Permit-Required Confined Spaces 29 CFR 1910.146

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Permit-Required Confined Spaces29 CFR 1910.146
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Why Comply????

• Confined space entry is a leading cause of
  occupational fatalities in this country.

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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

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Definition of a Confined Space

• Limited means of egress
• Can be bodily entered
• Not designed for continuous occupancy

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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

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Typical Permit-Required Spaces

• Chemical storage tanks
• Waste or storage pits
• Grain bins
• Underground tunnels
• Railroad cars under construction

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Typical Non-Permit-Required Spaces

• Utility closets
• Below-grade trenches
• Storage vaults
• Utility subbasements

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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

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Atmospheric Testing

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

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Reasons for Space Ventilation

• Maintain oxygen levels above 19.5
• Maintain toxic gases and vapors at acceptable
  levels

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Types of Personal Protective Equipment

• Harnesses
• Retrieval lines
• Chemical protective clothing
• Welding apron/sleeves
• Respirators
• Gloves
• Safety glasses

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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
  _______________________.

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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.

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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.