Confined Spaces in Construction

OSHA CFR 1926 does not contain a specific

PRCS regulation… yet.
Other standards:
• Subpart C 1926.21 - Safety Training and Education
• Subpart J 1926.353 - Welding and Cutting
• Subpart P 1926.651 - Excavations
• Subpart S 1926.956 - Underground Lines
• Z117.1-1989 Safety Requirements for Confined Spaces
• Subpart AA 1926.1200 (coming soon?)
 Where is confined safety in construction?

1926.21(b)(6)(i) - Safety training and education

All employees required to enter into confined or enclosed

spaces shall be instructed as to:
• the nature of the hazards involved
• the necessary precautions to be taken
• the use of protective and emergency equipment
required
 Where is confined safety in construction?

1926.21(b)(6)(i)
What is a "confined or enclosed space" in construction?

1. any space having limited means of egress, and

2. subject to the accumulation of toxic or flammable
contaminants or
3. has an oxygen deficient atmosphere.
 Where is confined safety in construction?

1926.21(b)(6)(i)
What are some examples of confined spaces?

• storage tanks • sewers

• process vessels • underground utility vaults,
• bins • tunnels
• boilers • Pipelines
• ventilation or exhaust
ducts
 1926.21(b)(6)(i)
What are some examples of confined spaces?

• open top spaces more than

4 feet in depth such as pits,
tubs, vaults, and vessels.
 Where is confined safety in construction?

1926.956 - Underground lines

When work is to be performed in a manhole or unvented

vault:
Workers must:
• use continuous forced air ventilation or
• determine atmosphere is safe by testing for oxygen
deficiency, flammable and toxic (OFT) atmosphere.
1926 Subpart P - Excavations
.651(g) Hazardous atmospheres -
Where oxygen deficiency (atmospheres containing less
than 19.5 percent oxygen) or a hazardous atmosphere
exists or could reasonably be expected to exist…
…the atmospheres in the excavation shall be tested
before employees enter excavations greater than 4 feet
(1.22 m) in depth.
1926 Subpart J - Welding and Cutting
.353(b) Welding, cutting, and heating in confined
General mechanical or local exhaust ventilation must be
provided whenever welding, cutting, or heating is
performed in a confined space.
When sufficient ventilation cannot be obtained without
blocking the means of access, employees in the
confined space must:

• use air line respirators, and

• an employee stationed outside outside the confined
space to maintain communication with those
working within it and to aid them in an emergency.
"Lifelines" Where a welder must enter a confined space
through a manhole or other small opening:

• Means to provide removal must be provided

• Safety belts and lifelines should not be attached
in a way that might jam the employee in the
opening
• Attendant must have a pre-planned rescue
procedure and stationed immediately outside
space
 1926 Subpart AA (Proposed) - Confined
Spaces in Construction

OSHA is proposing confined space rule for

construction.
Employers to first determine whether there is a
confined space at a job site.
If there is a confined space, the employer would
determine if there are existing or potential hazards in
the space.
If there are such hazards, the employer then would
classify the space according to the physical and
atmospheric hazards found in it.
The classification would determine what accident-
prevention and -protection requirements apply to that
space.
There are four classifications:

1. Continuous System-Permit-Required Confined

Space (CS-PRCS)
2. Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS)
3. Controlled-Atmosphere Confined Space
(CACS)
4. Isolated-Hazard Confined Space (IHCS)
 1910.146 Confined Space

What is a confined space?

1. Large enough for whole body to enter and

work, and

2. Limited access or egress, and

3. Not designed for continuous occupancy

What are the criteria for a permit-required
confined space (PRCS)?

1. Contains hazardous atmosphere, or

2. Has potential for engulfment, or

3. Has dangerous configuration, or

4. Contains other serious safety or health hazards.

Evaluating Confined Spaces
for Hazards
Hazardous Atmospheres
Two Railroad Repair Workers Asphyxiated (Nitrogen) in
Damaged Tank Car
The empty railroad tank car had been filled with soybean oil, and the
headspace (unfilled volume) inside the tank car was filled with a cover
gas (in this case nitrogen) to prevent spoilage.
Other Recognized Serious
Safety or Health Hazard

Electrical equipment
Mechanical equipment
Visibility - lighting
Biohazards
Claustrophobia
Noise
Radiation
Temperature
 How is PRCS “entry”
defined?

When any part of the body breaks

the plane of the opening in a
permit required confined space.

If permit-required confined spaces will not be

entered, you must still take all measures to
prevent entry!

How?
Ventilating Confined Spaces
 Ventilation Equipment

• Natural - rarely dependable

• Mechanical -

preferred, positive hazard reduction © Lab Safety Inc., Janesville WI. Used with
Permission

depends on configuration

consider nature of atmospheric

hazard

© Lab Safety Inc., Janesville WI. Used with Permission

 Air Monitoring Equipment

Used during initial investigation prior to, and during

confined space entry.

Tests for: (Note: You must test in

this order)
1. Oxygen content
2. Flammable gases and vapors
3. Toxic gases and vapors

© Lab Safety Inc., Janesville WI. Used with Permission © Lab Safety Inc., Janesville WI. Used with Permission
 Sampling

Methane
(lighter than air)
Carbon Monoxide
(same as air)
Hydrogen Sulfide
(heavier than air)
The Entry Permit System
Duties to the Entry Team

The Entry Supervisor

The Attendant
The entrant
Rescue and Emergency
Procedures
Three options to permit-required
confined space rescue

1. Arrange for rescue service

from an outside source.

2. Arrange for your own

employees to provide rescue.

3. Provide for non-entry

rescue.
Training
Before you run, time to review!
 Stairs

By definition, a confined space must be large enough

to enter and:

a. have restricted entry and be dangerous

b. be dangerous, have a confined space sign
posted
c. restricted access, not be designed for
continuous occupancy
d. be posted as a restricted area
 Stairs

The construction standard requires that workers

entering a confined space:

a. know about the hazards they will encounter

b. be instructed on the hazards, what precautions
must be taken and how to use PPE and
emergency equipment
c. wear a self-contained breathing apparatus
d. be trained in permit-required entry rescue
techniques
 Stairs

Examples of construction-related confined spaces are:

a. tool shop, enclosed trailer, sewage tank

b. manhole, building foundation, job shack
c. manhole, condenser pit, underground vault
d. windowless classroom, tool shop, job shack
 Stairs

Under the 1910.146, entry into a permit-required

confined space requires an entrant and:

a. an attendant, and PRCS entry supervisor

b. a certified engineer and a PRCS entry supervisor
c. an attendant and stand-by rescue team
d. a PRCS entry supervisor and stand-by rescue
team
 Stairs

The ANSI standard for entry into permit-required

confined spaces is:

a. ANSI Z87.1
b. ANSI Z41
c. ANSI Z93.3
d. ANSI 117.1
 Stairs

OSHA will enforce the rules for entry into permit-

required confined spaces for construction workers
using:

a. General Duty Clause and ANSI 1171.

b. 29 CFR 1910.146 and ANSI 87.1
c. 29 CFR 1910.147 and ANSI 490.1
d. General Duty Clause and ANSI 89.1