Confined SpacesConfined Spaces

Office of Environmental Health & Safety

East Carolina University

210 East Fourth St.

Greenville, NC 27858

(252) 328-6166

safety@ecu.edu

Rescuers Account Rescuers Account for Over 60% of for Over 60% of Confined Space Confined Space

FatalitiesFatalities

Confined Space TragediesConfined Space Tragedies

o Three construction supervisors die Three construction supervisors die from asphyxiation in a manhole. from asphyxiation in a manhole. Oxygen levels 18.5 – 20 and Oxygen levels 18.5 – 20 and Methane levels 300 – 600 ppm Methane levels 300 – 600 ppm

Training OutlineTraining Outline

o What is a Confined Space?What is a Confined Space?o Confined Spaces on CampusConfined Spaces on Campuso Confined Space HazardsConfined Space Hazardso PPE & Equipment RequirementsPPE & Equipment Requirementso The Entry PermitThe Entry Permito Duties of Authorized Entrants, Duties of Authorized Entrants,

Attendants and Entry SupervisorAttendants and Entry Supervisoro Rescue and Emergency ServicesRescue and Emergency Serviceso ContractorsContractors

Regulatory RequirementRegulatory Requirement

o OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146: Permit-OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146: Permit-Required Confined Spaces - (Jan Required Confined Spaces - (Jan 1993)1993)

o Identify Confined Spaces in WorkplaceIdentify Confined Spaces in Workplaceo Identify hazards in these spacesIdentify hazards in these spaceso Identify procedures for controlling these Identify procedures for controlling these

hazardshazardso Train employees on confined space entryTrain employees on confined space entryo Keep records of compliance & training for Keep records of compliance & training for

all confined space activitiesall confined space activities

What is a What is a Confined Space?Confined Space?

o Large enough that an employee can Large enough that an employee can enter and perform assigned workenter and perform assigned work

o Has limited or restricted means for Has limited or restricted means for entry or exitentry or exit

o Not designed for continuous Not designed for continuous employee occupancyemployee occupancy

ExamplesExamples

o tankstankso pitspitso tunnelstunnelso vaultsvaultso boilersboilerso sewers sewers o shaftsshaftso ventilation ventilation

ductsductso crawl spacescrawl spaces

Permit-RequiredPermit-RequiredConfined SpaceConfined Space

o Contains or has the potential to contain a Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere

o Contains a material that has the potential Contains a material that has the potential for for engulfing an entrant an entrant

o Internal configuration that might cause Internal configuration that might cause entrant to be trapped or asphyxiated by entrant to be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or floor that or floor that slopes downward and tapers to a smaller slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross sectioncross section

o Contains any other recognized serious Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard

ECU Confined SpacesECU Confined SpacesMain Campus

Name Description Location Permit Required Space

Boilers # 1-4 Boiler 14th St. Steam Plant Yes

DA Tank Tank 14th St. Steam Plant Yes

Condensate Tank Tank 14th St. Steam Plant Yes

Steam Tunnel Manhole Main Campus Yes

All Steam Manholes Manhole Main Campus Yes

All Electrical Manholes Manhole Main Campus Yes

All Sanitary Sewer Manholes Manhole Main Campus Yes

All Storm Sewer Manholes Manhole Main Campus Yes

       

Crawl Spaces Crawl Space Main Campus No

Surge Tank  Vault Student Rec Center No

Steam Cloud  Vault Joyner Library Plaza No

ECU Confined SpacesECU Confined SpacesHealth Sciences Campus

Name Description Location Permit Required Space

All Manholes Manhole HSC Yes

All Storm Drain Lines Open Lines HSC No

Backflow Vault - LSA #2 Vault HSC No

Backflow Vault - behind Steam Plant Vault HSC No

Boilers (#1, 2, & 3) Boiler Utility Plant Yes

Incinerator (Upper & Lower Chambers) Chamber Utility Plant Yes

DA Tank Tank Utility Plant Yes

Pipe Chase by HVAC Office VS Utility Plant Yes

High Voltage Under Main Switch Gear VT Utility Plant Yes

Fume Exhaust Plenum Roof VB Brody Yes

8th Floor Mech. Rm P3 Exhaust Plenum VS Brody Yes

Mech Rm 003 1st Floor Pit Biotech No

Mech Rm 155 Tank Tank Warren Life Sciences Yes

Mech Rm 155 Pit Pit Warren Life Sciences No

Courtyard Steam Pit Pit Leo Jenkins Yes

All Manholes and Pits Manhole West Research Yes

Atmospheric HazardsAtmospheric Hazards

o Oxygen LevelsOxygen Levels - below 19.5 % - below 19.5 % or above 23.5% or above 23.5%

o Flammable/Explosive Flammable/Explosive – exceeds – exceeds 10% of Lower Explosive Limit (LEL)10% of Lower Explosive Limit (LEL)

o Toxic SubstancesToxic Substances – exceed – exceed Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL)Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL)

