Confined Space Entry

Confined space

• The space is large enough for you to enter and conduct work.
• The space is not intended for continuous human occupancy.
• Limited openings for entry and exit.
• Examples: bins, boilers, ducts, furnaces, hoppers, manholes, pipes, pits, sewers, silos, tanks, trenches, tunnels, vaults

Potential hazards in confined spaces

• Combustibles
• Electricity
• Mechanical hazards
• Oxygen deficiency
• Toxic materials

Immediately dangers to life or health

• Any condition which poses an immediate threat to the health of life on an entrant
• Would cause irreversible adverse health effort
• Would interfere with an individual's ability to escape unaided from a permit space

Permit required confined space entry procedure

• Isolate the space
• Ventilate the space
• Conduct tailboard
• Complete permit
• Test the atmosphere
• Enter the space

Isolate the space from all hazards

• Close valves
• Enter the space
• Lockout/Tagout equipment
• Clean residue from the space

Ventilate the space

• Use mechanical ventilation
• Ventilate at the rate of at least four volumes per hour
• Make sure air supply is not contaminated

Conduct a tailboard briefing

• Entire crew must attend
• Review hazards of entry and work
• Review PPE
• Review procedure for contacting rescue
• Complete permit

Complete entry permit form

• Permit must be correctly and completely filled out prior to entry
• Permit must be activated by entry sipervisor's signature to be valid
• No entry is allowed without  a valid permit
• Permits are valid for up to 12 hours
• When work is completed, permit and tailboard form should be returned to safety
• Canceled permits must be kept on file for at least one year