Confined Space Safety

Protect Yourself! What is it that you enjoy? Hobbies?? Conditions can change without you knowing, be aware! What steps can YOU take to make sure you go home at the end of the day? How can you determine if you are dealing with a confined space?

Identifying a confined space Three things must be present in order for a space to be considered a confined space: –Space large enough to enter and perform work –Not designed for continuous occupancy –Limited Access and Egress What examples of confined spaces can you think of??

Did you come up with…..

What about Permit Required? What characteristics would make a confined space permit required?? 1.Has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere 2.Has a potential to engulf an entrant 3.Internal configuration that could trap or asphyxiate an entrant due to inwardly converging walls, or a floor which slopes downward and tapers. If the space contains any of these characteristics, it is considered a permit required confined space.

RE-CLASSIFYING A SPACE A Space may be re-classified if you can safely and effectively remove the criteria that defines the space as permit required. This may include: Placing a ladder in the space Using a work platform for sloping floors Eliminate the potential for engulfment Or any other methods that remove the permit required hazards from the equation.

Who’s who and What’s what? Attendant: Person who stays outside the space and monitors entrants work. Entrant: Someone authorized by the employer to enter and work in confined space. Entry Permit: The written or printed document that allows employees entry into a permit required confined space. Entry Supervisor: Person responsible for determining if conditions are safe enough for entry. Acceptable Oxygen Level: No lower than 19.5% and not higher than 23.5% Rescue Team: Personnel designated to rescue employees from permit spaces Air Test: Sampling the air in the confined space for potentially hazardous atmospheres using an approved air testing device.

Top 3 Entry Supervisor: Person responsible for determining if entry conditions are present. Authorizes entry and oversees entry operations. Has overall authority over task. Attendant: Individual stationed outside one or more confined spaces who monitors the authorized entrants and who performs all attendant’s duties assigned in the employer’s permit space program. The attendant does have the authority to order all operations to stop and immediate evacuation of the space. Authorized Entrant: Employee who is authorized by the employer to enter a confined space and perform assigned work.

What does OSHA say?? OSHA Standard says “The employer shall evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces are permit required confined spaces” (C), (1). “The employer shall provide training so that all employees whose work is regulated by this section acquire the understanding, knowledge and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned” (G) (1)

What’s S&W’s Policy? Our company policy states that ALL confined spaces shall be treated as permit required. A Company Permit to work in a confined space must be filled out with the required information prior to entry. No entry will be made into ANY confined space with less than two authorized employees. All permits shall be terminated upon completion of work and faxed back to the Safety Department where they will be kept on file for one year.

Entry Permit The entry permit must be filled out and be accessible from the entry site. Permits are available on the company website under the safety tab, or from the Safety Department. Fill out the permit as completely as you can. Upon completion of work, the permit must be terminated and sent back to the Safety Dept.

AIR TESTING THE AIR IN ANY PRCS MUST BE TESTED PRIOR TO ENTRY! Air test may only be done using an approved device, specifically designed to detect hazardous atmospheres. Results should be written and posted at the site(on the permit) Do not send the “new guy” into the space to see if he falls out!!! This is not OSHA approved!