2017-11-07EHSBestPractice-ConfinedSpaceEntry
BestPracticesforConfinedSpaceEntryScopeConfinedSpaceEntryproceduresareregulatedbyOSHAunder29CFR1910.146andthereadermustbethoroughlyfamiliarwiththisregulation.Althoughthisbestpracticeprovidescommentaryoncertainaspectsoftheregulation,itisnotintendedtobeusedinlieuoftheregulation.Entryintoaconfinedspaceshouldalwaysbeundertakenbasedonclearlydefinedproceduresandwithallpersonneltrainedintheirjobresponsibilities.Assumptionsshouldneverbemade.Accidentsassociatedwithconfinedspaceentrycontinuetooccurinthechemicalindustryeachyear,andaneffectiveprogramisrequiredtoprotectemployeesfrompossibledeathorinjury.KeyPoints
• Forfacilitiesthatsuccessfullyperformmanyconfinedspaceentries,complacencycanbeaproblem.EHSprofessionalsmustauditconfinedspaceentriesandthecompletedpermitstopreventagainstcomplacencyandbacksliding.
• The“buckstops”withtheEntrySupervisor.TheEntrySupervisorisresponsibleforallaspectsoftheentry.IndividualsinthisroleshalltakethisjobseriouslyandbethoroughlyfamiliarwiththeirresponsibilitiesperExhibit1.Inadditiontostandardconfinedspaceentrytraining,bestpracticeistoprovideEntrySupervisorsinitialandrecurringtrainingspecifictotheirrole.
• Onlargeturnarounds,becarefultoassureasingleEntrySupervisorisnotoverloadedwithresponsibilityformultiple,andperhapstoomany,confinedspaceentries.
• Thereisoftenatemptationtouseanindividualwiththeleastexperiencetoserveastheattendantfortheconfinedspace.Donotunderestimatethecriticalimportanceofthisrole.EnsurethattheattendantiswelltrainedintheirdutiesperExhibit1andcandemonstratecompetency.
• Ensuretheisolationprocedureusedforthespacetobeenteredisappropriateforconfinedspaceentryversusnon-entrymaintenanceactivities.Typically,additionalblankingorisolationisneededforentry.Seethesectionbelow,“EffectiveIsolation/LockoutofConfinedSpaces”foradditionalcommentary.
• PertheLockoutStandard,isolationproceduresareoftenpreparedinadvance.Sincephysicalchangescanoccurthatmaynotbereflectedintheisolationprocedure,bestpracticeistohavetwoqualifiedindividualsindependentlyverifythattheisolationprocedureisaccuratebeforeitsuseforconfinedspaceentryisolation.Thisindependentverificationshouldoccurshortlybeforeuse,typicallyafewdaysoraweek,asdefinedbythefacility.
• Althoughperiodictestingisrequiredbytheregulation,monitoringoftheconfinedspaceatmospherewithcontinuousmonitorsishighlyrecommended.Additionalsafetyisprovidedwhenthesecontinuousmonitorsarewornbytheentrantsneartheirbreathingzone(e.g.clippedtoneckorcollar).
2017-11-07EHSBestPractice-ConfinedSpaceEntry
• Pre-entryconferencesareessentialtoasafeconfinedspaceentry.EntrySupervisorsshallensurethatpre-entryconferencesoccurnotonlyatthebeginningofthejob,butatshiftchange,suchastransitioningfromdayshifttonightshift,andwhenpersonnelareaddedorchangedduringtheentryprocedure.
• Manyinjuriesandfatalitieshaveoccurredwhenunauthorizedpersonnelenteraconfinedspacetoattemptarescue,andthentheybecomeanothervictim.Ensureyourtrainingprogramstronglyaddressestheemergencyprocedurestorescuesomeoneindistressinaconfinedspace.
• Ifrescuepersonnelaresummonedforanotheremergency,theattendantmustevacuatetheconfinedspaceuntilrescuepersonnelareagainavailable.
