Confined Space Entry

&
Hazards

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
OVERVIEW
Definition
Types of Confine Space
Hazards of Confined Space
Hazard Assessment & Controls
Entry Permits
Entry Procedures
Atmospheric Testing
Isolation & Lock-out/Tag-out
Ingress/Egress Safeguards
Warning Signs & Symbols
Emergency Response

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
DEFINITION
A confined space is defined as any location that has
limited openings for entry and egress, is not intended
for continuous employee occupancy.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines

Confined Space as any space having a limited means of egress,
which is subject to the accumulation of toxic or flammable
contaminants or has an oxygen deficient atmosphere.

The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

defines Confined Space as any space which, by design, has
limited openings for entry and exit, unfavorable natural
ventilation, which is not intended for continuous employee occupancy.

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards

The objectives are to provide the minimum safety

requirements to be followed while entering and
working in confined spaces.

Entry into the confined space is made for the purposes

of working, such as:
Inspection
Maintenance
Repairing
Cleaning

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
TYPES OF CONFINED SPACE
Examples of confined spaces include:
Manholes
Stacks
Pipes (pipelines)
Storage tanks
Trailers
Tank cars
Pits
Sumps / Sewers
Hoppers
Boilers
Ovens
Pressure or vacuum vessels
Exchangers, columns
Wells
Tunnels
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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
HAZARDS OF CONFINED SPACES:
- Flammable gases / vapours
- Poisons / toxic gases
- The accidental inflow of process fluids
- The movement of machinery (rotating or moving)
- Fire due to the use of welding
- Oxygen deficiency (low oxygen content)
- Slip, trip, or falling hazards
- Lack of adequate lighting
- Nitrogen hazard

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
HAZARDS ASSESSMENT & CONTROL
a. Hazard Assessment
A hazard assessment should be completed prior to any entry into a
confined space. The hazard assessment should :
identify the sequence of work to be performed in the confined
space, the specific hazards known or anticipated
the control measures to be implemented to eliminate or reduce
each of the hazards to an acceptable level

No entry should be permitted until the hazard assessment has

been reviewed and discussed by all persons engaged in the
activity.
Personnel who enter confined spaces should be informed of
potential hazards associated with the confined spaces to be
entered.
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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
b. Hazard Controls

Hazard controls include changes in the work processes and/or

working environment with the objective of:

Controlling the health hazards by eliminating the agents

Reducing health hazards below harmful levels
Preventing the contaminants from coming into contact
with the workers

Eliminating : A= High hazard B= Less hazard

Reducing : X= High concentration Y= Low concentration

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
Hazard Controls (cont.)
The following order of precedence should be followed in
controlling/reducing confined space hazards:
Engineering controls, such as:
- ventilation (to limit exposure to hazards)
- lighting or illumination (proper or adequate)
Work practice controls, such as:
- wetting of hazardous dusts
- frequent cleaning
Use of PPE, such as:
- Respiratory protection
- Head protection
- Hearing protection
- Eye & face protection (dust, sharp, chemical)
- Body protection (for chemical or welding)
- Hand protection (for chemical, welding, sharp)
- Foot protection (for chemical, sharp, hot surface)
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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
ENTRY PERMIT
The Confined Space Entry Permit is the major tool in assuring
safety during entry in confined spaces with known hazards or with
unknown or potentially hazardous atmospheres.

The entry permit process guides the supervisor and workers

through a systematic evaluation of the space to be entered.

Before each entry into a confined space, an entry permit must be

completed by authorized persons and the contents
communicated to all workers involved.

