 40 years of experience in this type of work. • Stevens Electric agreed to pay a nearly $17,000 fine after OSHA agreed to add language to its safety citations acknowledging that the employer had provided safety equipment that the employees did not use.

4. What is a “Confined Space”? Three requirements must be met: • Is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work; and • Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit; and • Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.

5. Permit Required Confined Spaces To be a permit required confined space, the space must meet one of the additional criteria: • Contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere; • Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant (includes drowning); • Has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross-section; or • Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.

6. Examples of permit required confined spaces at Colby College • #6 Fuel Tanks • ESP unit, CHP • Storm Sewers • Steam vaults • Pool Filters • Waste Sewers

7. What The Statistics Tell Us • Over 200 confined space fatalities annually • 60% are would-be rescuers • Nearly 90% die of suffocation (O2 depravation) • More than 95% had no formal training (5% did!!) • They all could have been prevented!!!!!!

8. Dangers of Confined Spaces • Personnel did not recognize a permit required confined space • Personnel trusted their senses • Personnel underestimated the danger • Personnel did not stay at attendant's post • Personnel tried to rescue others

9. Hazards in Confined Spaces • Hazardous Atmospheres at Colby College • Oxygen Deficient and Enrichment minus .5% (no reason +) • Flammable and Combustibles Any detection (note) • Toxic Gases and Vapors Any detection (note)

10. Hazards in Confined Spaces • Table 1. Signs and Symptoms of Oxygen-Deficient Exposure Oxygen Content of Air, Signs and Symptoms of Persons at Rest • 15%–19.5% Decreased ability to work strenuously. May impair coordination and may induce symptoms in persons with coronary, pulmonary, or circulatory problems. x • 12%–15% Respiration deeper, increased pulse rate, and impaired coordination, perception, and judgment. x • 10%–12% Further increase in rate and depth of respiration, further increase in pulse rate, performance failure, giddiness, poor judgment, and blue lips. x • 8%–10% Mental failure, nausea, vomiting, fainting, unconsciousness, ashen face, blue lips. x • 6%–8% 8 minutes, may be fatal in 50-100% of exposures; 6 minutes, may be fatal in 25-50% of exposures; 4-5 minutes, recovery with treatment. x • 4%–6% Coma in 40 seconds, convulsions, respiration ceases, death.

11. Hazards in Confined Spaces

12. Signs and Symptoms of an Exposure to a Atm. Hazard • Dizzy, Faint, Lightheaded • Suddenly Feel Tired • Nauseous • Burning Eyes or Skin • Itching, Sneezing • Difficult Breathing • Cool, Clammy Skin • Face Suddenly Feels Flush • Having Difficulty Focusing

13. Hazards in Confined Spaces • Stratification of hazardous gases in confined spaces

14. Other Hazards in Confined Spaces at Colby • Steam • Electrical Shock • Slippery and/or sloped surfaces • Moving Equipment • Poor lighting • Flooding • Restricted Access/Egress • Falls • Temperature Extremes • Work created hazards (welding fumes etc)

15. Hazard Control Ventilation, ventilation, ventilation!!! Primary control for atmospheric hazards

16. Hazard Control • Hazardous Energy Control • LOTO to control electrical, pneumatic, steam and other physical hazards • LOTO before entering the space

17. Hazard Control • Isolation procedures • Blanking/blinding • Double block and bleed • Line breaking

18. Roles and Responsibilities (Colby) • The main players: • Entry Supervisor • Authorized Attendant • Authorized Entrant • Waterville Fire Dept. • The secondary players: • EHS Director • Assistant Director for Operations PPD • Stockroom Manager • Contractors

19. Entry Supervisor • Definition: Personnel responsible for determining if acceptable entry conditions are present, authorizing entry, signing the entry permit, overseeing entry operations, and terminating entry. • The Entry Supervisors at Colby College are • CHP, Engineer in Charge • All other Spaces, Supervisor of Mechanical and Electrical Services • Backups, EHS Director and Assistant Director for Operations

20. EntrySupervisor - Continued • Responsibilities • Determines whether a confined space is involved for each task under his/her supervision and complete any required permits. • Ensures the entry permit contains the required information before authorizing or allowing entry. • Ensures that the procedures, practices and equipment necessary for safe entry are in effect before allowing entry. • Never Enter the space until an Entry Supervisor has signed the permit

21. EntrySupervisor - Continued • Responsibilities • Ensures that employees who work as authorized Entrants and Attendants are trained. • Informs authorized Entrants of the required personal protective equipment (PPE) and informs on the proper use of the PPE. • Ensures at specified intervals throughout the access, that entry operations and conditions remain consistent with the terms of the entry permit. • May serve as attendant or entrant. • Notifies Security before entry.

22. Authorized Attendant • Definition: Any trainedemployee who is stationed and remains outsideof the confined space for the purpose of monitoring the Entrants and who performs all Attendant’s duties.