• Donotallowcompressedgascylinders(e.g.forhotwork)tobelocatedinsideaconfinedspace.Also,ensurecompressedgashosesareremovedatbreaksandwhennolongerneeded.
• Performinghotworkinsideaconfinedspacepresentsanarrayofuniquehazards.Bestpracticeistoissuethehotworkpermitwithenhancedreviewandapprovals.Forexample,ifthehotworkpermitisnormallyissuedbyasingleindividual,considerhavingateamoftwoormoresupervisorsreviewandapprovethehotworkpermit.Clearly,theEntrySupervisormustbeinvolvedaswell.
WhatConstitutes“Entry”IntoaConfinedSpace?OSHAdefines“entry”as“theactionbywhichapersonpassesthroughanopeningintoaPermitRequiredConfinedSpace.Entryisconsideredtohaveoccurredassoonasanypartoftheentrant'sbodybreakstheplaneofanopeningintothespace,regardlessofwhetherthereisintenttofullyenterthespace.”Lettersofinterpretationhaveclarifiedthatincidentallybreakingtheplaneofapermitrequiredconfinedspacewithone’sarm(only)forlimited,specifictasksandwithouttheintentofenteringthespace,ortheriskoffallingintothespaceand/orriskofexposuretoanysafetyandhealthhazardwithinthespaceisnotconsideredentry.Permit-RequiredConfinedSpaceEntryProgramAdocumentedPermit-RequiredConfinedSpaceEntryProgramisrequiredifemployeesaregoingtoenterconfinedspaces.Thisistypicallyintheformofadocumentedsafeworkpracticespecifictothissubject.OSHAhasmanyrequirementsdescriedin29CFR1910.146(d).Theregulationisquitecomprehensiveandifstrictlyfollowed,thefacilitywillhaveaverygoodconfinedspaceentryprogram.Keypointsare:
• Inadditiontomakingsureyoursafeworkpractice/programmeetstherequiredelements,makesuretheprogramisalivingandusefuldocumentfortheworkforce.Therequiredannualreviewoftheprogramwithemployeesparticipatingiscriticaltosuccess.
• Haveclearrolesandresponsibilitiesdefined.• Ensurecontractorsfollowyourprogramrequirements.• Ensureyourprogramhasintegratedthebestpracticesdescribedinthisdocument.
2017-11-07EHSBestPractice-ConfinedSpaceEntry
EntryPermitTheentrypermitrequirementsaredescribedin29CFR1910.146(f).Keypointsare:
• Auditcompletedpermitstoensurethattheywerecompletelyandcorrectlyfilledout.Duetothesizeofthepermit,therearemanyopportunitiestomakeerrors.
• Ensurecontractorsuseyourconfinedspaceentrypermit.Iftheyhaveapolicyofusingtheirownpermit,requiretheuseofbothconfinedspaceentrypermits.
• Forcontractorsenteringaconfinedspace,itispermissibleforacontractorsupervisortobetheEntrySupervisorifproperlytrained.However,bestpracticeisthattheentrypermittobeopenedbyafacilityEntrySupervisorandforafacilityEntrySupervisortoclosetheentrypermitattheconclusionoftheentry.
EffectiveIsolation/LockoutofaConfinedSpaceIsolation/lockoutforenteringconfinedspacesinvolvesadditionalmeasurescomparedtoisolationfornon-entrywork.Considerthefollowing.Ifanisolationprocedureforthepurposeofconfinedspaceentrywaspreparedwellinadvanceoftheplannedentry,bestpracticeistohavetwoqualifiedindividualsindependentlyverifythecorrectnessoftheisolationprocedureafewdayspriortoitsuse.Thispracticewouldcatchanychangestotheconfinedspace,suchasadditionalpipelinesentering/exitingtheconfinedspacenotupdatedbyaManagementofChangeprocedure.Isolationofpipelinesconnectedtotheconfinedspaceneedtohavemeasuresbeyondsimplyclosingandlockingavalve.Bestpracticeisto:
• Installablind/blankflangeontheendofadisconnectedline,or• Installa“slipblank,”suitableforpipelinepressure,inbetweenapairofflangesinthe
line,or• Providean“airgap”suchasremovingashortsectionofpipeline,or• Ifyourfacilityallowsit,usea“doubleblockandbleed”isolation.(SeeHazardousEnergy
Isolationfordiagramsofdoubleblockandbleedisolations.)
