1. Confined Spaces
“Non-Permit”
“Permit-Required”

2. ETSU Confined Spaces Physical Plant’s Confined Space Policy
Approved October 17, 2003

3. Confined Space Defined
The space is not designed for continuous employee occupancy
The space is large enough to enter and perform work
The space has limited
means of entry and exit

4. Confined Space Examples
● Tanks ● Manholes ● Boilers ● Furnaces ● Sewers ● Hoppers
● Vaults
● Pipes
● Tunnels
● Bins
● Pits
● Silos

5. Not Designed for Continuous Worker Occupancy
Most confined spaces are not designed to enter and work in on a regular basis.
The space encloses materials or processes.
Occasional worker entry for inspection, repair, cleanup, maintenance, etc.

6. Permit-Required Confined Space
● Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere;
● Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant;
● Has an internal configuration such that an entrant could become trapped or asphyxiated; or
● Contains any other serious safety or health hazard.
A Permit-Required Confined Space is a confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics:

7. Non-Permit Confined Space
● A non-permit confined space does not contain or, with respect to atmospheric hazards, have the potential to contain any hazard capable of causing death of serious physical harm.
● A permit-required confined space can be reclassified as a non-permit space.

8. ENTRY by Entrant
● The act by which a person passes through an opening into a permit-required confined space.
● Occurs during work activities when the entrant’s body breaks the plane of an opening into the space

9. Categorizing the Work Space
Space large enough to enter &;
Limited or Restricted entry or exit &;
Not designed for continuous worker
occupancy. NO
Not a Confined Space
YES
Confined Space
Hazardous Atmosphere Or
Permit-
Required
Confined
Space
Non
Permit-
Required
Space
Engulfment Hazard
YES NO Or
Configuration Hazard Or
Any other recognized
serious hazard

10. Confined Space Entry
To reclassify a permit-required confined space, a pre-entry checklist shall be completed and certified by an entry supervisor prior to entry.
The checklist shall contain the date, the location of the space, and the signature of the person providing the certification.

11. Pre-Entry Procedures Pre-Entry Checklist
Physical Plant employees shall follow the pre-entry procedures that establish safe entry for our employees.
Pre-Entry Checklist

12. Unfavorable Natural Ventilation
Lack of air movement in and out of the space can create an atmosphere much different than the outside atmosphere.
Deadly gases can be trapped inside.
Organic materials can decompose.
May not be enough oxygen due to presence of other gases or chemical reactions such as rusting.

13. Confined Space Entry - Hazards
Manholes often remain
covered for long periods
of time. Poisonous gases, such as hydrogen sulfide
can accumulate inside of
manholes.
CH4
Manholes may also
accumulate highly
flammable gases
such as methane.
H2S

14. Oxygen Deficient Atmospheres
19.5 % Minimum acceptable oxygen level % Decreased ability to work strenuously. Impair coordination. Early symptoms % Respiration increases. Poor judgment % Respiration increases. Lips blue. 8-10% Mental failure. Fainting. Nausea Unconsciousness. Vomiting. 6-8% 8 minutes - fatal, 6 minutes - 50% fatal 4-5 minutes - possible recovery. 4-6% Coma in 40 seconds. Death

15. Oxygen Enriched Atmospheres
Oxygen level above 21%.
Causes flammable and combustible materials to burn violently when ignited.
Never use pure oxygen to ventilate.
Never store or place compressed tanks in a confined space.

16. Flammable Atmospheres
Critical Factors:
Oxygen content in the air.
Presence of a flammable gas, or vapor
Presence of dust (visibility of 5’ or less)
Ignition Sources: (Hot Work Permit)
Sparking or electric tool
Welding / cutting operations
Smoking

17. Hydrogen Sulfide PPM Effect Time
Decomposition of materials. Human waste.
Rotten egg odor at low concentrations.
Possibly no warning at high concentrations.
PPM Effect Time
10 ppm Permissible Exposure Level 8 Hours
Mild Irritation - eyes, throat 1 Hour
Significant Irritation 1 Hour
Unconsciousness, Death 1/2 - 1 Hour
>1000 Unconsciousness, Death Minutes

18. Carbon Monoxide Odorless, Colorless Gas. Combustion By-Product.
Quickly collapse at high concentrations.
PPM Effect Time
50 Permissible Exposure Level 8 Hours
200 Slight headache, discomfort 3 Hours
600 Headache, discomfort 1 Hour
Confusion, nausea, headache 2 Hours
Tendency to stagger 1 1/2 Hours
Slight heart palpitation 30 Min.
Unconsciousness 30 Min.