Oxygen DeficiencyOxygen Deficiency

o Normal air contains 21% Oxygen Normal air contains 21% Oxygen (O(O22). An O). An O2 2 level of 19.5% or less is level of 19.5% or less is considered Oconsidered O22 deficient. deficient.

o A reduction in OA reduction in O22 can be caused by can be caused by rusting, decomposition, or rusting, decomposition, or replacement by another gas.replacement by another gas.

o Lack of OLack of O22 can cause a person to can cause a person to collapse and die.collapse and die.

Oxygen DeficiencyOxygen Deficiency

Oxygen Content(% by volume)

Signs and Symptoms(at Atmospheric Pressure)

19.5%Minimum permissible levels that work can be performed without respirators. Below this level, workers shall be required to wear supplied air respirators.

17% Hypoxia symptoms, accelerated breathing and heart rate appear

14-16%Accelerated breathing, increased heart rate, poor muscular coordination, fatigue, impaired perception and judgment.

12% Unconsciousness without warning, poor judgment, blue lips

6-10%Nausea, vomiting, and unconsciousness; 8 minutes 100% fatal; 6 minutes, 50% fatal; 4-5 minutes, recovery with treatment.

<6% Coma in 40 seconds, spasmatic breathing, convulsions, and death

Oxygen EnrichmentOxygen Enrichment

o OO22 levels above 23.5% are considered levels above 23.5% are considered “Oxygen Enriched.”“Oxygen Enriched.”

o Oxygen Enriched atmospheres create Oxygen Enriched atmospheres create fire and explosion hazards.fire and explosion hazards.

o Cause flammable materials such as Cause flammable materials such as clothing to burn rapidly when ignited clothing to burn rapidly when ignited and may cause non-flammable and may cause non-flammable materials to ignite.materials to ignite.

Hydrogen Sulfide ExposureHydrogen Sulfide Exposure

Concentration Effect

1 ppm Smell of rotten egg

10 ppm 8 hr. TWA

15 ppm 15 min. STEL

100 ppm Lose sense of smell

300 ppm Loss of consciousness (approx. 20 min.)

1000 ppmImmediate respiratory arrest, loss of consciousness, followed by death

Carbon Monoxide ExposureCarbon Monoxide Exposure

Concentration Effect

35 ppm 8 hr. TWA

200 ppm Ceiling, faint signs of discomfort may begin to appear

600 ppm Headache and discomfort after 1 hour

2500 ppm Loss of consciousness after approximately 30 minutes

4000 ppm Quickly fatal

CO Poisoning can be reversed if caught in time.

Welding in Confined SpacesWelding in Confined Spaceso Continuous ventilation Continuous ventilation

should be provided in the should be provided in the confined space. Pure oxygen confined space. Pure oxygen should never be used for should never be used for ventilation.ventilation.

o Conduct continuous Conduct continuous monitoring throughout the monitoring throughout the entry to ensure that the area entry to ensure that the area remains safe for entrants.remains safe for entrants.

o Gas cylinders and welding Gas cylinders and welding power sources should remain power sources should remain outside the confined space.outside the confined space.

Remember to follow all Confined Space Entry and Welding Safety Guidelines

Physical HazardsPhysical Hazards

o Engulfment Engulfment o Temperature Extremes Temperature Extremes o Electrical HazardsElectrical Hazardso NoiseNoiseo Slippery SurfacesSlippery Surfaces

EntryEntry

o "Entry" is when a "Entry" is when a person passes through person passes through an opening into a an opening into a permit-required permit-required confined spaceconfined space

o Any part of the Any part of the entrant's body breaks entrant's body breaks the plane of an opening the plane of an opening into the spaceinto the space

Before EntryBefore Entry

o Ventilate, eliminate, or Ventilate, eliminate, or control the space’s control the space’s atmospheric hazards atmospheric hazards

o Blind or disconnect and cap Blind or disconnect and cap all input lines so that no all input lines so that no hazardous materials can hazardous materials can enter the spaceenter the space

o Lockout/TagoutLockout/Tagouto When entrance covers are When entrance covers are

removed, guard the opening removed, guard the opening immediatelyimmediately

Atmospheric MonitoringAtmospheric Monitoring

o Test permit space before Test permit space before entry entry

o Periodically monitor permit Periodically monitor permit space to determine if entry space to determine if entry conditions are maintainedconditions are maintained

o Test all areas (top, middle, Test all areas (top, middle, & bottom)& bottom)

o Observe status of existing Observe status of existing hazards and those created hazards and those created during entry operationsduring entry operations

