1. Confined Vessel Entry Safety
Presentation by: C. MAHADEVAN
HSE Consultant
17th March,2010
at KSPC
1/3/2019

2. 1/3/2019

3. . WHAT IS A CONFINED SPACE?
A space large enough for entry and where dangerous fumes or a deficiency of Oxygen may be present involving risk to persons going inside.
Or inside space of any tank, large pipeline, sewer etc in which any gas , fume, vapor, dust is likely to be present to such an extent so as to involve risk to persons going inside.
WHAT IS ENTRY?
Entry inside including insertion of a person’s head. .
1/3/2019

4. . Important points before/ while entering a confined space:
Cleaning by 10% caustic soda solution for hydrocarbon /
with warming at 60 degree c where required.
Drain to effluent after neutralization.
Water wash at 60 degree c
Use of a suitable ladder to enter inside
If inside is dark, use only of 24 V lamp, single cable with out joint and bulb having a proper cover. Flame proof light for zone 1, 2 areas.
First person to come out preferably after 15 minutes, take rest while another person goes inside. .
1/3/2019

5. . 6 Avoid persons having heart ailment. For going inside.
Also have medical examination of those using self contained breathing apparatus frequently. (Lung Function test).
How long the confined vessel permit is valid? General shift or 8 hours?
Must be renewed every day with gas tests and checking for any other hazards. (Incident of H2S inside an empty vessel next day morning due to leak of nearby pipe line.)
If any item falls inside a confined vessel, do not enter inside without informing any body and following the procedure. Tendency is to get inside without telling anybody to collect the item.
Ensure to put numbers/tags for the blinds/blanks put. .
1/3/2019

6. 12 Beware of Nitrogen gas!
Colorless, odorless, INERT. But silent killer.
13 For purging LPG or other gases, nitrogen or CO2 are used. Never allow entry after purging nitrogen or CO2 WITHOUT again testing oxygen and ensuring it is 20%.
14 Once permit to work is issued, issuer should not do any other work in the equipment. Permit means handing over an equipment after making it as safe as possible, mentioning any residual Hazards and precautions to take.
15 Follow system of marking all equipment identification with numbers for easy follow up.
16 Ensure to warn/ sound Emergency alarm during an Emergency as person inside the vessel may not be able to hear siren. .
1/3/2019

7. STATUTORY REGULATIONS:- FACTORIES ACT 1987, SECTION 36:-
PRECAUTION AGAINST DANGEROUS FUMES, GASES ETC.
NO PERSON SHALL BE REQUIRED OR ALLOWEDTO ENTER
CONFINED SPACE IF THERE IS RISK TO THE PERSON.
VESSEL MUST HAVE MANOLE COVER OF ADEQUATE SIZE.
DO NOT ALLOW PERSON TO ENTER TILL ALL PRACTICAL
MEASURES ARE TAKEN TO REMOVE FUMES, GASES ETC ARE
WITH IN PERMISSIBLE LIMTES.
A CERTIFICATE IN WRITING HAS BEEN GIVEN BY A COMPETENT
PERSON BASED ON TEST CARRIED OUT.
1/3/2019

8. SUCH PERSON MUST BE WEARING SUITABLE BREATHING APPARATUS
AND A BELT SECURELY ATTACHED TO A ROPE, THE FREE END OF
WHICH IS HELD BY THE STANDBY PERSON OUTSIDE CONFINED
VESSEL.
THERE MUST A WRITTEN PROCEDURE FOR CLOSED VESSEL ENTRY
COVERING ALL THESE AND IT MUST BE STRICTLY FOLLOWED.
THE PROCEDURE MUST BE AUDITED TO ENSURE
IT IS FOLLOWED STRICTLY. KEEP RECORD OF SUCH AUDITS AND
CORRECT DEVIATIONS.
PREPARE A CHECK LIST AND FOLLOW.
1/3/2019

9. ASK THE PERSON TO COME OUT IN CASE OF ANY EMERGENCY.
THE VESSEL, WHILE TRYING TO SCRAP IT OUT OR CLEAN IF SLUDGE IS PRESENT INSIDE IT, TOXIC GASES MAY COME , ENSURE TO WEAR A SUITABLE NOSE RESPIRATOR.
ASK THE PERSON TO COME OUT IN CASE OF ANY
EMERGENCY.
STANDBY PERSON SHOULD NOT LEAVE TILL THE PERSON FROM INSIDE THE VESSEL HAS COME OUT. .
1/3/2019

10. Statutory regulation: KERALA Factories Rules, section 88, Rule 181:-
Entry in to vessel
(a) Before any person enters for any purpose except rescue, any absorber, boiler, culvert, drain, flue gas purifier, sewer, still, tank, tower, vitriol chamber, other place
where there is reason to apprehend the presence of dangerous gas or fume, a responsible person
appointed in writing by the occupier for the purpose, shall certify in writing in a book kept for the purpose
either that such place is isolated and sealed from every source of such gas or fume and is free from danger, or that it is not so isolated and sealed and free from danger.
1/3/2019

11. No person shall enter any such place which is certified not to be isolated and sealed and free from danger unless :-
he is wearing a breathing apparatus and (when there are no cross stays or obstructions likely to cause entanglement)
a life-belt, the free end of the rope attached to which shall be left with a man outside, whose sole duty shall be to keep watch and to draw out the wearer if he appears to be affected by gas or fume.
The belt and rope shall be so adjusted and worn that the wearer can be drawn up head foremost through any manhole or opening.
1/3/2019

12. KERALA Factories Rules, Section 88, Rule 181:-
RULE 77: Minimum dimension of manholes:
Every chamber tank, vat, pipe, flue or other confined
space in which persons have to enter and which
may contain dangerous fume to such an extent so
as to involve risk of the persons shall, unless there
is other effective means of regress, be provided with
a manhole which may be rectangular, oval or
circular in shape and which shall
In case of rectangular or oval shape, be not less than 16 inch long and 12 inch wide.
In case of a circular shape, be not less than 16 inch diameter.
1/3/2019

13. Formats / registers of competent persons who
authorizes entry must be maintained by
companies.
Any confined vessel entry details must be entered in
the register with signature of competent person
approving the entry.
1/3/2019

14. What are some emergency response precautions?
Rescue procedures should begin immediately under two
conditions:-
1 Hazardous condition arises.
2 Worker inside is unable to leave the confined space.
Entrust rescue procedures job to a qualified Safety watch in confined space.
Shall be available immediately outside the confined space for to provide emergency assistance if needed.
Safety watch should be familiar with the structural design of the confined space.
He must be in constant communication with the worker inside the confined space.
1/3/2019

15. He will have an alarm for calling for help.
Have all required rescue equipment like safety
harness, lifting equipment, a life line immediately
available and be trained to use them.
Hold a basic first aid certificate.
Can do cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Rescue the victims from outside of the confined
space, if possible. NO OTHER WORKER SHOULD
ENTER A CONFINED SPACE TO ATTEMPT TO
RESCUE unless that worker is fully trained in the
rescue procedures and is wearing required PPE.
More than 60% deaths in confined space are due
to rescuers, who are not fully trained and
adequately equipped.
1/3/2019

16. YOU COULD KILL SOMEBODY!!!
Another worker qualified in confined space
rescue must be present outside before the first
rescuer enters the confined space.
Do not use the same air as the workers in
confined space you are rescuing.
Wear SCBA or supplied air respirator.
Workers training is extremely important.
Hands-on training should be an essential part of
the confined space training.
REMEMBER
IF YOU GET IT WRONG
YOU COULD KILL SOMEBODY!!!
1/3/2019