CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROGRAM

May 2003

 

Table of Contents

 

 

I.  POLICY

Plymouth State University has developed the following program to protect the employee from hazards posed by entry into confined spaces.  A confined space is any space that:

 1)        Is large enough and so configured that an employee can easily enter and perform assigned work.

 2)        Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit.

 3)        Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.

 

Plymouth State University has further classified spaces as "Permit Required Confined Spaces”.  These spaces have one or more of the following characteristics:

1)         Contains, or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere.

2)         Contains a material that has a potential for engulfing a person.

3)         Has inwardly converging walls or a floor, which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross‑section such that a person could be trapped or asphyxiated.

4)         Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.  Any space so designated may not be entered without following a formal permit procedure, which is detailed in this program.

 

Plymouth State University has evaluated the work place and identified all such permit required confined spaces and they have been clearly marked.

 

II.  DEFINITIONS

Blanking:  means the absolute closure of the pipe, line or duct by fastening a solid plate across its bore to completely cover the bore and which extends to the outer edge of the flange at which it is attached.  The solid plate must be capable of withstanding the maximum upstream pressure.

 

Confined Space:  means any space or work area not designed or intended for normal human occupancy, having limited means of egress and poor natural ventilation; and/or any structure including buildings or rooms, which have limited means of egress.

 

Confined Space Entry Permit (CSEP):  is a document to be initiated by the supervisor of employees who are to enter into or work in a confined space.  The Designated Person will complete the CSEP before employees will be permitted to enter the confined space.  The CSEP shall be valid only for the performance of the work identified and the location and time specified.  The beginning of a new shift with change of personnel will require the issuance of a new permit

 

Confined Space Attendant:  means an individual assigned to monitor the activities of the employees working within a confined space.  The confined space attendant monitors and provides external assistance to those inside the confined space.  The confined space attendant summons rescue personnel in the event of an emergency and may assist the rescue team.

 

Emergency:  means any occurrence, including the failure of a hazard control or monitoring equipment or event internal or external to the confined space, which could endanger employees in the confined space.

 

Employee:  means any worker who may be required to enter a confined space or be a confined space attendant in the course of his/her normal duties.

 

Entry supervisor means the person (such as the employer, foreman, or crew chief) responsible for determining if acceptable entry conditions are present at a permit space where entry is planned, for authorizing entry and overseeing entry operations, and for terminating entry as required by this section.

Note:  An entry supervisor also may serve as an attendant or as an authorized entrant, as long as that person is trained and equipped as required by this section for each role he or she fills. Also, the duties of entry supervisor may be passed from one individual to another during the course of an entry operation.

 

Entry Team:  means a group of employees who will be entering a confined space in order to perform work.

 

Exposure/Exposed:  means that an employee is subjected to a hazardous chemical in the course of employment through any route of entry (inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, etc.) and includes potential (e.g. accidental or possible) exposure.

 

Hazardous atmosphere means an atmosphere that may expose employees to the risk of death, incapacitation, impairment of ability to self‑rescue (that is, escape unaided from a permit space), injury, or acute illness.

 

Hazardous Chemical:  is any liquid or gas, which is a physical or health hazard, or a solid, which forms a hazardous gas, or dust during use.

 

Hot work permit means the employer's written authorization to perform operations (for example, riveting, welding, cutting, burning, and heating) capable of providing a source of ignition.

 

Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health:  means the maximum level an individual can be exposed to for 30 minutes and escape without suffering irreversible health effects or impairing symptoms.

 

Non‑permit confined space means a confined space that does not contain or, with respect to atmospheric hazards, have the potential to contain any hazard capable of causing death or serious physical harm.

 

Retrieval system means the equipment (including a retrieval line, chest or full‑body harness, wristlets, if appropriate, and a lifting device or anchor) used for non‑entry rescue of persons from permit spaces.

 

III.  RESPONSIBILITIES

Employees shall be responsible for being aware of the provisions of this practice and knowing the procedures for safe entry and working in confined spaces.  Employees are also responsible for knowing when and how to obtain emergency assistance.

