CONFINED SPACE ENTRY

WHAT IS A CONFINED SPACE?

 A Confined Space is an enclosed or partially enclosed space that is

not primarily designed or intended for human occupancy.
 It has a restricted entrance or exit by way of location, size or
means
 It can represent a risk for the health and safety of anyone who
enters, due its design, construction, location or atmosphere, the
materials or substances in it, work activities being carried out in it,
and the mechanical, process and safety hazards present.
 It can be below or above ground. Confined spaces can be found in
almost any workplace. A confined space, despite its name, is not
necessarily small.

HOW TO IDENTIFY A CONFINED SPACE?

There are two types of Confined Spaces. The first one is the “Permit-Required Confined
Spaces” this type of Confined Space could contain hazardous materials and is not designed for
continuous human occupancy. The other one is “Non-Permit Confined Spaces” this is not as
dangerous as the first one but personal protective equipment must be observed.

To identify if it is a confined space it must have the following characteristics:

 Limited Openings for Entry and Exit

o Openings as small as 18 inches in diameter.
o Difficult to enter without life-saving equipment.
o Difficult to remove downed worker in folded up or bent over position.
o Exit from large openings may be difficult due to presence of ladders, hoists,
etc.
 Unfavorable Natural Ventilation
 o Lack of air movement in and out of the space can create an atmosphere
much different than the outside atmosphere.
o Deadly gases can be trapped inside.
o Organic materials can decompose.
o May not be enough oxygen due to presence of other gases or chemical
reactions such as rusting.
 Not Designed for Continuous Worker Occupancy
o Most confined spaces are not designed to enter and work in on a regular
basis.
o Designed to store a product.
o Enclose materials or processes.
o Transport products or substances.
o Occasional worker entry for inspection, repair, cleanup, maintenance, etc.

Categorizing Work Space

TYPICAL CONFINED SPACES

Some confined spaces are fairly easy to identify. The most common are enclosures with
limited openings:

1. Storage Tanks
2. Silos (used for storing grains)
3. Pipeline
4. Enclosed Drains
5. Sewers

Others may be less obvious, but can be equally dangerous, for example:

1. Open-topped Chambers
2. Pits
3. Combustion Chambers in Furnaces etc.
4. Manhole
5. Unventilated or Poorly Ventilated Rooms

It is not possible to provide a comprehensive list of confined spaces. Some places may
become confined spaces when work is carried out, or during their construction, fabrication or
subsequent modification.

HAZARDS IN CONFINED SPACES

All hazards found in a regular workspace can also be found in a confined space.
However, they can be even more hazardous in a confined space than in a regular worksite.

Hazards in confined spaces can include:

 Oxygen Deficiency
o Oxygen can be lacking a confined space for the following reasons:
1. Displacement of air by another gas.
 2. Various biological processes or chemical reactions (such as rotting of
organic matter, rusting of metals, burning, etc)
3. Absorption of air onto steel surfaces, especially where these are
damp
OXYGEN
LEVEL
19.5 % Minimum acceptable oxygen level.
15-19% Decreased ability to work strenuously.
Impair coordination. Early symptoms.
12-14% Respiration increases. Poor judgment.
10-12% Respiration increases. Lips blue.

8-10% Mental failure, Fainting, Nausea, Unconsciousness and

Vomiting.
6-8% 8 minutes – fatal
6 minutes - 50% fatal
4-5 minutes - possible recovery.
4-6% Coma in 40 seconds. Death

 Oxygen Enrichment
An excess of oxygen, in the presence of combustible materials,
results in an increased risk of fire and explosion. Some materials,
which do not burn in air, may burn vigorously or even spontaneously
in an enriched oxygen atmosphere.
1. Oxygen level above 21%.
2. Causes flammable and combustible materials to burn violently
when ignited.
3. Never use pure oxygen to ventilate.
4. Never store or place compressed tanks in a confined space.

