1. Confined Spaces in Construction Awareness Training

2. Confined Space Fatalities
Introduction
92 fatalities per year

3. Recognize confined spaces and permit-required confined spaces.
Objectives
Introduction
Recognize confined spaces and permit-required confined spaces.
Identify hazards associated with confined spaces.
List various methods of controlling hazards.
Recognize signs and symptoms of exposure.
Identify duties of entrants, attendants, and entry supervisors.
Identify emergency procedures.

4. Causes of Confined Space Deaths
Atmospheric
Engulfment
Some other hazard

5. Confined Space Characteristics
Large enough to enter
Limited entry and exit openings
Not designed for continuous occupancy

6. Permit-Required Confined Spaces
Any confined space with a serious safety or health hazard

7. Permit-Required Confined Spaces
A Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS) will have one or more of the following characteristics:
Contain or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere.
Contain materials that could engulf an entrant.
Have an internal configuration that could trap or asphyxiate an entrant.
Contain any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.

8. Permit Program Components
Identify confined spaces.
Assess the hazards.
Determine how to manage/control the hazards
Identify permit-required confined spaces.
Produce entry procedures.
Develop entry permit.

9. Date and duration of permit Authorized entrants Attendants
The Entry Permit
Permit space
Purpose of entry
Date and duration of permit
Authorized entrants
Attendants
Entry Supervisor
Hazards of the space
Hazard control procedures
Acceptable entry conditions
Atmospheric test results
Emergency procedures
Equipment
Other information

10. Permits must be posted at the entry of the permit space
The Entry Permit
Permits must be posted at the
entry of the permit space

11. Entrant’s Responsibilities
Know all the hazards and signs of exposure.
Properly use all confined space equipment.
Communicate with the Attendant and alert if needed.
Exit from the space if ordered, prohibited conditions exist or any signs/symptoms develop.

12. Entrant’s Responsibilities
You become an Entrant when any part of your body breaks the plane of the permit-required confined space opening.

13. Attendant’s Responsibilities
Know the hazards of entry and signs of exposure.
Be aware of possible behavior effects.
Maintain accurate accounting of Entrants.
Remain at the entrance to the space.
Communicate with the Entrants and monitor their status.

14. Attendant’s Responsibilities
Monitors activities inside and outside of space.
Order evacuation of space if needed.
Initiate on-scene rescue procedures.
Keep unauthorized persons away.
Perform no duties that might interfere with primary duties.

15. Entry Supervisor’s Responsibilities
Know hazards and signs of exposure.
Verifies entries have been made on the permit, all tests have been performed and procedures/equipment are in place.
Terminates entry and cancels permit.
Removes unauthorized individuals.
Ensures acceptable entry conditions exist.

16. Disconnecting mechanical linkages Flushing
Isolation of Hazards
Double block and bleed
Lockout/tagout
Blanking and bleeding
Disconnecting mechanical linkages
Flushing

17. Isolation of Hazards
DOUBLE BLOCK & BLEED

18. Isolation of Hazards
LOCKOUT/TAGOUT

19. Isolation of Hazards
BLANKING/BLINDING

20. Composition of Normal Air
Atmospheric Hazards
Other Gases 1%
Oxygen
20.9%
Nitrogen
78%
Composition of Normal Air

21. It is possible to have any combination of these three hazards.
Atmospheric Hazards
Oxygen Deficient: less than 19.5% oxygen
Combustible: LEL over 10% or O2 above 23.5%
Toxic: Toxic gases, vapors, mists, or dusts at or above PEL
It is possible to have any combination of these three hazards.

22. __________________________
Atmospheric Hazards
Human senses (sight, smell, taste) cannot protect you from hazardous atmospheres since:
__________________________
some gases have no taste or odor.

23. Floats Drifts Sinks Stratification Pocketing Floating
Atmospheric Hazards
Sinks
Drifts
Floats
Stratification
Pocketing
Floating

24. Lighter than Air Heavier than Air Air: 1.0 Atmospheric Hazards
Hydrogen:
Methane:
Carbon Monoxide: 0.96
Nitrogen:
Air: 1.0
Hydrogen Sulfide: 1.19
Argon:
Carbon Dioxide:
Gasoline:
Lighter than Air
Heavier than Air

25. Causes of Oxygen Deficiency
Atmospheric Hazards
Causes of Oxygen Deficiency
Displacement
Bacteria (rot)
Oxidation (rust)
Combustion
Absorption
Breathing

26. Atmospheric Hazards
Oxygen Level
Symptoms
19.5%
15 – 19%
12 – 14%
10 – 12%
8 – 10%
6 – 8%
0 – 6%
Minimum permissible level
Possibly impaired coordination
Respiratory/pulse increase, impaired judgment/coordination
Further increase in respiration, pulse
Fainting, nausea, vomiting, blue lips
4 – 5 minutes: Recovery with treatment
6 minutes: 50% mortality
8 minutes: 100% mortality
Coma in 40 seconds or less

27. Oxygen Fuel Ignition Sufficient oxygen Sufficient fuel
Atmospheric Hazards
Oxygen
Fuel
Ignition
Sufficient oxygen
Sufficient fuel
Ignition source (flame, spark, hot surface)

28. Flammable Particulates in the Atmosphere
Atmospheric Hazards
Flammable Particulates in the Atmosphere
If vision is obscured by flammable dusts or mists at a distance of five feet, a hazard exists.

