Safety Manual Chapter 20
Safe Entry into Confined Spaces - Issue Date 2/95
20-1 Introduction
20-1.1 Before Facilities Planning and Management (FPM) and
Contractors' personnel are permitted to enter a confined space at Eastern Illinois
University, safe working conditions shall be ensured by instruction to employees and by
the use of procedures which require positive protection against unsafe atmospheric
conditions, toxic materials, fires, inadvertent operation of system, electrical shock and
other safety hazards. Preplanning is extremely important in confined space entry work.
20-2 Purpose
20-2.1 The purpose of this standard is to specify the precautions that
shall be taken to ensure the safe conditions are provided and maintained when personnel
must work in a confined space.
20-3 Definitions
20-3.1 Confined Space - A space that:
20-3.1.1 Is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily
enter and perform assigned work; and
20-3.1.2 has limited or restricted means for entry and exit (for example,
tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, and pits are spaces that limit means
of entry); and
20-3.1.3 is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.
20-3.2 Confined Space Entry Permit (CSEP) - Permit initiated by the
person responsible for total work of the workers who will enter the confined space. The
CSEP provides information on the responsibilities and precautions that the responsible
supervisor shall take to provide a safe environment for the workers in the confined space.
It also provides information that the person monitoring the confined space atmosphere
shall take to ensure that the atmosphere is safe to work in. At the bottom of the CSEP is
an area where the responsible supervisor and the person who monitors the confined space
atmosphere shall sign their names stating that all necessary preparations have been taken.
20-3.3 Safety Attendant - A person stationed outside the confined
space and assigned the responsibility of maintaining communications with personnel working
in a confined space and initiating emergency action when required.
20-3.4 Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) - The lower limit of flammability
of a gas or vapor at ordinary ambient temperature expressed in a percentage of the
gas/vapor in air by volume.
20-3.5 Threshold Limit Value (TLV) - The time-weighted average
concentration for a normal 8-hour workday and a 40-hour workweek, to which nearly all
workers may be exposed without adverse effect. The TLV is measured as parts of the vapor
or gas per one million parts of air by volume (ppm) or as approximate milligrams of
particulate per cubic meter of air (mg/m3).
20-3.6 Hot Work - The process of joining together two pieces of metal
(welding, brazing) or the breaking apart of metal into two pieces (cutting) by means of
extreme heat or spark producing equipment.
20-3.7 Hazardous Material - A material which, under normal conditions,
may be considered to be toxic, flammable, combustible, reactive, or unstable.
20-3.8 Toxic - The potential harmful effects of a material on biologic
functions.
20-3.9 Reactive Material - Material which can enter into a chemical
reaction with other materials.
20-3.10 Unstable Material - Material which will vigorously polymerize,
decompose, condense, or become self reactive and undergo violent chemical changes.
20-3.11 Flammable Liquid - Liquid having a flash point below 100
degrees Fahrenheit.
20-3.12 Combustible Liquid - Liquid having a flash point at or above
100 degrees Fahrenheit.
20-3.13 Shall - Denotes a mandatory requirement.
20-3.14 Should - A recommendation that is sound safety and health
practice; it does not denote a mandatory requirement.
20-3.15 Qualified Person - A person who by reason of training,
education, and experience is knowledgeable in the operation to be performed and is
competent to judge the hazards involved.
20-3.16 Blinding/Blanking - Inserting a solid barrier across the open
end of a pipe leading into or our of the confined space and securing the barrier in such a
way to prevent leakage of material into the confined space.
20-3.17 Double Block and Bleed - A method used to isolate a confined
space from a line, duct, or pipe by physically closing two-in-line valves on a piping
system and opening a vented-to-atmosphere valve between them.
20-4 Responsibilities
20-4.1 Safety of employees shall be the number one responsibility of
the supervisor whenever employees must enter a confined space.
20-4.2 The Associate Vice President to Facilities and/or his designee,
where appropriate, are responsible for implementing this standard.
20-4.3 The Safety Officer shall be responsible for administering this
standard. Each supervisor effected by the standard will be responsible for coordinating
training in accordance with the standard.
20-4.4 The supervisor is responsible for functionally complying with
this standard.
20-4.5 All supervisors and employees are responsible for complying
with the requirements in this standard.
20-5 Training
20-5.1 All personnel and their supervisors shall be properly trained
in confined space entry safety and rescue procedures before being allowed to enter a
confined space. Training shall include a minimum of the following:
20-5.2 Proper Use:
- Proper use of air monitoring equipment
- Proper use and setup of ventilation equipment
- Proper use and setup of fall protection/arrest and retrieval equipment
- Proper isolation procedures (Lockout/Tagout)
- Summoning rescue and other emergency response
- Proper use of communication equipment
- Proper use of respiratory protection equipment
- How to recognize probable air contaminant overexposure symptoms to themselves and
coworkers.
20-5.3 Training shall be repeated to maintain an acceptable level of
personnel competence as required by the type of work.