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
Key Elements for Entry Permits
A standard entry permit should contain the following items:
Purpose of the entry
Date of the permit and the authorized duration of the entry permit
Name of authorized entrants within the permit space
Personnel, by name, currently serving as attendants
Individual, by name, currently serving as entry supervisor
Hazards of the permit space to be entered
Measures for :
lock-out / tag-out of equipment
procedures for purging, inerting, ventilating, and flushing
Results of initial and periodic gas tests performed
Rescue and emergency services
Communication procedures
Equipment to be provided for compliance with this section, (e.g.,
PPE, testing, communications, alarm systems, and rescue)
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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
Entry Permits Renewal
Renewal of Entry Permit is based on the company rules.
Example: A permit is only valid for one shift. For a permit to be
renewed, several conditions should be met before each re-entry
into the confined space.
First, atmospheric testing should be conducted and the results
should be within acceptable limits. If atmospheric test results are
not within acceptable limits, precautions to protect entrants
against the hazards should be addressed on the permit and
should be in place.
Second, a qualified person should verify that all precautions and
other measures called for on the permit are still in effect.
Finally only operations or work originally approved on the permit
should be conducted in the confined space.
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 Confined Space Entry & Hazards
Special Considerations During a Permit Entry
A. Certain work being performed in a permit entry confined space could cause
the atmosphere in the space to change.
Examples of this are welding, drilling, or sludge removal. In these situations,
air monitoring of the confined space should be conducted on a continuous
basis throughout the time of the entry.

B. If the workers leave the confined space for any significant period of time, such
as for a lunch or other break, the atmosphere of the confined space must be
re-tested before the workers re-enter the confined space.

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
Duties of the Person Authorizing or In Charge of the Entry
The person who authorizes of the permit entry confined space to
comply with the following:
1. Requirements as outlined on the permit have been completed
before any work is allowed into the confined space
2. Make certain that any required pre-entry conditions are present.
3. If any in-plant rescue team is to be used in the event of an
emergency, make sure they would be available
4. Any communication equipment to be used is operating correctly
5. Terminate the entry upon becoming aware of a condition or set
of conditions whose hazard potential exceeds the limits.

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
ENTRY PROCEDURE
Whenever entry into a confined space is needed, either an Entry
Supervisor or the person in charge of the job should initiate entry
procedures, including the completion of a confined space entry permit.
The entry procedure should cover following items:
1. Application (of confined space entry)
2. Disconnection of lines
3. Calibration of testing & monitoring equipment
4. Air tests
5. Injurious corrosive substances
6. Ventilation
7. Ignition sources control
8. Oxygen-consuming equipment
9. Workers who will enter & standby person

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
ATMOSPHERIC TESTING
Atmospheric test data is needed prior to entry into any confined space.
Atmospheric testing is required for two purposes:
Evaluation of the hazards of the permit space
Verification that acceptable conditions exist for entry into that space
If a person must go into the space to obtain the needed data, then
standard confined space Entry Procedures should be followed.
Before entry into a confined space, a qualified person should conduct
testing for hazardous atmospheres.
Portable Gas Tester :
H2S
The internal atmosphere should be tested with a calibrated, direct-
reading instrument for the following, in the order given:
Oxygen content
Flammable gases/vapors
Potential toxic air contaminants

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 Confined Space Entry & Hazards
Acceptable Limits
The atmosphere of the confined spaces should
be considered within acceptable limits whenever Portable gastester:
Portable gas tester:
CO,CO,
HC,HC,
O2, HO
2S2,
the following conditions are maintained: H2S

1. Oxygen - minimum19.5%
2. Flammability - <10% of the LFL (Lower Flammable Limit)
3. Toxicity - less than recognized exposure limits or levels

Portable Gas Tester for HC & O2

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
Effects of Oxygen Deficiency on the Human Body
Atmospheric
Oxygen
Concentration % Possible Results
20.9 Normal
19.0 Some unnoticeable adverse psychological effect
16.0 Increased pulse and breathing rate, impaired
thinking and attention, reduce coordination
14.0 Abnormal fatigue upon exertion, emotional upset
faulty coordination, poor judgment
12.5 Very poor judgment and coordination, impaired
respiration that may cause permanent heart
damage, nausea, and vomiting
<10 Inability to move, loss of consciousness,
convulsions, death
Source: Compressed Gas Association, 2001
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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
Flammability Limits for Several Substances

