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TRAINING
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Rescue
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Personal
protective equipment (PPE)
A confined space is an area that is enclosed or partially enclosed, is not intended for continuous occupation, has limited means of entry or exit and is large enough that a worker could enter to perform assigned work. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97, 9.1)
All people who are connected with confined space entry must be adequately trained in the hazards of the space and the precautions identified in written procedures to perform their duties properly. This training requirement affects administrative people, supervisors and those who will participate in the confined space entry. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97,9.6 - 9.8)
A hazard assessment must be conducted for each confined space or work activity within a confined space. The hazard assessment must consider conditions prior to entry and the potential for a hazardous atmosphere to develop. A qualified person, in consultation with the JHSC and the assigned administrative person, must conduct the hazard assessment. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97, 9.9)
An entry permit signed by the supervisor must be posted at each access point during a confined space entry. The permit must identify the confined space and the work that will be completed, identify the workers who will enter the space, list the precautions to be taken and the time that the permit will expire. Only the supervisor, standby worker or air tester may alter the permit. The entry must be reauthorized if there is a change in workers or supervisor or if the entry continues beyond a change in shift. The entry permit must be retained for one year. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97, 9.12 – 9.16)
All energy sources within the confined space must be locked out prior to entry. Piping must be disconnected or blinded. Pressurized liquids must be locked out and depressurized. Hot liquid lines must be isolated. Simply closing a valve is not an acceptable method of isolation.
The
location of isolation points must be recorded and visually inspected prior to
entry.
Blanks
and blinds must conform to the appropriate ANSI standard and be used in
accordance with a written procedure.
If
isolation is not possible, alternate measures must be used that provide
equivalent protection. If alternate measures are used, workers must be informed
of the measures taken and instructed in any work procedures. (Occupational
Health and Safety Regulation 296/97, 9.17 – 9.23)
A trained worker must test the atmosphere within the confined space according to a written procedure prior to entry. The atmosphere must be tested using reliable equipment that has been calibrated. Test results must be recorded and posted at the entry of the confined space. Testing must be done no more than 20 minutes prior to entry. If the space is vacated for more than 20 minutes, the atmosphere in the space must be retested.
Whenever practical, there must be continuous monitoring of the atmosphere in the space during entry. There must be continuous monitoring if there is a concentration of flammable gases greater than 20 percent of the lower explosive limit. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97, 9.24 – 9.26)
The confined space must contain clean air prior to entry. If the air is not clean, purge, ventilate or clean it. If the air cannot be made clean, workers must wear PPE during the entry. The concentration of flammable vapours must be less than 20 percent of the lower explosive limit. If there are any flammable vapours present, all ignition sources must be eliminated.
If a space must be inerted to make it safe for entry, the board must be notified 7 days in advance of the entry and entry precautions for a high hazard atmosphere must be followed.
Continuous ventilation of a confined space during entry is required except when there is a low hazard atmosphere or the space has been inerted.
Mechanical ventilation must be designed, installed and maintained in accordance with established engineering principles. The ventilation must adequately ventilate all of the occupied area.
If natural ventilation is used, the airflow must be monitored and sufficient to keep contaminants below limits. Natural ventilation may not be used for a high hazard atmosphere or if it is possible to draw in unclean air. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97, 9.27 – 9.33)
Must
supply 85 m3 of clean air per worker during the entry. Continuous
ventilation is not required if the atmosphere contains clean air, is
continuously monitored, there is more than 1.8 m3 of space per
worker, is occupied for less than 15 minutes and no contaminants are generated
during the entry. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97,
9.31)
During entry in a low hazard atmosphere, there must be a standby person who can be summoned for help. The standby person must check on the worker in the confined space at least every 20 minutes and be able to summons rescue.
During entry in a moderate hazard atmosphere, there must be at least one standby worker near the entrance to the confined space. The standby person must check on the worker in the confined space at least every 20 minutes and be able to summons rescue.
During entry in a high hazard atmosphere, there must be at least one standby worker at the entrance to the confined space who performs standby duties continuously. The standby person must visually check on the worker in the confined space continuously and be able to be summoned from inside the space. The standby person must be equipped to perform a rescue immediately. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97, 9.34 – 9.36)
Rescue services must be provided during a confined space entry. If a third party is used, there must be a written agreement of services.
Rescuers
must be equipped and trained in their duties. A practice drill must be held
annually. Records of training and drills must be kept.
Rescuers must be notified before entry into a confined space and once the space has been evacuated. The notifications are not required if rescuers are available 24 hours a day.
A trained supervisor must direct a rescue. Voice communication must be maintained between the supervisor and the rescuers. If a rescuer enters the space, there must be an additional worker outside. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97, 9.37 – 9.41)
Personal protective
equipment (PPE)
An entry worker must wear the personal protective equipment (PPE) required under the circumstances. (Review the section on personal protective equipment by clicking PPE on the menu bar at the left.)
When entering a confined space that contains a high hazard atmosphere, a risk of entrapment or engulfment or with any other recognized serious health or safety hazard, the worker must wear a harness of a type that will keep the worker in a position to permit rescue. (Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 296/97, 9.42 – 9.47)
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