NR-33 HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE WORK IN CONFINED SPACES

Publication D.O.U.
GM Ordinance No. 202, December 22, 2006 12/27/06
33.1 Purpose and Definition
33.1.1 This Standard aims to establish minimum requirements for the identification of confined spaces
and
recognition, evaluation, monitoring and control of risks, to ensure permanent
safety and health of workers who interact directly or indirectly in these spaces.
33.1.2 Confined Space is any area or environment not designed for continuous human occupancy, which
has
limited means of entry and exit, where existing ventilation is insufficient to remove contaminants or
where
there may be a deficiency or oxygen enrichment.
33.2 Responsibilities
33.2.1 It is the Employer:
a) formally indicate the technical compliance with this standard;
b) identify the confined spaces in the existing establishment;
c) identify the specific risks in the confined space;
d) implementing management in safety and health at work in confined spaces, for technical measures
prevention, administrative, personal and emergency and rescue, to ensure permanent
environments with adequate working conditions;
e) ensure the continuous training of workers about the risks, control measures, emergency and
rescue in confined spaces;
f) ensure that access to the confined space only occurs after the issue written permission of Entry
and Labor, as the model in Annex II of NR;
g) to provide contractors information on risks in areas where their activities and develop
require training for their employees;

h) monitor the implementation of security measures and health of employees of contractors

providing the means and conditions for them to act in accordance with this NR;
i) stop any kind of work in case of suspicion of the condition of serious and imminent risk,
proceeding to the immediate abandonment of the site and
j) Ensure updated information about the risks and control measures before each access to spaces
confined.
33.2.2 It Workers:
a) collaborate with the company in fulfilling this NR;
b) properly use the means and facilities provided by the company;
c) notify the Watch Supervisor and Input situations of risk to their health and safety or others'
that are of knowledge;
d) comply with the procedures and guidelines in the training received in relation to confined spaces.
33.3 Management of health and safety when working in confined spaces
33.3.1 The health and safety management should be planned, programmed, implemented and
evaluated, including measures
prevention techniques, administrative measures and measures for training and personal work spaces
confined.
33.3.2 Technical measures to prevent:
a) identify, isolate and signal confined spaces to prevent entry by unauthorized persons;
b) anticipate and recognize the risks of confined spaces;
c) to evaluate and control physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and mechanical;
d) provide for the implementation of latches, locks, relief, sealing and labeling;
e) implement necessary measures to eliminate or control atmospheric hazards in confined spaces;
f) evaluate the atmosphere in confined spaces, before the influx of workers to see if its interior is
insurance;

g) maintain acceptable weather conditions at the entrance and throughout the execution of the work,
monitoring,
venting, draining, washing or inerted the confined space;
h) continuously monitor the atmosphere in the confined spaces in areas where workers authorized
are performing their tasks, to check whether the conditions of access and retention are safe;
i) prohibit ventilation with pure oxygen;
j) test measuring equipment before each use;
k) using direct reading equipment, intrinsically safe, alarm fitted, calibrated and protected
electromagnetic emissions or radio frequency interference.
33.3.2.1 fixed and portable equipment, including communication and vertical movement and horizontal
should be adequate to the risks of confined spaces;
33.3.2.2 In areas classified equipment must be certified or have covered in the document
under the Brazilian System of Conformity Assessment - INMETRO.
33.3.2.3 The atmospheric initial assessments should be conducted outside the confined space.
33.3.2.4 Take measures to eliminate or control the risk of fire or explosion during hot work, such
such as welding, heating, grinding, cutting or other to release open flames, sparks or heat.
33.3.2.5 Take measures to eliminate or control the risks of flooding, burial, engulfment, fire,
electric shocks, static electricity, burns, falls, landslides, impact, crushing,
amputations and others that may affect safety and health of workers.
33.3.3 Administrative measures:
a) maintain updated records of all confined spaces, including the disabled, and their risks;
b) develop measures to isolate, signaling, control or eliminate the hazards of confined space;
c) maintain permanent signage at the entrance to the confined space in accordance with Annex I of this
standard;
d) Implement procedures for working in confined spaces;
e) adapt the model input and Work Permit provided for in Annex II of NR, the peculiarities of

company and its confined spaces;