 

Employer shall be responsible for performing audits of this practice, providing confined space entry procedure training materials to those responsible for training, identifying and posting confine spaces and ensuring compliance with requirements of this practice.

 

Safety Officer/Designated Person shall be responsible for ensuring that employees who must enter confined spaces are properly trained and equipped to evaluate the internal atmosphere defining any special conditions to assure safe entry, and is responsible for issuing the CSEP and notifying local fire departments of the entry.

 

IV.  GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

1.   Confined spaces shall be identified with a posted sign or label, which reads: “Caution Confined Space, Permit Required for Entry”.

2.  Only employees trained and knowledgeable of the requirements of these Confined Space Entry Procedures will be authorized to enter a confined space or be a confined space attendant

3.   A confined Space Entry Permit must be issued prior to their performance of any work within a confined space.  The permit must be kept at the work site for the duration of the work.

4.   The contents of any confined space must be removed when necessary, prior to entry. This includes all sources of ignition.

5.    A hot work permit shall be obtained as applicable.

6.  A confined Space program shall be obtained from Sub or General Contractors for evaluation by the Safety Officer/Designated Person for provisions as necessary.

7.   Applicable emergency phone numbers are to be posted in a conspicuous location.  The Safety Officer/Designated Person shall ensure all employees have knowledge of its location.

 

V.  SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

1.    If liquids may be contained within the confined space, explosion proof equipment must be used.  All equipment must be positively grounded.

2.    Hand tools used in confined spaces shall be in good condition, explosion proof, spark proof and employed according to intended use.  Whenever possible, pneumatic power tools will be used.

3.   Hand held lights and other illumination in confined spaces shall be equipped with guards to prevent contact with the bulb and must be explosion proof.

4.    Compressed gas cylinders, except cylinders used for self-contained breathing apparatus shall not be taken into confined spaces.

5.    If a confined space requires entry where rescue may be difficult, a retrieval system will be used.  The outside observer shall be provided with the same equipment as those working within the confined space.

6.    A ladder is required in all confined spaces deeper than the employee’s shoulders.  The ladder shall be secured and not removed until all employees have exited the confined space.

7.   Only self contained breathing apparatus of the NIOSH approved airline respirators equipped with a 5 minute emergency air supply (egress bottle) shall be used in untested confined spaces or in any confined space with conditions are determined to be immediately dangerous to life and health.

8.    Where air-moving equipment is used to provide ventilation chemicals shall be removed from the vicinity to prevent introduction into the confined space.

9.    Vehicles shall not be left running near confined space work or near air moving equipment being used for confined spaces.

10.      Smoking in confined spaces will be prohibited at all times.

 

VI.  ENTRY PROCEDURE

The Entry Team shall:

1.     Evaluate the job to be done and identify the potential hazards before the job begins.

2.     Ensure that all process piping, mechanical, electrical equipment etc. have been locked and tagged as necessary.

3.     If possible, ensure removal of any standing fluids that may produce toxic or air displacing gases vapor or dust.

 

The Safety Officer/Designated Person shall:

1.    Ensure that the space is ventilated before starting work in the confined space and for the duration of the time that work is being performed in the space. 

2.    Ensure that the personnel who enter the confined space and the confined space observer are familiar with the contents and requirements of this procedure.

3.    Designate at least one employee in the area of the confined space to be the helper to the confined space attendant in the event of an emergency, and instruct the helper accordingly.

4.     Ensure remote atmospheric testing of the confined space prior to employee entry and before validation of a CSEP to ensure the following conditions are met:

** Oxygen content is between 19.5% and 23%

** Flammability less than 10%

** No other atmospheric contaminates are present if the space contained toxic, corrosive, or irritant material.

5.    Designate whether hot or cold work will be allowed.

6.    Ensure that a copy of the CSEP is posted at the work site, and file accordingly after the work is completed.