Confined Space Entry

Definition
A confined space is large
enough and configured so
an employee can enter and
perform assigned work. It
may also contain hazardous
materials,
deficient,

be
and/or

oxygen
have

flammable atmosphere.

Its also a space that

has limited or restricted
means for getting in or
out and is not designed
for

continuous

occupancy.
Name some examples
of confined spaces.

General Hazards
Hazardous atmosphere
Levels of flammable gas
Poisonous gases
Airborne toxic contaminants
exceeding permissible
exposure limit
Airborne combustible dust
Oxygen concentration
19.5 percent or above
percent

below
23.5

Physical hazards
Engulfment potential
Entrapping design

Other hazards
Heat
Combustibility
Falling
Noise

Safety Requirements
Evaluate or identify
hazard
Look for posted signs
Determine type of space

Contact ES&H
Department
Review work activities and
type of confined space
Air monitoring
Permit
Rescue

Training Must be
provided prior to any
entry
Authorized entrants
Attendants
Supervisors

Protective equipment
General
Special

Entry Permit
Space to be entered
Purpose of the entry
Date and duration of permit
Personnel involved
Hazards
Acceptable entry conditions
Equipment
Rescue and emergency service

efore You Enter a Confined Space

Review the job with the ES&H
Department
Obtain a permit
Control all hazardous energy
sources Lockout/Tagout
Test the air Obtain approval
Set up the right equipment
Keep compressed gas
cylinders outside confined
space

 Ventilate space
Review rescue procedures
Post attendant and set up
rescue equipment
Ensure communication link is
established with attendant and
entrants

Confined Space Entry Trainin

Overview of Training

Identifying
Confined SpacesPermit and NonPermit

Employee
Responsibilities

Hazards

Entering
the
SpaceWhat
should be done?

What is 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

Examples of Confined Spaces

Sewers

Furnaces

Manholes

Silos

Boilers

Tan
ks

Hoppers

Examples of Confined Spaces

Vaults

Tunnels

Trenches

Pipes

Ducts

Bins

Pits

Permit-Required Confined Space

A Permit-Required Confined Space is a

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

Contains or has the potential

contain a hazardous atmosphere;

Contains a material that has the

potential for engulfing an entrant;

Has an internal configuration such that

an entrant could become trapped or
asphyxiated; or

Contains any other serious safety or

health hazard

to

Non-Permit Confined Space

A confined space that does not

contain
or,
with
respect
to
atmospheric
hazards,
have
the
potential to contain any hazard
capable of causing death or serious
physical harm

Tunnels - normal confined space

procedures are not practical; always
use buddy system and carry a two
way radio

Employee Responsibilities

The entrant is the person who enters

a confined space

The attendant is the person who stays

with the entrant outside the confined
space, and is responsible for assisting
the entrant in exiting the confined
space, and calling for emergency
assistance when required

The safety representative is the

person who evaluates the hazards,
prescribes precautions and issues the
Confined Space Entry Permit

Hazards of Confined Spaces

Oxygen Deficient Atmospheres

Oxygen Enriched Atmospheres

Flammable Atmospheres

Toxic Atmospheres

Temperature Extremes

Engulfment Hazards

Noise, Slick/Wet Surfaces, Falling Objects

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

Oxygen Enriched Atmospheres

Oxygen level above 23%.

Causes flammable and combustible materials to burn

violently when ignited

Never use pure oxygen to ventilate

Never store or place compressed tanks in a confined

space

Flammable Atmospheres

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

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

Hydrogen Sulphide

Decomposition of materials

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

Carbon Monoxide

Odorless, Colorless Gas

Combustion By-Product

Quickly collapse at high concentrations

PPM
50
200
600
1000-2000
1000-2000
1000-2000
2000-2500

Effect

Time

Permissible Exposure Level

Slight headache,
discomfort
Headache, discomfort
Confusion, nausea,
headache
Tendency to stagger
Slight heart palpitation
Unconsciousness

8 Hours
3 Hours
1 Hour
2 Hours
1 1/2 Hours
30 Min.
30 Min.

Temperature Extremes

Extremely hot or cold temperatures

Steam cleaning of confined spaces

Humidity factors

Work processes inside the confined space can increase

temperature extremes

Personal protective equipment

Engulfment Hazards

Loose, granular materials stored in bins and

hoppers - grain, sand, coal, etc.

Flooding of confined space

Water or sewage flow

Other
Hazards

Noise

Amplified
space

due to acoustics within the

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

Entering a Confined Space.......

..starts with testing the atmosphere and
filling out a permit

Testing the Atmosphere

Verify presence of safe work atmosphere

Test all areas of a confined space

Carbon Monoxide is the same as air

Hydrogen Sulfide is heavier than air

Oxygen Deficiency

Permits

Written permit filled out by EH&S

Verifies pre-entry precautions have been

taken and the space is safe to enter

Posted at entry to confined space

Specifies

apparent

hazards

and

corrective actions taken prior to entry

Requires termination of permit when task

is completed or when new conditions
exist

Permits

Date, location, and name of confined

space

Purpose of entry and known hazards

Duration of entry permit time

Authorized

entrants,

attendants,

supervisors

Air testing results - signature of tester

Protective measures to be taken

Ventilation, Isolation, Flushing
Lockout / Tagout, Purging

Permits

Name and phone numbers of rescue and

emergency services

Communication procedures

Special equipment and procedures

Personal protective equipment
Rescue equipment
Respirators

Ventilation

First option to correct problems

Must be aware of hazards you are trying to

correct in the confined space

Continuous ventilation whenever possible

Retest the confined space before entry

Isolation

Locking and tagging out electrical sources

Blanking

and

bleeding

pneumatic

and

hydraulic lines

Disconnecting mechanical drives and shafts

Securing mechanical parts

Blanking sewer and water flow

Locking and tagging out shutoff valves

Respirators

Air-Purifying Respirators

Filter dangerous substances from the air.

Must know the type and amount of

hazardous substance present in the
confined space.

NEVER use with oxygen deficiency!

Air-Supplying Respirators

Deliver a safe supply of breathing

air from a tank or an uncontaminated
area nearby.

Must be adequately monitored.

Confined Space Entry

A means must be provided for both safe normal
entry or exit, and emergency extrication. Tripods
with hoist, lifeline, and full body harness are often
used for emergency extrication. Ladders may be
used for ordinary entry and exit.

Confined Space Entry

Barriers

to

prevent

passers-by and the curious

from

falling

into

the

opening must be put in

place

Holes and openings must

be closed

or

guarded

when not attended

Place warning signs where

Confined Space Entry

Should conditions develop which
require

extrication,

and

the

entrant cannot get out of the

confined space on their own, the
attendant

must

call

emergency assistance at once

for

Confined Space Entry

The attendant should attempt to

remove

the

confined

entrant

space

from

using

the

tripods,

hoist, and lifelines. Attendants

are NOT TO ENTER CONFINED
SPACES. Lethal hazards may be
present
space.

within

the

confined

Only properly equipped

and trained emergency rescue

personnel

may

enter

confined

Summary of Entry

Atmosphere is tested

If

problems

countermeasures

are
are

found,
taken

to

eliminate them

Permit is issued

If an emergency arises during entry the

attendant should call for emergency
assistance and try to extricate the
entrant