 Flammable Atmosphere

o Critical Factors:
 1. Oxygen content in the air.
2. Presence of a flammable gas, or vapor
3. Presence of dust (visibility of 5’ or
less)

o Proper air/gas mixture can lead to explosion

o Typical Ignition Sources:

1. Sparking or electric tool.

2. Welding / cutting operations.
3. Smoking

 Toxic Atmosphere

o Product stored in a confined space:

1. Gases released when cleaning.

2. Materials absorbed into walls of confined space.
3. Decomposition of materials in the confined space.

o Work performed in a confined space:

1. Welding, cutting, brazing, soldering.

2. Painting, scraping, sanding, degreasing.
3. Sealing, bonding, melting.

o Areas adjacent to a confined space.

o Naturally Occurring Toxic Atmosphere (Hydrogen Sulfide)

1. Decomposition of materials. Human waste.

2. Rotten egg odor at low concentrations.
3. Possibly no warning at high concentrations.
 PPM EFFECT TIME
10 ppm Permissible Exposure Level 8 Hours
50-100 ppm Mild Irritation - Eyes, Throat 1 Hour
200-300 ppm Significant Irritation 1 Hour
500-700 ppm Unconsciousness, Death 1/2 - 1 Hour
>1000 ppm Unconsciousness, Death Minutes

o Toxic Atmosphere due to Chemical Reaction (Carbon Monoxide)

1. Odorless, Colorless Gas.

2. Combustion By-Product.
3. 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
100-2000 Confusion, nausea, headache 2 Hours
1000-2000 Tendency to stagger 1 1/2 Hours
1000-2000 Slight heart palpitation 30 Min.
2000-2500 Unconsciousness 30 Min.

 Temperature Extremes
o Extremely hot or cold temperatures.
o Steam cleaning of confined spaces.
o Humidity factors.
o Extremely cold liquids.
o Work processes inside the confined space can increase
temperature extremes.
o Personal protective equipment are required.
  Engulfment Hazard
o Engulfment:
1. Being buried by free flowing loose granular materials such
as sawdust.
2. Being drowned in liquids
o Crusting and bridging below a worker.
o Flooding of confined space.
o Water or sewage flow.

 Other Hazards

o Noise

1. Amplified due to acoustics within the space.

2. Damaged hearing, affect communication.

o Slick / Wet Surfaces

1. Slips and falls.

2. Increased chance of electric shock.
o Falling Objects
1. Topside openings expose workers inside confined space to falling
objects.

SAFE SYSTEMS OF WORK

If you cannot avoid entering a confined space, make sure you have a safe system for
working inside the space. The following process must be critically observed without skipping
any of the steps indicated.

 ISOLATION

o Close the Valves

 1. Locking and tagging out shutoff valves.
2. Blanking sewer and water flow.

o Empty the Space

1. Depressurize, vent and drain

2. Disconnecting mechanical drives and shafts.

o Lockout/ Tag-out Equipment

1. Electrical Sources
2. Rotating/ Reciprocating Parts
3. Hazardous Materials

o Clean residue from the space.

 VENTILATION
o Use Mechanical Ventilation
1. Fans
2. Air Horns
o Ventilate at the rate of at least 4 volumes per hour
1. Larger spaces require more ventilation.
o Make sure air supply is not contaminated
1. Ventilation air supply must be from fresh air uncontaminated with
flammables, toxins, etc.
 CONDUCT A TAILBOARD BRIEFING
o Entire Crew must Attend
1. Attendants, Entrants, Entry Supervisor.
o Review Hazards of Entry and Work
o Review Personal Protective Equipment
o Review Procedure for Contacting Rescue
o Complete the Entry Permit
 COMPLETE PERMIT
 o Permit must be correctly and completely filled out prior to entry.
o Permit must be activated by Entry. Supervisor’s signature to be valid
o No entry is allowed without a valid permit.
o Permits are valid for up to 12 hours.
o When work is completed, permit and tailboard form should be returned
to safety.
o Cancelled permits must be kept on file for at least one year.
 TEST THE ATMOSPHERE
o Check for Oxygen Content
1. At least 19.5% and less than 23.5%
o Check for Combustibles
1. Less than 10% of the Permissible Exposure Limit
o Check for Toxic Gases
1. Most commonly Carbon Monoxide must be less than 35ppm
2. Or any other Hazardous Materials
 ENTER THE SPACE
o An attendant shall be posted near the entrance for the duration of the
work. He / She shall be in constant communication with the entrants.
o All entrants shall sign the sign in log when entering the space and sign
out when exiting.
o The attendant shall maintain the permit and sign in log for the duration
of the work.
PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA
College of Engineering and Technology
Department of Chemical Engineering

CHE 325 – 1

SAFETY MANAGEMENT

Confined Space Entry

SALVADOR, Rachel G.

BS ChE, 3rd Year

2014-10704

November 21, 2016