f) complete, sign and date, in triplicate, the Home and Work Permit before the entrance of workers
in confined spaces;
g) have a control system that allows the tracking of Entry Permit and Work;
h) deliver to one of Watch and workers authorized copy of the Entry Permit and Work;
i) terminate the Work Permit Entry and when operations are completed, when an
condition is not provided or when a break or interruption of work;
j) to maintain stored procedures and entry permits and work for five years;
k) provide the procedures and entry clearance and work for knowledge workers
authorized representatives and inspection work;
l) designate the persons who will participate in entry operations, identify the duties of each worker and
providing the required training;
m) establish procedures for oversight of the work abroad and within confined spaces;
n) ensure that access to the confined space only be initiated with monitoring and authorization
qualified supervision;
o) ensure that all employees are informed of the risks and control measures at the place of
work, and
p) to implement a Respiratory Protection Program in accordance with risk analysis, considering the
location,
complexity and type of work being developed.
33.3.3.1 The Input and Work Permit is valid only for each entry.
33.3.3.2 In establishments where there are confined spaces must be observed, as a complement to
NR present, the following normative acts: NBR 14606 - Service Stations - Confined Space Entry, and
NBR 14787 - Confined Space - Accident Prevention, Protection and Measurements Procedures, as well as
their
amended.

33.3.3.3 The procedure for work must include at least: objective, scope, technical basis,
responsibilities, competencies, preparation, issuance, use and cancellation of entry clearance and Labor
training for workers, risk analysis and control measures.
33.3.3.4 The procedures for working in confined spaces and entry permit and work should be
evaluated at least once a year and reviewed whenever there are risks of change, with the participation
of
Specialized Safety and Occupational Health - SESMT and the Commission for the Prevention of Domestic
Accidents - CIPA.
33.3.3.5 The procedures for entry into confined spaces should be reviewed when the occurrence of any
one of the following circumstances:
a) unauthorized entry into a confined space;
b) identification of risks not described in the Permission Entry and Labor;
c) accident, incident or condition is not expected during the entry;
d) any change in the activity performed or configuration of the confined space;
e) request SESMT or CIPA, and
f) identification of safer working condition.
33.3.4 Personal Measures
33.3.4.1 Every worker assigned to work in confined spaces should be subjected to medical examinations
specific to the function that will play, as established by the NR 7:31, including the risk factors
psychosocial with the issue of the Occupational Health Certificate - ASO.
33.3.4.2 Train all employees involved, directly or indirectly with the confined spaces on their
rights, duties, risks and control measures, as provided in Section 33.3.5.
33.3.4.3 The number of workers involved in carrying out work in confined spaces should be
determined according to risk analysis.
33.3.4.4 It is not permitted to conduct any work in confined or isolated individually.
33.3.4.5 The Entry Supervisor must perform the following functions:

a) issuing the entry permit before beginning work and activities;

b) run the tests, checking equipment and procedures contained in the Permission Entry and Labor;
c) ensure that emergency and rescue services are available and the means to fire them
are operating;
d) cancel the entry and work procedures when necessary;
e) closing the input and Work Permit after completion of services.
33.3.4.6 Input Supervisor can perform the watchdog function.
33.3.4.7 The Lookout must perform the following functions:
a) continuously maintain accurate count of the number of workers allowed in the confined space and
ensure that all leave at the end of the activity;
b) remain outside the confined space near the entrance, in constant contact with workers
authorized;
c) to adopt emergency procedures, triggering a rescue team, public or private, when
necessary;
d) operating the movement of persons, and
e) order the abandonment of the confined space whenever you recognize any signs of alarm, distress,
symptom,
complaint, prohibited condition, accident, a situation not provided or can not effectively perform their
tasks, or be replaced by another Watcher.
33.3.4.8 The Lookout can not perform other tasks that may compromise the main duty is to monitor
and protect workers authorized;
33.3.4.9 It is the employer to provide and ensure that all workers that enter confined spaces
have all the equipment for risk control, set the Permission Entry and Labor.
33.3.4.10 If the presence of Atmosphere Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health - IPVS atmosphere the
confined space can only be entered in with the use of SCBA in pressure demand

positive or breathing compressed air line with auxiliary cylinder to escape.

33.3.5 - Training for work in confined spaces
33.3.5.1 is prohibited assignment to work in confined spaces without the prior training of the worker.
33.3.5.2 The employer must develop and implement training programs where there is any
following situations:
a) change in procedures, working conditions or operations;
b) any event that indicates the need for retraining, and
c) when there is reason to believe that there are deviations in the use or the entry procedures in
confined spaces or knowledge are inadequate.
33.3.5.3 All employees authorized and watchmen should receive training periodically, every twelve
months.
33.3.5.4 The training hours must have a minimum of sixteen hours, to be held within working hours,
with the syllabus:
a) definitions;
b) recognition, evaluation and risk control;
c) operation of equipment used;
d) procedures and use of the Entry Permit and Work, and
e) notions of rescue and first aid.
33.3.5.5 Training of Supervisors input must be held within working hours, with content
programmatic established in subsection 33.3.5.4, plus:
a) identification of confined spaces;
b) criteria for the prescription and use of equipment to control risks;
c) knowledge about safe practices in confined spaces;
d) rules of safety and health at work;
e) respiratory protection program;
f) the hazardous area, and

