Confined Spaces

What is a Confined Space? According to OSHA, there are three characteristics of confined spaces: It is big enough for a person to fit his or her entire body. It is restrictive for the person when he or she is entering and exiting. The space is not meant for someone to stay in for a long period of time.

Deadly Consequences There are many rules associated with entering a confined space but perhaps the Golden Rule is to check and monitor the atmosphere before entering. In the following article a failure to do such became deadly: One by one, three utility workers descended into a manhole. One by one, they died.

Deadly Consequences When a utility worker in Key Largo, Fla., noticed that a section of a paved street was not setting properly, he decided to remove a manhole cover and descend into the earth. Moments later, the 15-foot-deep hole went silent. Sensing the man was trapped, a fellow utility worker climbed into the drainage hole to rescue him. When he also stopped responding a third worker entered the same hole.

Deadly Consequences According to the Monroe County Sherriff's department, all three men died from poisonous fumes found underground. A Key Largo firefighter who made a desperate attempt to save the men also became unconscious within seconds. The hole, just wide enough to fit a body, was filled with hydrogen sulfide and methane gas was created from years of rotted vegetation, the Miami Herald reported.

Deadly Consequences None of the four men wore masks or carried air packs that could have likely saved their lives. This is just one example of the deadly consequences associated with confined spaces.

Confined Spaces According to OSHA, confined space work is one of the leading causes for occupational fatalities in the U.S. A big part of that comes from workers not being trained of the potential hazards. The standard states employers must provide training to each employee so they gain the skills necessary for safe performance. As a result, the trainee understands the potential hazards in the permit space and methods to isolate, control and protect employees from those hazards.

Confined Spaces OSHA defines a confined space as being made up of three main parts: Being large enough for an employee to enter and perform work Has limited or restricted means Is not designed for continuous occupancy The above items describe many kinds of areas a worker can come in contact with on a daily basis.

Permit vs. Non-Permit There are two main types of confined spaces – permit required and non-permit required. A permit-required confined space will have all three characteristics from the previous page, plus one or more of the following: A substance that has the ability to engulf or asphyxiate the entrant A potentially hazardous atmosphere Inwardly converging walls within the space or a floor the slopes downward, tapering to a small cross-section Contains any other serious safety or health hazard

Confined Spaces in Your Plant How many confined spaces can you name in your precast plant? Silos Mixers Aggregate Bins Grizzly Pits Admixture Tanks Fuel and Oil Tanks Etc.

Reclassifying Confined Spaces OSHA 1910.146 states a permit required space may be reclassified as a non-permit confined space if the space poses no actual or potential atmospheric hazards and if all hazards within the space are eliminated without entry into the space.

Reclassifying Confined Spaces The reclassification would remain in effect as long as the hazards remain eliminated. It would allow employers to have employees enter the space without following the permit space program. The elimination of the hazards can be accomplished by emptying the space of materials that pose an engulfment hazard and applying lockout/tagout devices. However, other previsions must be in place if a leak in a pipe opening in the space could lead to a hazardous atmosphere.

Is Your Facility Compliant? In order to be compliant, do you have the following in place at your precast facility? Do you have a written confined space entry program on site? Communicate all permit and non-permit confined spaces to employees. Explain where and how employees can access.

Is Your Facility Compliant? Has a Hazard Evaluation been conducted to identify confined spaces in the facility? List hazards present in non-permit required confined spaces: Energy Sources (Explain what they are Engulfment Sources (Explain what they are) Air deficiencies sources (Explain what they are) Entry procedures (i.e. secure doors on mixer)

Procedures at Your Plant As part of your written program you should provide at a minimum: List of permit required confined spaces: Example – Silos List of non-permit required confined spaces: Example – Dry-Cast Pit Are permit required confined spaces marked with proper signage? Are permit required confined spaces locked to prevent unauthorized entry?

Procedures at Your Plant If any permit-required confined spaces have been re-classified as non-permit confined spaces, is there proper documentation and certification? Entry in your mixer for cleaning purposes is a good example of a reclassified space: Explain to all employees that re-classified confined spaces are considered a non-permit confined spaces because you have tested the ambient air and you can follow lockout/tagout procedures to remove all hazards.

Is Your Facility Compliant? If hot work is to be preformed in the mixer, the reclassification is not valid, as you now have a substance that has the ability to asphyxiate the entrant and a potentially hazardous atmosphere It is now a permit-required confined space.

What if We Need a Rescue? When an emergency occurs, a self-rescue is made using a tripod and harness. And if a rescue is required, the local fire department should be contacted prior to the confined space entry. If the local fire department cannot perform a rescue than the precaster can either train a confined space rescue crew or contract with a commercial confined space recovery team.

What if We Need a Rescue? What about outside contractors working in the plant? They must also be trained and need to be familiar with confined spaces at your precast facility. They should follow your procedures before entry and you should verify the compliance.