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A confined space is an
enclosed or partially enclosed space that is not designed or intended for occupancy,
has a restricted means of entry and exit and may become hazardous to a worker
entering it because of its location or atmosphere, of the work activities or
materials in it, or because first aid, rescue or evacuation is compromised.
(Occupational Health and Safety Code, 1)
The
employer must have a written code of practice covering the practices and
procedures to be followed when workers enter a confined space. The code must be
maintained and periodically reviewed, and identify all existing and potential
confined spaces.
A
worker involved in a confined space entry must comply with the code of
practice.
(Occupational Health and
Safety Code, 44)
The
employer must ensure that workers involved in a confined space entry are trained
by a competent person in recognizing hazards associated with working in
confined spaces and performing duties in a safe and healthful manner.
Rescue workers must be
competent in first aid, use of emergency response equipment, and procedures
appropriate to the confined space.
(Occupational Health and
Safety Code, 46)
If a
worker will enter a confined space to work, the employer must asses the hazards
the worker will be exposed to, specify the type and frequency of tests required
to determine the probability of worker exposure, specify the safety and
personal protective equipment required to perform the work and rescue the
worker in an emergency.
(Occupational Health and
Safety Code, 45)
Nobody may enter a
confined space without a valid entry permit. The employer must establish an
entry permit system for a confined space that lists the name of each worker who
enters the confined space and the reason for their entry, gives the location of
the confined space, specifies the time during which an entry permit is valid,
takes into account the work being done in the confined space, and takes into
account the code of practice requirements for entering, being in and leaving a
confined space.
The employer must
ensure that before a worker enters a confined space, an entry permit is
properly completed, signed by a competent person and a copy kept readily
available.
(Occupational
Health and Safety Code, 47)
The employer must
ensure that workers in a confined space are protected against the release of
hazardous substances or energy.
The employer must
ensure that a worker does not enter a confined space unless adequate
precautions are in place to protect a worker from drowning, engulfment or
entrapment.
(Occupational
Health and Safety Code, 49)
If
the hazard assessment identifies a potential atmospheric hazard, the employer
must ensure that a competent worker performs a pre-entry atmospheric test to
verify that the oxygen content is between 19.5 percent and 23 percent by
volume, and identify the amount of toxic, flammable or explosive substance that
may be present.
The
employer must ensure that the atmospheric testing is performed using calibrated
test instruments appropriate for the atmosphere being tested and the
instruments are used in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.
The
employer must ensure that as often as necessary after the first time a worker
enters the confined space, a competent worker performs atmospheric testing and
identifies and records any additional hazards.
Results
of atmospheric testing must be recorded.
(Occupational
Health and Safety Code, 52)
If
atmospheric testing identifies an actual or potentially hazardous atmosphere,
the employer must ensure the confined space is ventilated, purged or both
before a worker enters.
If ventilating or purging a confined space in
ineffective or impractical in eliminating a hazardous atmosphere, the employer
must ensure that a worker who enters the confined space uses PPE appropriate
for the conditions.
If mechanical ventilation is needed to maintain a
safe atmosphere during the work process, the employer must ensure it is
provided and operated as needed.
If mechanical ventilation is required to maintain a
safe atmosphere, the employer must ensure that the ventilation system has a
method of warning workers of a system failure so that workers have sufficient
time to safely exit the space, and all workers in the confined space have
received training in the evacuation procedures to be used in the event of a
ventilation failure.
The employer must ensure that a confined space is
inerted if it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate an explosive or
flammable atmosphere within the confined space.
If a confined space is inerted, the employer must
ensure that every worker entering the space is equipped with a supplier-air
respirator, all ignition sources are controlled, and the atmosphere remains
inerted while workers are inside.
(Occupational
Health and Safety Code, 1)
For every entry, the
employer must designate a competent person to be in communication with the
worker in the confined space. The employer must ensure that the standby person
has a suitable system for summonsing assistance.
The employer must
ensure that a competent worker trained in the evacuation procedures is present
outside a confined space if the oxygen content is less than 19.5 percent or
exceeds 23 percent, the concentration of a substance exceeds 50 percent of its
occupational exposure limit, or a hazard has been identified that cannot be
eliminated or effectively controlled. The standby person must keep track of the
number of workers inside the confined space, be in constant communication with
the workers and have a means of summonsing assistance.
A standby worker
must not leave the area until all workers have left the confined space or
another standby worker is in place.
(Occupational
Health and Safety Code, 56)
The
employer must ensure that a worker does not enter or remain in a confined space
unless an effective rescue can be carried out. A worker must not enter or
remain in a confined space if rescue cannot be carried out.
The
employer must ensure that the emergency response plan includes procedures to
evacuate the confined space immediately if an alarm is activated, if the
concentration of oxygen inside the space drops below 19.5 percent or exceeds 23
percent, or if there is a significant change in the amount of hazardous
substances inside the confined space.
(Occupational
Health and Safety Code, 55)
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
The
employer must ensure that, if a lifeline is used it does not create an
additional hazard, the safety and PPE required is available to workers entering
a confined space, a worker who enters a confined space uses the safety and PPE,
safety and PPE required for rescue is available, and a communication system is
established that is available to workers in the confined space.
The
employer must ensure that all PPE and emergency equipment is inspected by a
competent person to ensure it is in good working order, before a worker enters
a confined space. A written record of the inspections must be retained.
(Occupational
Health and Safety Code, 46)
The employer must
ensure that all records respecting entry and work in a confined space,
including entry permits and air testing, are retained for not less than 1 year
if no incident or unplanned event occurred, or 2 years if an incident or
unplanned event occurred.
(Occupational Health
and Safety Code, 58)
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