29. Flammability Limits LEL – Lower Explosive Limit
Atmospheric Hazards
Flammability Limits
LEL – Lower Explosive Limit
Lowest mixture of gas/vapor and air that will ignite; a mixture below LEL is too lean to burn.
UEL – Upper Explosive Limit
Highest mixture of gas/vapor and air that will ignite; a mixture above UEL is too rich to burn.

30. Percent of Gas by Volume
Atmospheric Hazards
Below
LEL
Combustible
Above
UEL
Propane
Hexane
Hydrogen
Acetylene 0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Percent of Gas by Volume

31. Sources of Toxic Atmospheres
Atmospheric Hazards
Sources of Toxic Atmospheres
Bacteria
Toxins stored (or once stored) in the space
Substances brought into the space
Work being conducted in or near the space
Engine exhaust

32. Methane (CH4) One of the most common flammable gases
Atmospheric Hazards
Methane (CH4)
One of the most common flammable gases
Colorless and lighter than air
Can cause asphyxiation
LEL = 5% by volume

33. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Odorless Colorless Component of normal air
Atmospheric Hazards
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Odorless
Colorless
Component of normal air
Heavier than air
Byproduct of fermentation and organic decay

34. Carbon Dioxide Symptoms
Atmospheric Hazards
Carbon Dioxide Symptoms
Headaches and dizziness
Prickling or burning skin sensations
Breathing difficulty or painful breathing
Sweating and a sense of malaise

35. Carbon Monoxide (CO) Product of incomplete combustion
Atmospheric Hazards
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Product of incomplete combustion
Odorless and colorless
Interferes with the blood’s ability to transport oxygen

36. Atmospheric Hazards
CO Level
Symptoms
Exposure Time 35
200
400 – 600
1000 – 2000
Permissible Exposure Level
Slight headache, other discomfort
Headache, discomfort, irritation
Confusion, headache, nausea, tendency to stagger, slight heart palpitations
Unconsciousness
8 hours
3 hours
1 – 2 hours
½ - 2 hours
Minutes

37. Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Irritant of the mucous membranes
Atmospheric Hazards
Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
Irritant of the mucous membranes
Toxic (PEL = 10 PPM)
Flammable (LEL = 4% by volume)
Heavier than air
Rotten egg odor
Diminishes a person’s ability to smell (olfactory fatigue)

38. Hydrogen Sulfide Exposure
Atmospheric Hazards
Hydrogen Sulfide Exposure
H2S Level
Symptoms
Exposure Time 10
50 – 100
200 – 300
500 – 700
1000
Permissible Exposure Level
Mild eye and respiratory irritation
Marked eye and respiratory irritation
Unconsciousness, death
8 hours
1 hour
½ - 1 hour
Minutes

39. Atmospheric Monitors
The atmosphere in the space must be tested to ensure that no hazards exist.
An inaccurate monitor will not protect you. You should always calibrate and zero the monitor. You should also ensure that the alarms are working, and that you will be able to see and hear them.

40. Monitors measure the percent of LEL, not the percent of gas vapors.
Atmospheric Monitors
Monitors measure the percent of LEL, not the percent of gas vapors.
In a confined space, an atmosphere with 10% LEL can be at 100% just a few feet away.
Continuous monitoring is REQUIRED for Permit-Required Confined Spaces.

41. Be sure to test ALL levels
Assessing Air Quality
Test for oxygen first
Test for combustibles
Test for toxins
Be sure to test ALL levels

42. Attendant and Entrant must remain in constant communication.
Communications
Attendant and Entrant must remain in constant communication.
Can use voice, radios, hard-wired systems, hand or rope signals.
Attendant must be able to contact the rescue team.

43. Access, Fall Protection, and/or Retrieval
Body Support
Hoisting Component
Anchorage Component

44. 29 CFR (c)(2)
A mechanical device shall be available to retrieve personnel from vertical type permit- spaces more than 5 feet deep.

45. Maintain acceptable atmosphere
Space Ventilation
Maintain acceptable atmosphere
Hang hose at least 2 feet above the floor
Ensure blower supplies clean air

46. Space Ventilation POSITIVE PRESSURE NEGATIVE PRESSURE One opening
WIND
WIND
POSITIVE PRESSURE
NEGATIVE PRESSURE
One opening
Dilution method
One opening
Source capture

47. Hose too short. Air turns to path of least resistance.
Space Ventilation
WIND
WIND
SHORT CIRCUTING
RECIRCULATING
Hose too short. Air turns
to path of least resistance.
Fan intake downwind.
Hazardous air is drawn into fan.

48. Space Ventilation
15’
10’
20’

49. Estimating Approximate Purge Times
Space Ventilation
Estimating Approximate Purge Times
1,000-10,000 Cubic Space Capacity

50. Contact the rescue team. Attempt non-entry rescue. Gather information.
In an Emergency
Evacuate the space.
Contact the rescue team.
Attempt non-entry rescue.
Gather information.

51. Evacuation Required When…
Oxygen drops below 19.5% or rises above 23.5%
Combustibles rise to 10% of LEL
Toxins rise to pre-determined limits
Outside conditions pose a hazard
Alarm sounds, prohibited condition exists, or Entrant exhibits signs of exposure
Attendant must leave post

52. Do not enter the confined space yourself!
Non-Entry Rescue
Do not enter the confined space yourself!
Call for help utilizing your two-way communication to get assistance.
Call <ENTER RESCUE NUMBER> to notify the <ENTER RESCUE ENTITY>.
Relay your location, the nature of the incident, and be sure to emphasize the incident has occurred in a confined space.
While awaiting help, use the retrieval system to remove your partner from the space.
Only if the rescue is a simple vertical withdrawal.