The flammable vapor must be less than 10% of the LFL

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
Threshold Limit Values for Several Substances

Threshold Limit
Values (TLV) Types of Substances / Chemicals
19.5% min. Oxygen (O2)
500 ppm max. Hydrogen (H2)
10 ppm max. Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
25 ppm max. Carbon Monoxide (CO)
5000 ppm max. Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
20 ppm max. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
50 ppm max. Hydrogen Chloride (HCl)

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 Confined Space Entry & Hazards
Ventilation
Where the existence of dangerous air contamination or oxygen
deficiency is demonstrated by tests performed, existing ventilation
shall be augmented (increased) by appropriate means if practical
and feasible.
If inert gases (e.g. carbon dioxide. nitrogen, argon) are used in the
confined space, the space should be well ventilated and re-tested
before a worker may enter.
Ventilation should be continuous where possible, because in many
confined spaces the hazardous atmosphere will form again when
the flow of air is stopped.
A common method of ventilation requires a large hose, one end
attached to a fan and the other lowered into a manhole or opening.
For example: a manhole would have the ventilating hose run to the
bottom to blow out all harmful gases and vapors. The air intake
should be placed in an area that will draw in fresh air only.
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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
ISOLATION & LOCK-OUT / TAG-OUT
All energy sources which are potentially hazardous to
confined space entrants should be secured, relieved,
disconnected and/or restrained before personnel are
permitted to enter the confined space.
Equipment systems or processes should be locked out or
tagged out or both prior to permitting entry into the confined
space.
In confined spaces where complete isolation is not possible,
provisions should be made for as rigorous isolation as
practical.

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
Control energy sources include:
1. Electrical
2. Mechanical
3. Hydraulic
4. Pneumatic (air)
5. Chemical
6. Thermal
7. Radioactive
8. Gravity

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
ISOLATION
Isolation of a confined space is a process where the space is
removed from service.
Methods of isolation confined spaces can be accomplished by:
1. Locking out: electrical sources, preferably at disconnect
switches remote from the equipment
2. Blanking and bleeding: pneumatic and hydraulic lines
3. Disconnecting: belt and chain drives, and mechanical
linkages on shaft-driven equipment where possible
4. Securing: mechanical moving parts within confined spaces
with latches. chains, chocks, blocks, or other devices.

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
Prevention of Hazards to Confined Spaces
In certain other situations, it is necessary to prevent hazards of:
- flammable/combustible materials
- toxic materials
- irritating substances
- oxygen displacing gases
- vapors from entering the confined space
Prevention of hazards include:
- all hazardous material,
- high pressure,
- high temperature and
- other lines that could introduce a hazard to the space.

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
Several methods for preventing entry of hazardous
materials at the process vessel or equipment:
1. De-pressurizing and disconnecting contaminant supply lines
and providing a blank or blind, often referred to as a "pancake",
on them.
2. Isolating a confined space from a pipeline by locking two
closed in-line valves, and locking or tagging the line between
the two closed valves open to the outside atmosphere so that it
can continue to drain or bleed.
3. Using two blocking valves with an open vent between the
blocking valves.
4. Inserting a blank sized for the proper pressure in piping nearest
the confined space.

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
Safe Methods of Isolation of a Confined Space

a. Locked Valve with Slip Plate

b. Locked Valve with Blank & Section Removed

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
Safe Methods of Isolation of a Confined Space

c. Locked Double Block and Bleed Valves

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
Log-out / Tag-out for Electrical Power

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
INGRESS-EGRESS SAFEGUARDS
Means for safe entry and exit should be provided for confined
spaces.
Each entry and exit point should be evaluated:
- to determine the most effective methods
- to determine the equipment to be utilized
(to enable workers to safely enter & exit the confined space)
Each manhole or other type of entry port on new vessels
where entry will be required must have a diameter of at least
600 mm. Square access ports shall have a side of not less
than 600 mm.
For existing manholes and entry ports which do not
correspond to the above requirements and where entry with
breathing apparatus is necessary, special equipment must be
made available e.g. face mask with air line to outside source.
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 Confined Space Entry & Hazards
Samples of entry & exit of confined spaces

Entry-exit way to the boiler

Entry-exit way to the boiler Entry-exit way to the tank Entry-exit way to the sewer

Several types of entry-exit ways provide at plant facilities with different

dimensions.

