Confined Space Entry

Training Session

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CONFINED SPACE HAZARDS

Ensure
Ventilation
Isolation
PPE / Respirators
Stand-by rescue
Entry permitting

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What is a Confined Space

Limited Openings for Entry and Exit

Unfavorable Natural Ventilation
Not Designed for Continuous Worker
Occupancy

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Typical Confined Spaces

Boiler, Furnace
Pipeline, Pit, Pumping Station
Chest Vessel, Storage Tanks
Septic Tank, Storage Tank,
Manhole, Trenches,
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Limited Access

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Potential Hazards in Confined

Spaces
Oxygen Deficiency

Toxic Materials

<19.5% or >23.5%
oxygen concentration

Combustibles

Methane
Hydrogen
Acetylene
Propane
Gasoline fumes

Carbon Monoxide
Hydrogen Sulfide
Welding fumes
Corrosives

Electricity
Physical Hazards
Temperature Extremes
Falling objects

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What is Air?

Shailesh Mistry - Safety Professional

Oxygen Deficient Atmospheres

19.5 %
15 - 19%
12-14%
10-12%
8-10%
6-8%
4-6%

Minimum acceptable oxygen level.

Decreased ability to work strenuously.
Impair coordination. Early symptoms.
Respiration increases. Poor judgment.
Respiration increases. Lips blue.
Mental failure. Fainting. Nausea
Unconsciousness. Vomiting.
8 minutes - fatal, 6 minutes - 50% fatal
4-5 minutes - possible recovery.
Coma in 40 seconds. Death
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Oxygen Enriched Atmospheres

Oxygen level above 21%.

Causes flammable and combustible

materials to burn violently when ignited.

Hair, clothing, materials, etc.
Oil soaked clothing and materials.
Never use pure oxygen to ventilate.
Never store or place compressed tanks in a
confined space.
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Flammable Atmospheres
2 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
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Methane (CH4)

Natural gas, swamp gas.

Due to gas leak or organic decay
Colorless/odorless flammable gas, or scented
LEL = 5%; UEL = 15%

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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.

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Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) (p. 9)

Sewer gas, stink gas (rotten eggs)
Odor threshold: 0.02-0.2 ppm
Colorless, flammable gas. Strong odor BUT
Fatigues your senses.
Deadly! Very high concentrations lead to
cardiorespiratory arrest because of brainstem
toxicity. Affect nervous system.
Heavier than air
IDLH H2S = 100 ppm
8 hr. PEL = 10 PPM
Alarm Point = 10 ppm
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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
Permissible Exposure Level
Slight headache, discomfort
Headache, discomfort
Confusion, nausea, headache
Tendency to stagger
Slight heart palpitation
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Unconsciousness

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

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Physical Hazards (p. 9)

Electrical
Slips, trips, and falls
Augers, turbines,
blades, pumps
Falling objects and
materials
Drowning or
engulfment
Converging sections

Fire/explosion
Noise
Heat
Psychological

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Temperature Extremes

Extremely hot or cold temperatures.

Steam cleaning of confined spaces.
Humidity factors.
Extremely cold liquids.
Work processes inside the confined space

can increase temperature extremes.

Personal protective equipment.
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Engulfment Hazards

Loose, granular materials stored in bins and

hoppers - grain, sand, coal, etc.

Crusting and bridging below a worker.
Flooding of confined space.
Water or sewage flow.

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Engulfment

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Other Hazards

Noise

Amplified due to acoustics within the space.

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.
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Other Hazards

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Safety precautions for Confined

Space work

Confined space work permit

Air Testing
Ventilation
Safety Equipment

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Air Testing and Evaluation

(p. 10)
Air inside a permit-required space must be tested
and evaluated before entry
Air will be classified as safe or hazardous.
Entry into a hazardous atmosphere requires
approval of at least a general supervisor, the
facility safety coordinator and entry supervisor

Oxygen
Toxic atmospheres
Flammable atmospheres
NO ENTRY!
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Ventilation
Forced ventilation is required when:
Testing indicates a hazardous
atmosphere out of acceptable range
Theres a potential for atmospheric
conditions to move out of acceptable range
The work can cause a hazardous
atmosphere, such as welding, cutting,
painting, chemical cleaning, etc....
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Equipment Requirements
Equipment needed should be selected on a case by
case basis
Written procedures will identify minimum
equipment requirements
The permit includes a checklist for equipment
Equipment training session goes into detail

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