RescueServicesandWhatConstitutesTimelyRescue?Whatisconsideredtimelyrescue?Theregulationin1910.146(k)(1)(i)onlystates“timelyrescue,”buttheydidprovideanotetoindicatethattheresponsetimewillvaryaccordingtothespecifichazardsinvolvedforeachentry.AlsonotethattheRespiratoryProtectionstandardrequiresthatemployersprovideastandbypersonorpersonscapableofimmediateactiontorescueemployee(s)wearingrespiratoryprotectionwhileinworkareasdefinedasIDLH(immediatelydangeroustolifeandhealth)atmospheres.Anemployerwhodesignatesrescueandemergencyservicesshallmeettherequirementsdescribedin29CFR1910.146(k).Rescuepersonnelcanbepartofanemployer’sworkforce,beacontractedservice,orthelocalmunicipalemergencyresponder.Theguidanceprovidedby
2017-11-07EHSBestPractice-ConfinedSpaceEntry
theregulationisverygood,butthefollowingadviceisoffered:• Theevaluationandselectionofathird-partyrescueservicerequiresconsiderableeffort
todoitright.Don’trushthroughthisprocess.• Bestpracticeistohavearescueplandevelopedinadvanceforeachspecificconfined
spacetobeentered.TrainingTheregulationstatesthattheemployerisresponsibleforprovidinginitialtrainingandrecurringtrainingaschangesordeviationsoccurtotheprogram.Bestpracticeforrecurringtrainingisannual.Also,bestpracticeistohaveadditional,moredetailed,trainingforEntrySupervisorstoensurethattheyclearlyunderstandtheirduties.Notethattrainingshallbedocumentedandbeavailableforinspectionbyemployees,theirauthorizedrepresentativesandregulators.Disclaimer: The statements contained in this publication are suggestions to enhance performance of certain activities. There is no warranty or guarantee that following these suggestions will prevent each and every incidence of personal injury or property damage. Neither Pine Chemicals Association International nor any of its agents, officers, employees, consultants or contractors, warrants the accuracy, reliability, completeness or timeliness of any information published here and shall not be liable for any losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy, reliability, completeness or timeliness of this information, including, but not limited to, incidental or consequential damages. This publication is provided without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including, but not limited to, an implied warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, compliance or non-infringement. The recipient of this information is responsible for compliance with all applicable restrictions, regulations, statutes or other standards or conditions.
2017-11-07EHSBestPractice-ConfinedSpaceEntry
Exhibit1RolesandResponsibilitiesasDefinedintheConfinedSpaceEntryRegulation
DutiesofEntrySupervisorsTheemployershallensurethateachentrysupervisor:
• Knowsthehazardsthatmaybefacedduringentry,includinginformationonthemode,signsorsymptoms,andconsequencesoftheexposure;
• Verifies,bycheckingthattheappropriateentrieshavebeenmadeonthepermit,thatalltestsspecifiedbythepermithavebeenconductedandthatallproceduresandequipmentspecifiedbythepermitareinplacebeforeendorsingthepermitandallowingentrytobegin;
• Terminatestheentryandcancelsthepermit;• Verifiesthatrescueservicesareavailableandthatthemeansforsummoningthemare
operable;• Removesunauthorizedindividualswhoenterorwhoattempttoenterthepermitspace
duringentryoperations;and• Determines,wheneverresponsibilityforapermitspaceentryoperationistransferred
andatintervalsdictatedbythehazardsandoperationsperformedwithinthespace,thatentryoperationsremainconsistentwithtermsoftheentrypermitandthatacceptableentryconditionsaremaintained.