20-5.4 All training shall be coordinated through the Environmental
Health and Safety office.
20-6 Confined Space Identification
20-6.1 A sign stating "CAUTION--CONFINED SPACE--ENTER BY PERMIT
ONLY" shall be posted in the immediate vicinity of all know confined spaces.
20-6.1.1 This section by no means indicates that every space has been
identified. Continued surveillance by supervision for unidentified confined spaces shall
be an ongoing process.
20-6.1.2 If an employee discovers an area he/she believes to be a
confined space, the employee's supervisor and the Safety Officer shall be contacted before
entry is allowed. Appropriate signs shall be placed in the vicinity if the area is
determined to be a confined space and the provisions of the standard shall then be
followed.
20-6.2 A list and map of all known confined spaces should be
maintained by the Safety Officer. A copy to the list and map as well as all updates shall
be made available to Department of Environmental Health and Safety.
20-6.3 Manholes will not normally be identified with a sign but shall
still be considered to be confined spaces. The provisions of this standard shall be in
effect when a manhole is entered.
20-7 Permit Requirements
20-7.1 A Confined Space Entry Permit (CSEP) must be obtained and
completed in its entirety prior to entry into confined spaces.
20-7.2 The supervisor responsible for the entire work of the employees
in the confined space shall complete the CSEP. THE supervisor shall assign the CSEP a
number and enter the number and any other pertinent information into the Department's
Confined Space Entry Log book. The log book shall be kept at all times in the department.
20-7.2.1 Whenever possible, the CSEP should be initiated on the day
shift when safety personnel are on site to provide consultation and assistance.
20-7.2.2 The hot work portion of the CSEP shall be filled in when hot
work is to be performed, as outlined in the Special; Requirements section.
20-7.3 The name of the contact person shall be written on the
"Notified" line at the bottom of the CSEP.
20-7.4 The time limit of the CSEP shall not exceed the time required
to complete the assigned task or job identified on the CSEP.
20-7.4.1 When another shift of workers is to continue work in the
confined space, the CSEP will transfer to the new group, provided no new hazards are
crested by the work.
20-7.4.2 The new responsible supervisor and the old responsible
supervisor shall arrange for the transfer of the CSEP and any confined space equipment
being used.
20-7.4.3 The new responsible supervisor shall see that all of the
requirements of this standard are being compiled with prior to any work beginning in the
confined space.
20-7.5 The CSEP and the record of air samples shall be posted near the
opening of the confined space.
20-7.6 When a CSEP is initiated, the responsible supervisor shall
ensure that there are no other CSEP's for the some confined space that could cause a
potentially dangerous situation (for example: one group welding and another group using a
flammable solvent).
20-7.7 Separate CSEP's are required whenever separate jobs are being
performed in the same confined space.
20-7.8 When work in the confined space is complete the responsible
supervisor shall take the following actions in order to terminate the CSEP:
20-7.8.1 Ensure that all personnel, tools, and equipment are out of
the confined space;
20-7.8.2 Close all access openings (if applicable);
20-7.8.3 Sign the "Confined Space Entry Work Terminated"
line of the CSEP and return the CSEP and the Record Air Samples Sheet to the Safety
Office; and
20-7.8.4 Notify the FPM department that the work in the confined
spaces is completed.
20-8 Prior to Entry into a Confined Space
20-8.1 The supervisor shall have determined that entry into the
confined space is necessary.
20-8.2 The supervisor shall have obtained and completed a CSEP in
accordance with the Permit Requirement section.
20-8.3 The supervisor shall have determined that the workers entering
the confined space have been trained in accordance with the Training Requirements section.
20-8.4 All potential hazardous energy sources shall be eliminated and
the confined space shall be isolated by Lockout/Tagout, blinding/blanking, double block
and bleed, or other acceptable engineering practice.
20-8.5 The confined space shall be provided with forced air
ventilation.
20-8.5.1 The supervisor shall furnish or approve all ventilation for
the confined space.
20-8.5.2 When ventilating flammable or combustible gases/vapors,
explosion proof ventilation equipment shall be used. Ventilation shall be a safe area away
from open flames.
20-8.5.3 When ventilating toxic materials, they shall be ventilated
into a safe area.
20-8.5.4 Oxygen shall never be used to ventilate a confined space.
20-8.5.5 Ventilation equipment shall be returned to the Physical
Plant.
20-8.5.6 The Safety Officer is available for assistance with
ventilation concerns.
20-8.6 The atmosphere of the confined space shall be tested, both
before and after ventilation is applied, to be certain that the following conditions are
met:
20-8.6.1 There is an oxygen level of at least 19.5% but not greater
than 23.5%.
20-8.6.2 There is a hydrogen sulfide level of than 10 parts per
million.
20-8.6.3 There is a combustible gas/vapor mixture of less than 10% of
the lower explosive limit.
20-8.6.4 The concentration of airborne combustible dust is less than
its lower flammable limit.