23. AuthorizedAttendant - Continued • Responsibilities • Maintains an accurate count of all Entrants • Can recognize potential confined space hazards • Can recognize signs and symptoms of a hazardous exposure • Performs non-entry retrievals in an emergency

24. AuthorizedAttendant - Continued • Responsibilities - Continued • Maintains effective and continuous contact with authorized Entrants • Ensures Entrant is protected from external hazards • Notifies the Security department in case of emergency (have a radio) • Performs no duties that might interfere with the Attendant’s primary responsibility of monitoring the Entrants

25. AuthorizedAttendant - Continued • Responsibilities - Continued • Orders Entrant(s) to evacuate the confined space immediately upon observing any of the following: • conditions which are not authorized by permit • detects signs/symptoms of hazard exposure • detects hazardous situation outside • the Attendant cannot effectively and safely perform all duties required

26. Authorized Entrant • Definition: Any trained employee or who enters a confined space.

27. Authorized Entrant - Continued • Responsibilities • Know the hazards that may be encountered • Use safety equipment properly, this includes monitoring equipment • Maintain communication with Attendant • Alert Attendant whenever: • Any warning sign and/or symptom of exposure to a dangerous situation is recognized • Any prohibited condition is detected

28. Authorized Entrant - Continued • Responsibilities - Continued • Exit from a confined space as quickly as possible whenever: • an order to evacuate is given by the Attendant • recognizes any warning sign and/or symptom of exposure to a dangerous situation • detection of a prohibited condition • an evacuation alarm is activated

29. Contractors • When requested the subcontractor shall provide the EHS Director or Assistant Director of Operations with the following: • Written copy of their confined space program. • Training records for potential Entrants, Attendants, and Entry Supervisors. • Evidence that all air monitoring equipment is properly calibrated. • Subcontractor shall follow all Colby safety policies listed in the Contractor Handbook. • Contractors must provide their own equipment and personnel.

30. Confined Space Entry Procedure • Entry Supervisor and entry team will review the space and determine the hazards • The Entry Supervisor and entry team will completely fill out the Entry Permit (in ink) including: • Monitor the atmosphere in the space with the gas meter. For deep spaces check every 4 feet, record results! • Determine control methods, i.e., ventilation, LOTO and piping isolation • Determine PPE and entry/rescue gear to be worn • Contact Security and provide details on the job.

31. Confined Space Entry Procedure • The Entry Permit must be posted outside the entrance throughout the job duration • For vertical confined space entries without obstructions, the entrant must wear a fall harness connect to a retrieval winch and tripod • The Entrant must wear a gas meter throughout the process unless the space can be monitored from the opening

32. Confined Space Entry Procedure Alternate Entry Requirements If there are obstructions in a confined space making the use of non-entry retrieval/rescue gear impossible, all hazards and potential hazards must be removed before entry! • Ventilation must be use to removed atmospheric hazards • LOTO for hazardous energy • Isolation for piping hazards **NEVER ENTER A SPACE WITHOUT RESCUE GEAR UNLESS ALL HAZARDS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED/REMOVED

33. Confined Space Rescue • Non-entry rescue is the only type of rescue to be performed by Colby Employees!! • In the event of equipment failure • Immediately notify Security • Waterville Fire Department will be summoned by Security to perform the rescue • Never attempt to perform the rescue or enter the space

34. Key Program Requirements • Use the permit and employee experience as planning tools • Identify and evaluate all potential hazards before entry • Manage the hazards (ventilate, rescue gear, LOTO) • Use only trained personnel • Always utilize an attendant • Establish and maintain communications with Entrants at all times • Have an emergency plan: know what to do and who to notify

35. What Do You Need To Do • Never take shortcuts when working in confined spaces (no job is more important than you) • Always follow the procedures in this training and written program • If you have questions, concerns or equipment issues DO NOT ENTER THE SPACE and discuss the problem with the Entry Supervisors

36. QUESTIONS?

37. Interactive Quiz

38. 1) True or False? A confined space is a space that is large enough to enter, has limited or restricted entries or exits, and is not designed for continuous occupancy.

39. 2) Name three permit required confined spaces at Colby College. • ______________________________ • ______________________________ • ______________________________

40. 3) What are the specific potential hazards in the spaces you listed? • ______________________________ • ______________________________ • ______________________________

41. 4) Which of the following lists, includes all types of air hazards which must be checked before entering a confined space? • Toxics, flammable/explosive gas, oxygen content • Hydrogen Sulfide, Carbon Monoxide, dust • Toxics, carbon monoxide, flammable explosive • Toxics, Hydrogen Sulfide, oxygen content

42. 5) Which of the below is not an example of a permit required confined space at Colby? a. #6 Fuel oil tanks b. Custodian’s closet c. ESP d. Pool Filters

43. 6) True or False? Any Colby Employee may enter a permit required confined space provided the Entry Supervisor is present.

44. 7) Which of the following does not need to be completed before an employee may enter a permit required confined space? a. The permit is signed by the Entry Supervisor b. The atmosphere has been monitored c. The entrant dons the correct PPE and rescue gear d. All of the above must be completed before entry

45. 8) Colby College Confined Space Policy requires oxygen levels be between? a. 19.5% to 23% b. 20.3% to 22.3% c. 16% to 20.8% d. 19.5% to 20.8%

46. 9) True or False? When not wearing rescue/retrieval gear, it is permissible to turn off ventilation in a confined space only if you do not detect any atmospheric hazards

47. 10) What is the number one cause of fatalities in confined spaces a. Hydrogen sulfide exposure b. Drowning • Carbon Monoxide • Oxygen depravation