CONFINED SPACES

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· DEFINITION

· ENTRY PROGRAM

Ø Entry

Ø Atmosphere testing

Ø Hazardous atmosphere

Ø Personal protective equipment (PPE)

DEFINITION

Confined space means a bin, pipeline, pit, sewer, silo, tank, tunnel, utilities vault, vat, vessel or other enclosed or partially enclosed space having restricted access and egress and which, owing to its design, construction, location, atmosphere, the materials or substances in it or other conditions, is or may become immediately dangerous to the life or health of a worker required to enter it. (General Safety Regulations 1990, 1)

ENTRY PROGRAM

Where a worker works in a confined space, the employer shall develop a written code of practice for entry to and work in confined spaces. The code of practice must contain the following elements:

· A means of clearly identifying confined spaces at the work site

· The qualifications and training for workers who may be required to enter or work in a confined space

· The means, if any, of blanking or blinding pipes and other supply lines in, or leading to, the confined space

· The means, if any, of ventilating the confined space

· The tests or measurements that will be taken to determine the presence of contaminants or oxygen deficiencies

· Information on the availability and proper use of respiratory protective equipment

· Rescue procedures and a list of rescue equipment

· Identification of other hazards that may be present in the confined space and may affect the safety of workers

· The requirement, if any, for the issuance of a work permit to enter the confined space

The employer must submit the code of practice to the Chief Safety Officer before any worker enters a confined space. (General Safety Regulations 1990, 37)

Entry

Before a worker enters a confined space, the employer must ensure that the confined space is ventilated sufficiently to maintain an oxygen content of at least 18% and to prevent the accumulation of contaminants, pipes and other supply lines in or leading to the confined space, whose contents are likely to create a hazard, are blanked or blinded off, and mechanical equipment installed in the confined space is disconnected from its power source and locked out.

Where it is not reasonably practicable for an employer to blank or blind pipes in the confined space, the employer shall develop and implement alternate procedures that will provide equal or greater protection to workers. (General Safety Regulations 1990, 36)

Atmosphere testing

Where it is not reasonably practicable for an employer to ventilate the confined space, the employer shall ensure that air quality tests are carried out by a competent person before a worker enters a confined space, and while a worker is in the confined space. The confined space must be naturally ventilated sufficient to maintain an oxygen content of at least 18% and to prevent the accumulation of contaminants.

Equipment used to conduct air quality tests must be stored and maintained according to the instructions of the manufacturer. (General Safety Regulations 1990, 36)

Hazardous atmosphere

Where the atmosphere in a confined space contains contaminants or has an oxygen content of less than 18%, the employer shall ensure that no worker enters or remains in the confined space unless the following conditions are met:

• The worker wears respiratory protective equipment
• The worker is attended by and in communication with another worker stationed at or near the entrance to the confined space
• Rescue procedures to enable the removal of the worker who has entered the confined space are in place
• The worker is using a body harness, lanyard and lifeline
• Rescue equipment capable of effecting a rescue is available for immediate use
• A person who is the holder of a standard first aid certificate is in attendance (General Safety Regulations 1990, 36)

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

An employer shall ensure that no worker enters or remains in a confined space unless the worker is using a body harness, lanyard and lifeline. (General Safety Regulations 1990, 36)

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