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 Confined Space Entry & Hazards
Retrieval Equipment
Appropriate retrieval (rescue) equipment or methods should be
used whenever a person enters a confined space.
Use proper retrieval equipment when entry to the confined
space, such as:
- rescue tripod
- full body harness
- retrieval line (life line)
- distress alarm
- light (battery type)
- breathing apparatus

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
SAFETY & WARNING SIGNS
1. Each confined space must be clearly marked with standard labels.
This must be clearly visible at each possible entrance to the
confined space. The standard signs must be displayed during the
time allowed for entry.
2. All warning signs must be printed clearly (be better if having two
languages of English and in the predominant language of non-
English reading workers).
3. All entrances to any confined space must be posted. Signs must
include following information:
- Confine Space : Entrance Strictly Forbidden
- Confine Space : Entry by Permit Only
4. If a specific work practice is performed (specific safety equipment is
needed), the statement must be added, in large letter, to warning
sign, such as:
- Respirator required for Entry
- Lifelines required for Entry
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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
Several Safety & Warning Signs
CONFINED SPACE CONFINED SPACE
Entry by Permit Only Entrance Strictly Forbidden

DANGER DANGER
Respirator Required Lifelines Required
for Entry for Entry

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
A plan of action should be written with provisions to conduct a
timely rescue for individuals in a confined space should an
emergency arise.

Retrieval systems should have a chest or full body harness

and a retrieval line attached at the center of the back near
shoulder level or above the head.

The retrieval line should be firmly fastened outside the space

so that rescue can begin as soon as anyone is aware that
retrieval is necessary. A mechanical device should be
available to retrieve personnel from vertical confined spaces
more than five feet deep

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
Several points should be followed by the attendant:

1. Never enter the confined space, even if find the workers

in the space are in trouble. (If you did, there might be no one left
at the scene to call help for the others and yourself)

2. Maintain continuous communication with all workers

within the confined space. (This may be by voice, radio,
telephone, watching them, or any other equally effective devices)

3. Know the procedure how to call emergency assistance

and the means to do so.

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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
4. Order workers in the confined space to "get out" at the first
indication of the following:
a. A condition or set of conditions whose hazard potential
exceeds the limits authorized by the entry permit.
b. An unexpected hazard.
c. A toxic reaction which might be recognized by observing
unusual actions in the workers.
d. A situation outside the confined space which could pose
a hazard to the workers inside the space.
5. Remain at your post. Do not leave except to save your own life
while work continues inside the confined space, unless you are
replaced by an equally qualified person.
If you must leave and no one is there to replace you, order the
workers to leave the confined space.
6. Warn any unauthorized persons not to enter, or tell them to
leave if they have entered.
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Confined Space Entry & Hazards
General Safety Rules dealing with Confined Space Entry:
Plan tasks and assemble equipment so work in the confined
space can be performed quickly.
Be sure any steam, water, heat, gases or power lines (energy
sources) going into the space are cut off, locked, and tagged.
Sufficient and clearly safety labels and warning signs
Not enter the space if feel unwell (or have been using alcohol or any drugs)
Pay close attention to how they feel while in the space (supervise).
Leave immediately if they have trouble breathing or feel tired,
dizzy, nauseated, etc.
Avoid taking food, drinks, or cigarettes into the space.
Make sure the confined space is adequately ventilated.
Use proper PPE
Apply related entry procedure and entry permit
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