19. Confined Space Entry - Hazards
If concentrations of
gases and vapors are found to be at harmful levels, the confined space must be ventilated before
entry. ??
Fresh outside
air is blown into
the space to dilute
and remove
contaminants, and
supply oxygen. O2
Fresh Air O2 O2 O2

20. Testing The Atmosphere
Verify presence of safe work atmosphere.
Test at various depths of a confined space.
Top, Middle, Bottom

21. Always test the
air at various levels
to be sure that the
entire space is safe.
Good air near the opening does NOT mean there is good air at the bottom!
Methane is lighter than air.
Carbon Monoxide is the same as air.
Hydrogen Sulfide is heavier than air.

22. Emergency Procedures Call 911
Should conditions develop which require extrication, and the entrant cannot get out of the confined space on their own, the attendant must call for emergency assistance at once!
Call
911
It is very important to communicate to the dispatcher that a confined space rescue is necessary.

23. CAUTION
Opening in Ground
Keep Out !
BARRIERS and SIGNS must be placed around any openings to protect the entrants and passers-by.

24. Contractor Confined Space Entry
• Contractors must follow their own established confined space entry procedure.
• A joint entry by ETSU employees and contractors will be coordinated by an ETSU entry supervisor.
• Contractors must supply their own air monitors.
• Contractors are required to contact a Physical Plant representative at the completion of an entry to discuss any hazards confronted during the entry.

25. MSA Orion Multigas Detector

26. Ventilation First option to correct problems.
Must be aware of hazards you are trying to correct in the confined space.
Air intake in a safe location to draw fresh air only.
Continuous ventilation whenever possible.
Retest the confined space before entry.

27. Isolation Locking and tagging out electrical sources.
Blanking and bleeding pneumatic and hydraulic lines.
Disconnecting mechanical drives and shafts.
Securing mechanical parts.
Blanking sewer and water flow.
Locking and tagging out shutoff valves.

28. Respirators Air-Purifying Respirators Air-Supplying Respirators
Filter dangerous substances from the air.
Must know the type and amount of hazardous substance present in the confined space.
NEVER use with oxygen deficiency!
Air-Supplying Respirators
Deliver a safe supply of breathing air from a tank or an uncontaminated area nearby.

29. Entrant Responsibilities
Know the hazards of the space.
Proper use of equipment in space.
Communicate with the attendant.
Places his/her lockout/tagout device on isolation point(s) before entry
Alert the attendant whenever
they recognize a dangerous situation.
Detect a prohibited condition

30. Entrant Responsibilities
Exit from the space as quickly as possible whenever:
An order to evacuate is given by the attendant or entry supervisor
The entrant recognizes any warning signs of exposure or a dangerous situation
The entrant detects a prohibited condition.
The multi-gas detector alarms

31. Attendant Responsibilities
Knows the hazards that might be faced during entry
Aware of possible behavioral effects of hazard exposure to the entrant
Maintains a count of entrants in the space
Remains outside the permit space during entry operations

32. Attendant Responsibilities
Communicates with the entrants and alerts if evacuation is needed.
Monitors activities inside and outside the space determining if it is safe.
Performs non-entry rescue (tripod, non-entry retrieval device)
Summon rescue services if person needs assistance to escape space (911)

33. Entry Supervisor Responsibilities
Knows the hazards that may be faced during entry, including mode, signs or symptoms, and consequences of exposure.
Verifies that the appropriate entries have been made on the permit.
Verifies that all tests specified by the permit have been conducted
Verifies that all procedures and equipment specified by the permit are in place before approving the permit and allowing entry

34. Entry Supervisor Responsibilities
Terminates the entry and cancels the permit as required when:
The entry operations have been completed
A condition that is not allowed under the entry permit arises in or near the space
(Note: The employer shall retain the permit for at least 1 year. Entry supervisor turn in permits to Health & Safety at the Physical Plant.)

35. Entry Supervisor Responsibilities
Verifies that rescue services are available
Removes unauthorized individuals who attempt to enter the permit space
Verifies that acceptable entry conditions are maintained during entry and that all requirements of the permit are met.

36. Summary Confined spaces are generally classified into two categories
Permit Required
Have the potential to contain serious safety and health hazards
Non Permit Required

37. Summary Some common confined space hazards include:
Atmospheric hazards
Moving parts
Tight spaces
Engulfment hazards

38. Summary
The Company’s “entry permit system” is designed to ensure that confined space hazards are controlled during the entry process

39. Summary
The entry supervisor makes sure all entry procedures are followed as outlined on the entry permit

40. Summary
The standby attendant acts as the eyes and ears of the entry process, monitoring conditions both inside and outside the space
The standby attendant may not enter the confined space during a rescue

41. Summary
The confined space entrants are the only ones authorized to enter a confined space
Entrants must know all potential hazards, maintain communications with the attendant and immediately exit the space when instructed to evacuate

42. Summary
Each member of the entry team has a specific role to play in the entry process
By following the requirements of the entry permit system, the entry team is able to work safely in confined spaces