Personal Protective Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)Equipment (PPE)

o Full-body HarnessFull-body Harnesso Respirator (half-mask, PAPR, Air-Respirator (half-mask, PAPR, Air-

line Respirator, etc.)line Respirator, etc.)o Tyvek SuitTyvek Suito Gloves (Nitrile, Welding, etc.)Gloves (Nitrile, Welding, etc.)o Safety Glasses/GogglesSafety Glasses/Goggles

Equipment RequirementsEquipment Requirements

o Testing and monitoring Testing and monitoring equipmentequipment

o Ventilating equipmentVentilating equipmento Communications equipmentCommunications equipmento Lighting equipmentLighting equipmento BarriersBarrierso Equipment needed for safe Equipment needed for safe

entry and exit entry and exit o Emergency equipmentEmergency equipmento Other equipment for safe entryOther equipment for safe entry

The Entry PermitThe Entry Permit

o Permit must be completed Permit must be completed before entry is authorizedbefore entry is authorized

o Entry supervisor must sign Entry supervisor must sign the permitthe permit

o Permit must be made Permit must be made available at the time of entry available at the time of entry so entrants can confirm that so entrants can confirm that pre-entry preparations have pre-entry preparations have been completedbeen completed

The Entry PermitThe Entry Permit

o Duration may not exceed the time Duration may not exceed the time identified on the permit identified on the permit

o Retain each canceled entry permit Retain each canceled entry permit for at least 1 year to facilitate review for at least 1 year to facilitate review of the programof the program

o Problems encountered during entry Problems encountered during entry shall be noted on the permit so that shall be noted on the permit so that appropriate revisions can be made appropriate revisions can be made to the programto the program

Contents of The Entry PermitContents of The Entry Permit

1. Permit space to be entered1. Permit space to be entered2. Purpose of the entry2. Purpose of the entry3. Date and the authorized duration of 3. Date and the authorized duration of

the entry permit the entry permit4. Authorized entrants4. Authorized entrants5. Attendants5. Attendants6. Entry supervisor with a space for 6. Entry supervisor with a space for

the signaturethe signature

Contents of The Entry PermitContents of The Entry Permit

7. Hazards of the permit space7. Hazards of the permit space

8. Measures used to isolate the permit 8. Measures used to isolate the permit space and to eliminate or control space and to eliminate or control permit space hazards before entrypermit space hazards before entry

9. Acceptable entry conditions9. Acceptable entry conditions

10. Results of initial and periodic tests, 10. Results of initial and periodic tests, names or initials of the testers and names or initials of the testers and when the tests were performedwhen the tests were performed

Contents of The Entry PermitContents of The Entry Permit

11. Rescue and emergency services11. Rescue and emergency services

12. Communication procedures12. Communication procedures

13. Equipment (personal protective 13. Equipment (personal protective equipment, testing equipment, equipment, testing equipment, communications equipment, alarm communications equipment, alarm systems, rescue equipment, etc.)systems, rescue equipment, etc.)

14. Any other information necessary in 14. Any other information necessary in order to ensure employee safetyorder to ensure employee safety

Duties of Authorized Duties of Authorized EntrantsEntrants

o Understand all potential hazardsUnderstand all potential hazardso Know what equipment to use & how Know what equipment to use & how

to use it properlyto use it properlyo Communicate with attendant Communicate with attendant

regularlyregularlyo If the unexpected occurs – alert the If the unexpected occurs – alert the

attendantattendant

Duties of Authorized EntrantsDuties of Authorized Entrants

EVACUATE the confined space when:o Order to evacuate is given by the Order to evacuate is given by the

attendant or the entry supervisorattendant or the entry supervisoro Entrant recognizes any warning sign Entrant recognizes any warning sign

or symptom of exposure to a or symptom of exposure to a dangerous situationdangerous situation

o Evacuation alarm is activatedEvacuation alarm is activated

Duties of AttendantsDuties of Attendants

o ""AttendantAttendant" - stationed " - stationed outside permit space; outside permit space; monitors entrantsmonitors entrants

o Know the hazards Know the hazards including signs, symptoms including signs, symptoms and consequences of and consequences of exposureexposure

o Continuously maintains Continuously maintains accurate count of entrants accurate count of entrants in permit spacein permit space

o Remains outside the Remains outside the permit space during entry permit space during entry until relieved by another until relieved by another attendantattendant

Duties of AttendantsDuties of Attendantso Communicate with entrants to monitor Communicate with entrants to monitor

entrant status and to alert entrants if the entrant status and to alert entrants if the need to evacuate arisesneed to evacuate arises

o Monitor activities inside & outside the space Monitor activities inside & outside the space and keep unauthorized individuals away.and keep unauthorized individuals away.