DutiesofAuthorizedEntrantsTheemployershallensurethatallauthorizedentrants:
• Knowthehazardsthatmaybefacedduringentry,includinginformationonthemode,signsorsymptoms,andconsequencesoftheexposure;
• Properlyuseequipment,e.g.communications,ventilation,PPE,continuousmonitors(ifprovided),etc.;
• Communicatewiththeattendantasnecessarytoenabletheattendanttomonitorentrantstatusandtoenabletheattendanttoalertentrantsoftheneedtoevacuatethespace;
• Alerttheattendantwhenever:o Theentrantrecognizesanywarningsignorsymptomofexposuretoadangerous
situation,oro Theentrantdetectsaprohibitedcondition;and
• Exitfromthepermitspaceasquicklyaspossiblewhenever:o Anordertoevacuateisgivenbytheattendantortheentrysupervisor,o Theentrantrecognizesanywarningsignorsymptomofexposuretoa
dangeroussituation,o Theentrantdetectsaprohibitedcondition,oro Anevacuationalarmisactivated.
2017-11-07EHSBestPractice-ConfinedSpaceEntry
DutiesofAttendantsTheemployershallensurethateachattendant:
• Knowsthehazardsthatmaybefacedduringentry,includinginformationonthemode,signsorsymptoms,andconsequencesoftheexposure;
• Isawareofpossiblebehavioraleffectsofhazardexposureinauthorizedentrants;• Continuouslymaintainsanaccuratecountofauthorizedentrantsinthepermitspace;• Remainsoutsidethepermitspaceduringentryoperationsuntilrelievedbyanother
attendant;NOTE:Whentheemployer'spermitentryprogramallowsattendantentryforrescue,attendantsmayenterapermitspacetoattemptarescueiftheyhavebeentrainedandequippedforrescueoperationsandiftheyhavebeenrelieved.
• Communicateswithauthorizedentrantsasnecessarytomonitorentrantstatusandtoalertentrantsoftheneedtoevacuatethespace;
• Monitorsactivitiesinsideandoutsidethespacetodetermineifitissafeforentrantstoremaininthespaceandorderstheauthorizedentrantstoevacuatethepermitspaceimmediatelyunderanyofthefollowingconditions;
o Iftheattendantdetectsaprohibitedcondition;o Iftheattendantdetectsthebehavioraleffectsofhazardexposureinan
authorizedentrant;o Iftheattendantdetectsasituationoutsidethespacethatcouldendangerthe
authorizedentrants;oro Iftheattendantcannoteffectivelyandsafelyperformallthedutiesrequired.
• Summonrescueandotheremergencyservicesassoonastheattendantdeterminesthatauthorizedentrantsmayneedassistancetoescapefrompermitspacehazards;
• Takesthefollowingactionswhenunauthorizedpersonsapproachorenterapermitspacewhileentryisunderway:
o Warntheunauthorizedpersonsthattheymuststayawayfromthepermitspace;o Advisetheunauthorizedpersonsthattheymustexitimmediatelyiftheyhave
enteredthepermitspace;ando Informtheauthorizedentrantsandtheentrysupervisorifunauthorizedpersons
haveenteredthepermitspace;• Performsnon-entryrescuesasspecifiedbytheemployer'srescueprocedure;and• Performsnodutiesthatmightinterferewiththeattendant'sprimarydutytomonitor
andprotecttheauthorizedentrant.Disclaimer: The statements contained in this publication are suggestions to enhance performance of certain activities. There is no warranty or guarantee that following these suggestions will prevent each and every incidence of personal injury or property damage. Neither Pine Chemicals Association International nor any of its agents, officers, employees, consultants or contractors, warrants the accuracy, reliability, completeness or timeliness of any information published here and shall not be liable for any losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy, reliability, completeness or timeliness of this information, including, but not limited to, incidental or consequential damages. This publication is provided without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including, but not limited to, an implied warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, compliance or non-infringement. The recipient of this information is responsible for compliance with all applicable restrictions, regulations, statutes or other standards or conditions.
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