g) rescue operations.
33.3.5.6 All supervisors should receive specific training input, with a minimum workload
forty hours.
33.3.5.7 The instructors designated by the head coach, must have proven proficiency in the subject.
33.3.5.8 At the end of the training must issue a certificate containing the name of the worker, content
programmatic, workload, specifying the type of work and confined space, time and venue of the
training, with the signatures of the instructors and the technical manager.
33.3.5.8.1 A copy of the certificate must be given to the employee and another copy must be filed in
company.
33.4 Emergency and Rescue
33.4.1 The employer shall develop and implement emergency procedures and rescue the appropriate
spaces
confined including at least:
a) description of the possible accident scenarios, obtained from the Risk Analysis;
b) description of measures to rescue and first aid to be performed in an emergency;
c) selection techniques and use of communication equipment, emergency lighting, search, rescue,
first aid and transportation of victims;
d) drive the team responsible, publicly or privately, by implementing measures to rescue and first
aid for each service to be performed, and
e) annual simulated rescue exercise on the possible accident scenarios in confined spaces.
33.4.2 The personnel responsible for execution of the rescue measures must have physical and mental
fitness
compatible with the activity to play.
33.4.3 The training of the rescue team must consider all possible accident scenarios
identified in risk analysis.
33.5 General Provisions

33.5.1 The employer must ensure that workers can stop their activities and leave the place of
work, whenever they suspect the existence of serious and imminent risk to their health and safety or
that of
others.
33.5.2 They are jointly responsible for compliance with this NR contractors and contractors.
33.5.3 It is prohibited to enter and carry out any work in confined spaces without the issuance of Permit
Input and Labor.
ANNEX I - SIGNS
Signage to identify confined space
ANNEX II - Home and Work Permit - PET
Informative for the preparation of Work Permit and Entry Confined Space
Company Name:
Location of Confined Space: Confined Space No.:
Date and time of issue: Date and time of completion:
Work to be done:
Workers authorized:
Watch: Rescue Team:
Entry Supervisor:
Procedures that must be completed before entry
1. Isolation S () N ()
2. Initial testing of the atmosphere: horrio___________
Oxygen O2%
Flammable% LEL
Gases / vapors toxic ppm
Dust / fume / mist toxic mg/m3
Readable name / signature of the Supervisor of the tests:

3. Locks, locking and tagging N / A () S () N ()

4. Purge and / or washing N / A () S () N ()
5. Ventilation / exhaust - type, equipment and time N / A () S () N ()
6. Test after ventilation and isolation: ___________ hours
Oxygen O2%> 19.5% or <23.0%
Flammable% LEL <10%
Gases / vapors toxic ppm
Dust / fume / mist toxic mg/m3
Readable name / signature of the Supervisor of the tests:
7. General lighting N / A () S () N ()
8. Communication procedures: N / A () S () N ()
9. Rescue Procedures: N / A () S () N ()
10. Procedures and protection of vertical movement: N / A () S () N ()
11. Training of all workers? It is today? N / A () S () N ()
12. Equipment:
13. Equipment for continuous monitoring of gases and certified by an approved body
Accredited Certification (OCC) INMETRO to work in potentially explosive areas of reading
direct alarm conditions:
S () N ()
Lanterns N / A () S () N ()
Protective clothing N / A () S () N ()
Fire extinguishers N / A () S () N ()
Helmets, boots, gloves N / A () S () N ()
Respiratory protection equipment / system or stand-alone air purifying exhaust cylinder N / A () S () N ()
Safety belt and life lines for workers authorized S () N ()

Safety belt and lifeline to rescue N / A () S () N ()

Escada N / A () S () N ()
Vertical movement of equipment / media external N / A () S () N ()
Electronic communication equipment approved and certified by a body
Accredited Certification (OCC) INMETRO to work in areas potentially
explosivas_______________________________________
N / A () S () N ()
Autonomous respiratory protection equipment or system fed air cylinder for exhaust
Rescuers _________________________________
S () N ()
Electrical and electronic equipment approved and certified by a certification body
Accredited (OCC) INMETRO to work in potentially explosive areas
_______________________________________
N / A () S () N ()
Legend: N / A - "not applicable" N - "no" S - "yes."
Procedures that should be completed during the development of work
Hot Work Permit N / A () S () N ()
Emergency and Rescue Procedures
Phone numbers and contacts:
Ambulance :_____________________
Fire :_______________________
Security :_______________________
Note:
The entry can not be allowed if a field is not filled or contains the mark in the column "no."
Lack of continuous monitoring of the atmosphere inside the confined space, alarm, or any order of the
Watch