o Summon Emergency ServicesSummon Emergency Serviceso Perform non-entry rescues when Perform non-entry rescues when

applicable and they have trainingapplicable and they have trainingo Perform no duties that might interfere Perform no duties that might interfere

with primary duty to monitor and protect with primary duty to monitor and protect entrantsentrants

Duties of Entry SupervisorDuties of Entry Supervisor

o ""Entry supervisorEntry supervisor" - person responsible for " - person responsible for determining if acceptable entry conditions determining if acceptable entry conditions are present, for authorizing entry, are present, for authorizing entry, overseeing entry operations, and for overseeing entry operations, and for terminating entry as requiredterminating entry as required

o An entry supervisor also may serve as an An entry supervisor also may serve as an attendant or as an entrant, as long as that attendant or as an entrant, as long as that person is trained and equipped to do soperson is trained and equipped to do so

o Know the hazards including signs, Know the hazards including signs, symptoms, and consequences of symptoms, and consequences of exposureexposure

Duties of Entry SupervisorDuties of Entry Supervisor

o Verify that the entry permit is Verify that the entry permit is complete, all tests have been complete, all tests have been conducted and all procedures and conducted and all procedures and equipment are in place before equipment are in place before allowing entry to beginallowing entry to begin

o Verify that rescue services are Verify that rescue services are available and that the means for available and that the means for summoning them are operablesummoning them are operable

o Remove unauthorized individuals Remove unauthorized individuals who enter or attempt to enter the who enter or attempt to enter the spacespace

Rescue and Emergency Rescue and Emergency ServicesServices

o Self-RescueSelf-Rescueo Non-entry RescueNon-entry Rescueo Greenville Fire/Rescue – Call 911Greenville Fire/Rescue – Call 911o ECU shall inform GFR of the hazards ECU shall inform GFR of the hazards

they may encounter on sitethey may encounter on siteo Provide the rescue provider with Provide the rescue provider with

access to all permit spaces so they can access to all permit spaces so they can develop rescue plans and practice develop rescue plans and practice rescue operationsrescue operations

Rescue EquipmentRescue Equipment

o Each entrant shall use a full body Each entrant shall use a full body

harness (and a retrieval line if harness (and a retrieval line if

feasible)feasible)o A mechanical retrieval device (Tripod) A mechanical retrieval device (Tripod)

shall be available for vertical type permit shall be available for vertical type permit spaces more than 5 feet deepspaces more than 5 feet deep

o Retrieval systems shall be used unless Retrieval systems shall be used unless they increase the overall risk of entry or they increase the overall risk of entry or would not contribute to the rescuewould not contribute to the rescue

Program ReviewProgram Review

o Review entry operations when there is Review entry operations when there is reason to believe that measures taken reason to believe that measures taken may not protect employees and revise the may not protect employees and revise the program before subsequent entriesprogram before subsequent entries

o Review the permit space program Review the permit space program annually and revise the program as annually and revise the program as necessary to ensure that employees necessary to ensure that employees participating in entry operations are participating in entry operations are protectedprotected

o If you have any questions, concerns, or If you have any questions, concerns, or recommendations let your supervisor recommendations let your supervisor and/or EH&S know.and/or EH&S know.

ECU Shall…ECU Shall…

o Inform contractor that workplace contains Inform contractor that workplace contains permit spaces and entry is allowed only in permit spaces and entry is allowed only in compliance with permit space programcompliance with permit space program

o Inform contractor of the hazards that make Inform contractor of the hazards that make the space a permit spacethe space a permit space

o Inform contractor of precautions for the Inform contractor of precautions for the protection of employees in or near permit protection of employees in or near permit spaces where they will be workingspaces where they will be working

o Coordinate entry operations with the Coordinate entry operations with the contractor, when both University personnel contractor, when both University personnel and contractor personnel will be working in and contractor personnel will be working in or near permit spaces. or near permit spaces.

Contractors Shall…Contractors Shall…

o All contractors performing work in Confined All contractors performing work in Confined Spaces on ECU Campus Spaces on ECU Campus mustmust have a have a Confined Space Program.Confined Space Program.

o Contractors Contractors must must have their own equipment have their own equipment including monitoring device and rescue including monitoring device and rescue equipment.equipment.

o Coordinate with employer when both host Coordinate with employer when both host personnel and contractor personnel will be personnel and contractor personnel will be working in or near spacesworking in or near spaces

o Debrief employer at the conclusion of entryDebrief employer at the conclusion of entryo Contractor shall inform the employer of the Contractor shall inform the employer of the

of any hazards confronted or createdof any hazards confronted or created

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

safety@ecu.edu

328-6166

Click the link to Click the link to complete the complete the Quiz