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· TRAINING
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Personal
protective equipment (PPE)
Ø Hot work
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, is large enough that a worker could enter to perform assigned work and that is or may become hazardous to a person entering it. (General Regulation 91-191, 262)
The employer must ensure that any employee who will enter a confined space is instructed and trained in procedures for safe entry and exit from the space, emergency procedures, and the use of personal protective equipment.
The employer must ensure that any employee who will perform rescue is instructed and trained in emergency procedures, and the use of emergency and personal protective equipment. (General Regulation 91-191, 263)
The competent person that tested the confined space prior to an entry must write a report. The report must contain the results of atmospheric testing, an evaluation of the hazards of the confined space, procedures for entry and exit from the space, identify personal protective equipment required, emergency procedures for evacuation, identify emergency equipment needed for rescue.
The written report, and any procedures contained in the report, must be explained to an employee who will enter the confined space and to any employees who will perform rescue before entry is made into the confined space. The employee who will enter the space must acknowledge that the report and procedures were explained by signing a dated copy of the report.
A
competent person must ensure that disconnection or the fitting of blank flanges
has prevented the entry of any liquid or hazardous substance into the confined
space.
A
competent person must ensure that all electrical equipment and machines that
present a hazard have been locked out and the machines put in a zero energy
state. (General Regulation 91-191, 263)
Before an employee enters a confined space, a competent person must test the atmosphere. The atmosphere must meet the following requirements: the concentration of airborne contaminants is not hazardous, the concentration of flammable substances does not exceed 50 percent of the lower explosive limit (LEL), there are no hazardous physical agents present, the percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere is between 19.5 and 23 percent, and all of these conditions can be maintained for the duration of entry into the confined space. (General Regulation 91-191, 263)
If the atmosphere limits are not met, where practicable, the employer must purge the space. The atmosphere must be retested after the space has been purged. (General Regulation 91-191, 264)
If the atmosphere limits cannot be maintained for the duration of the entry, or there is a possibility that the atmosphere may change during entry, the atmosphere must be continuously monitored for the duration of the entry. (General Regulation 91-191, 265)
When the concentration of an airborne contaminant is hazardous or where the concentration of oxygen is less than 19.5 percent, the worker entering the confined space must wear appropriate respiratory protective equipment. (General Regulation 91-191, 268)
When the percentage of oxygen is greater than 23 percent, the employer must ensure that the confined space does not contain any flammable or combustible substance. (General Regulation 91-191, 269)
A competent person trained in the procedures for safe entry and exit from the space, and emergency procedures must be in attendance outside the confined space, in constant communication with the employee inside the space, and be equipped with an alarm. The standby person must hold a valid standard-level first aid certificate and be trained in artificial respiration and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. (General Regulation 91-191, 266)
Personal
protective equipment (PPE)
The employer must ensure that all PPE and emergency equipment identified in the pre-entry report have been inspected by a competent person, are in good working order, and are at the entrance to the space before entry.
When required in the pre-entry report, every employee entering the confined space must wear a full body harness attached to a lifeline controlled by the standby person. (General Regulation 91-191, 266)
Where the concentration of a flammable or combustible substance does not exceed 50 percent of the LEL, the employer must ensure that explosive-proof lighting is used, and the only work performed is such that it does not create any source of ignition.
Where the concentration of a flammable or combustible substance does not exceed 10 percent of the LEL, the employer must ensure that explosive-proof lighting is used, and the only work performed is cold work using non-sparking equipment. (General Regulation 91-191, 267)
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