risk to the safety of workers implies the immediate abandonment of the area
Any departure from the whole team for any reason involves the issuing of new entry permit. This
permission
entry should be exposed at work to finish the job. After work, this permission shall be filed.
APPENDIX III - Glossary
Opening line: intentional opening of a duct, pipe, line pipe that is being used or was used
to transport hazardous materials, flammable, corrosive gas, or any fluid at pressures or temperatures
capable of causing damage or injury in order to eliminate dangerous energies to work in safe
confined spaces.
Relief: the same opening line.
Preliminary Risk Analysis (PRA): initial assessment of potential risks, their causes, consequences and
measures
control.
Hazardous Area: An area with potentially explosive or explosion hazard.
IPVS Atmosphere - Atmosphere Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health: Any atmosphere that presents
immediate risk to life or produces immediate debilitating effect on health.
Initial evaluations of the atmosphere: preliminary set of measurements performed in the atmosphere in
the confined space.
Technical basis: a set of rules, articles, books, work safety procedures, and other documents
technicians used to implement the Entry Permit System and Work in confined spaces.
Lock: A device that prevents the release of hazardous energy such as pressure, steam, fluids, fuel,
water and other energy aimed at curbing dangerous for safe working in confined spaces.
Open flame, a mixture of incandescent gas emitting energy, which is also called flame or fire.
IPVS Condition: Any condition that puts an immediate risk of death or effects that may result in the
irreversible or immediate severe health or which may result in eye damage, irritation or other conditions
that might impede the exit of a confined space.
Contaminants: gases, vapors, mists, fumes and dust in the atmosphere in the confined space.

Oxygen Deficiency: atmosphere containing less than 20.9% oxygen by volume at atmospheric pressure
normal, except that the percentage reduction is properly monitored and controlled.
Engulfment, is the involvement and the capture of a person in liquid or finely divided solids.
Oxygen Enrichment: atmosphere containing more than 23% of oxygen.
Labeling: Label placement in an energy-isolating device to indicate that the device and
equipment being controlled can not be used until its removal.
Spark: burning particles generated in the process of grinding, polishing, cutting or soldering.
Managing safety and health at work in confined spaces: a set of technical preventive measures,
administrative, personal and collective need to ensure safe working in confined spaces.
Blanketing: displacement of the atmosphere existing in a confined space with an inert gas, resulting in
atmosphere with no fuel and oxygen deficiency.
Intrinsically Safe: situation where the equipment can not release sufficient electrical or thermal energy
for, in normal or abnormal, causing ignition of a given explosive atmosphere, as expressed in
certificate of conformity of equipment.
Seal: clamp or other device that needs to be broken to open a device.
Direct reading: device or equipment to perform readings of contaminants in real time.
Special control measures, additional control measures necessary to allow entry and work
confined spaces in particular situations, such as hot work, or other atmospheres IPVS.
Block Order: order suspending the normal operation of the confined space.
Release Order: order of reactivation of normal operation of the confined space.
Pure oxygen, containing only oxygen atmosphere (100%).
Entry Permit and Work (PET): a written document containing the set of control measures aimed at
into and development of safe work, and emergency measures and rescue in confined spaces.
Proficiency: ability, aptitude, and skill training combined with experience.
Respiratory Protection Program: a set of practical and administrative provisions necessary to protect

worker health by proper selection and proper use of respirators.

Drain cleaning method that makes the atmosphere inside the confined space free of gases, vapors and
other
undesirable impurities through ventilation or washing with water or steam.
Near-accident: Any unplanned event that may indicate the possibility of accident.
Technical Manager: a qualified professional to identify confined spaces and existing enterprise
prepare the technical preventive measures, administrative, personal and emergency rescue.
Serious and imminent risk: Any condition that may cause accident or occupational disease with
serious injury to the physical integrity of the worker.
Psychosocial risks: the influence on mental health workers, caused by the stresses of daily life, pressure
Labor and other adverse factors.
Rescue: standard operating procedure, performed by staff with technical expertise,
to rescue and provide first aid to workers in case of emergency.
System Permit Confined Space Entry: A procedure to prepare a written permission
Entry and Work (PET).
Entry supervisor means a person qualified to operate the entry permit with responsibility for
complete and sign the Entry Permit and Work (PET) for the development of safe entry and work
within confined spaces.
Authorized worker: skilled workers to enter the confined space, aware of their rights and
duties and knowledge of risks and existing control measures.
Lock: device (such as key or padlock) used to ensure isolation of devices that may release
electricity or mechanics accidentally.
Watch: employee assigned to remain outside the confined space and is responsible for monitoring,
communication and order to leave for workers.