20-8.6.5 Exposure to an atmospheric concentration of any substance for
which a dose or permissible exposure limit is published in 29 CFR 1910 Subpart G, Toxic
and Hazardous Substances, or in Subpart Z, Toxic and Hazardous Substances, in excess of
that dose or permissible exposure limit.
20-8.7 If the atmosphere does not fall within the acceptable range as
stated above, employee(s) shall not enter the confined space.
20-9 During the Entry Period
20-9.1 The confined space shall be continuously provided with forced
air ventilation when possible.
20-9.1.1 When ventilation is not possible, alternate protective
measures or methods to remove air contaminants and protect occupants shall be determined
by the Safety Officer.
20-9.1.2 If ventilation equipment fails, all personnel shall leave the
confined space immediately and the supervisor shall be notified.
20-9.1.3 The employee in the confined space shall continuously monitor
the atmosphere to be certain that it remains within acceptable limits as stated on
Confined Space Form in #6 of "Prior Entry Into a Confined Space". If the air
levels fall outside of the limits stated in #6 of Prior Entry Into a Confined Space, the
employee shall immediately vacate the confined space.
20-9.1.4 A departmental safety attendant shall be on standby
immediately outside of the confined space for the entire time an employee is inside. The
safety attendant shall be responsible for the following:
20-9.1.5 Remaining in constant communication with the employee inside
the confined space.
20-9.1.6 Keeping an accurate count of all persons entering the space.
20-9.1.7 Keeping all unauthorized persons from entering the confined
space.
20-9.1.8 Monitoring activities inside and outside of the space to be
certain that it is safe for entrants to remain in the confined space.
20-9.1.9 Summoning the rescue team and the Charleston Fire Department
and giving an accurate description of the emergency and the location of the emergency. In
addition, the safety attendant shall contact the Physical Plant and the Safety Officer as
soon as possible.
20-9.1.10 When possible, perform non-entry rescue procedures by
retrieving the entrant with a retrieval line or safety line (care must be taken by the
safety attendant to see that the non-entry rescue procedures do not cause greater harm to
the entrant than waiting for the Fire Department would likely cause). All non-entry rescue
equipment must comply with Confine Space Entry Form section #3 in Special Requirements.
20-9.2 Appropriate personal protective equipment shall be supplied for
and used by all employees entering a confined space including but not limited to eye,
head, hand, foot, and hearing protection.
20-10 Special Requirements
20-10.1 This section is intended for those activities that require
special precautions. If any of the activities described in this section are going to be
done in a confined space, the requirement of this section in addition to the requirements
of the previous sections shall apply.
20-10.2 Hot work
20-10.2.1 Before hot work or any other spark or flame producing
operation may be performed in a confined space, the Hot Work Permit portion shall be
completed.
20-10.2.2 No hot work or any other spark or flame producing operation
is permitted on the interior, exterior, or near the openings of a confined space which may
contain toxic, flammable, or explosive gases/vapors or materials until the confined space
has been properly ventilated and the source of the gases/vapors or materials has been
removed.
20-10.2.3 Whenever hot work is being performed in a confined space,
adequate ventilation shall be provided.
20-10.2.4 Whenever hot work is being performed in a confined space, an
appropriate fire extinguisher shall be located nearby.
20-10.2.5 All gas welding and cutting equipment used in confined
spaces shall be pretested for leaks prior to entry into a confined space. The torch and
hose shall be removed from the confined space whenever the hot work is completed or the
confined space is exited.
20-10.2.6 Aerosol containers shall not be used in a confined space
when hot work or any other spark- producing work is being performed. If aerosol materials
must be used, all hot work and any other spark producing work must be stopped and the
confined space adequately ventilated.
20-10.2.7 Compressed gas cylinders shall not be allowed inside a
confined space unless authorization is given by the Safety Officer. In such cases, the
shutoff valves for the cylinders should be within reach of the employee.
20-10.2.8 Fall Protection
20-10.2.9 Where the potential exists for persons or objects to fall
into a confined space, warning systems or barricades shall be employed at the entrance.
20-10.2.10 Fall arresting systems shall be worn by persons entering a
confined space as determined by a qualified person. (It should be noted that the presence
of a ladder or rungs in a confined space does not in itself eliminate the need for a fall
arresting system. The qualified person shall take into account the condition of the ladder
or rungs [slippery, wet, greasy, etc.], the length of the descent, the descending persons,
visibility, and any other condition that could reasonably be expected to cause the
employee entering the confined space to fall.)
20-10.2.11 When fall protection is provided, it shall consist of a
full body harness with a retrieval line attached at the center of the entrants back near
the shoulder level. The other end of the retrieval line shall be attached to a mechanical
device or fixed point outside the permit space in such a manner that rescue can begin as
soon as the rescuer becomes aware that rescue is necessary.
20-10.2.12 When fall protection is provided for spaces greater than
five feet deep, a mechanical device meeting the requirements for Confine Space Entry.
Move on to Chapter 20-1 Permit Required Confined
Spaces or back to Safety Manual
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