Confined Space Ventilation Are We Really Moving Air, or Just Making Ourselves Feel Good?

Class Schedule for Today n Introductions and Class Overview n Review of 29CFR Permit Required Confined Spaces n Entrants, Attendants, and Supervisors- Who are they? n Confined Space Entry Organization- Smoothing the Process

Schedule continued- n Why Ventilation n Ventilation Equipment n The Mechanics of Ventilation n Hazardous Atmospheres n Relationships between Ventilation and Atmospheric Monitoring n Air Monitoring Equipment

Schedule continued- n Air Monitoring Techniques n Review and Questions

29CFR Permit Required Confined Spaces n Definitions from the standard-the rules we all have to live by, n (Like them or not)

“Confined Space” means a space that: n Is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work; n Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit; and n Is not designed for continous employee occupancy

Permit Required Confined Space n Contains one or more of the following characteristics: n Contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere; n Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant;

n Has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross-section; n Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard

Definitions- n HAZARDOUS ATMOSPHERES- n Means an atmosphere that may expose employees to the risk of death, impairment of ability to self-rescue(that is, escape unaided from a permit space), injury, or acute illness from one or more of the following causes:

Definitions continued: n 1) flammable gas, vapor, or mist in excess of 10 percent of its lower flammable limit (LFL) n 2) Airborne combustible dust at a concentration that meets or exceeds its LFL-Note: This concentration may be approximated as a condition in which dust obscures vision at a distance of 5 feet.

n 3) Atmospheric oxygen concentration below 19.5 percent or above 23.5 percent; n 4) Atmospheric concentration of any substance for which a dose or a permissible exposure limit is published in Subpart G, or in Subpart Z which could result in exposure above the PEL Definitions continued:

n 5) Any other atmospheric condition that is immediately dangerous to life or health.

n TESTING- n means the process by which the hazards that may confront entrants of a permit space are identified and evaluated. Testing includes specifying the tests that are to be performed in the permit space.

n Note: Testing enables employers to both devise and implement adequate control measures for the protection of authorized entrants and to determine if acceptable entry conditions are present immediately prior to, and during, entry.

Entry Supervisor n The person (such as the employer, foreman, or crew chief) responsible for determining if acceptable entry conditions are present at a permit space where entry is planned, for authorizing entry and overseeing entry operations, and for terminating entry as required by this section.

Supervisor Duties n Knows the hazards that may faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs, or symptoms, and consequences of the exposure.

Supervisor Duties, continued n Verfies, by checking that the appropriate entries have been made on the permit, that all tests specified by the permit have been conducted and that all procedures and equipment specified by the permit are in place before endorsing the permit and allowing entry to begin;

Supervisor Duties, continued n Terminates the entry and cancels the permit as required by paragraph (e) (5) of this section; n Verifies that rescue services are available and that the means for summoning them are operable;

Supervisor Duties, continued n Removes unauthorized individuals who enter or who attempt to enter the permit space during entry operations;

Supervisor Duties, continued n Determines, whenever responsibility for a permit space entry operation is transferred and at intervals dictated by the hazards and operations performed within the space, that entry operations remain consistent with terms of the entry permit and that acceptable entry conditions are maintained.

Authorized Entrant n An employee who authorized by the employer to enter a permit space.

Authorized Entrant Duties n Know the hazards that may be faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and consuquences of the exposure n Properly use equipment as required by paragraph (d) (4) of this section;

Entrant Duties, continued n Communicate with the attendent as necessary to enable the attendent to monitor entrant status and to enable the attendant to alert entrants of the need to evacuate the space as required by paragraph (I) (6) of this section;

Entrant Duties, continued n Alert the attendant whenever: n The entrant recognizes any warning sign or symptom of exposure to a dangerous situation n The entrant detects a prohibited condition n Exit from the permit space as quickly as possible whenever:

Entrant Duties, continued n An order to evacuate is given by the attendant or entry supervisor, n The entrant recognizes any warning sign or symptom of exposure to a dangerous situation, n The entrant detects a prohibited condition n An evacuation alarm is activated

Attendent n An individual stationed outside one or more permit spaces who monitors the authorized entrants and who performs all attendant duties assigned in the employer’s permit space program.

Attendant Duties n Knows the hazards that may be faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and consequences of the exposure n Is aware of possible behavioral effects of hazard exposure in authorized entrants

Attendant Duties, continued n Continuously maintains an accurate count of authorized entrants in the permit space and ensures that the means used to identify authorized entrants under paragraph (f) (4) of this section accurately identifies who is in the permit space;

Attendant Duties, continued n Remains outside the permit space during entry operations until relieved by another attendent n Communicates with authorized entrants as necessary to monitor entrant status and to alert entrants of the need to evacuate the space under paragraph (I) (6) of this section

Attendant Duties, continued n Monitors activities inside and outside the space to determine if it is safe for entrants to remain in the space and orders the authorized entrants to evacuate the permit space immediately under any of the following conditions;

Attendant Duties, continued n Attendant detects a prohibited condition n Attendant detects the behavioral effects of hazard exposure in a authorized entrant n Attendant detects a situation outside the space that could endanger the authorized entrants

Attendant Duties, continued n If the attendant cannot effectively and safely perform all the duties required under paragraph (i) of this section; n Summon rescue and other emergency services as soon as the attendant determines that authorized entrants may need assistance to escape from the permit space hazards;

Thanks to the following: n Texas Engineering Extension Service n Texas A&M Industrial Rescue Division n Occupational Safety and Health Administration n Super Vacuum Manufacturing Company n The Roco Corporation