Confined Space Program

Prepared By:
Richard Smith
OFPM Environmental Health & Safety
 Introduction

 Certain Spaces Are Confined Spaces

 Confined Spaces May Pose A Health Threat

 Employees Enter A Variety Of Spaces

 Policy
The Office of Facilities Management and
Planning (OFPM) and research and
extension centers are committed to assuring
employees and other personnel conduct
activities within safe work environments at
all facilities.
 Confined Space Definition
“Confined space” means a space that:

(1) Is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily

enter and perform assigned work; and

(2) Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit (for example,
tanks,vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, and pits are
spaces that may have limited means of entry.); and

(3) Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.

 California Code Of Regulations (CCR)

CCR Section 5156 states that “the confined

space definition along with other definitions

and requirements of Section 5157 shall

apply to agricultural operations (including

cotton gins) defined by Section 3437.”

 Confined Space Dangers
 Atmospheric Hazards
Oxygen deficiency occurs from chemical or biological reactions which
displace or consume oxygen from a confined space. Consumption of
oxygen takes place during combustion of flammable substances , as in
welding, cutting, or brazing, during bacterial action, as in the
fermentation process, and slow chemical reactions, as in the formation
of rust on the exposed surface of a metal tank.

Toxic gases may also occur in confined spaces due to manufacturing

processes or biologic/chemical processes occurring in the material
present in the confined space, such as decomposing organic material in
a tank or sump may liberate hydrogen sulfide. Painting or welding in a
confined space can also liberate toxic gases
 Confined Space Dangers
(cont.)
 Physical Hazards
Physical hazards include those associated with mechanical and
electrical energy, temperature, engulfment, falling objects, and wet
surfaces or standing/moving water.
 Examples of Confined Space Incidents

 Two workers entered a sewer line to refuel a gasoline

powered pump. One worker died from carbon monoxide
poisoning; the co-worker escaped. But a state inspector
died in a rescue attempt (1984)
 A worker using a respirator died from burn injuries caused
by a spark-induced explosion that occurred when painting
the inside of an 1,300 gallon tank. (1989)
 A worker inspecting an underground meter died from
inhaling natural gas that had leaked into a vault. (1985)
 A supervisor died when he entered an oxygen-deficient
manhole to close a valve. In a rescue attempt two other
laborers also collapsed and died. (1988)
 Examples of Confined Space Incidents
(cont.)
 A police officer and two sewer workers died in an attempt
to rescue a third sewer worker who had become overcome
by sewer gas at the bottom of an underground pumping
station. (1985)
 An employee entered a yeast brew vat and was
asphyxiated. Two other employees were rescued from the
oxygen-deficient atmosphere after attempting to pull out
the deceased employee and losing consciousness.(1996)
 Employees allowed to enter rail tank cars to paint them
without wearing equipment necessary to get workers out in
an emergency. The paint was flammable and the accident
danger high. Employer assessed $1.6 mil fine. (1998)
 Permit-Required Confined Space
Definition
 “Permit-required confined space” means a confined space that has one
or more of the following characteristics:

(1) Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere;

(2) Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant;

(3) Has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped

or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which

slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross-section; or

(4) Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.

Non-permit Confined Space Definition

“Non-permit confined space” means a

confined space that does not contain or,
with respect to atmospheric hazards, have
the potential to contain any hazard capable
of causing death or serious harm.
Confined Space Definitions Review

The term “confined space” encompasses two types

of spaces:
(1) Non-permit confined spaces where hazards or
potential hazards which could cause death or
serious harm are not present; and
(2) Permit-required confined spaces which due to
atmospheric conditions, possible engulfment,
internal configuration, or physical hazards
pose serious threats to health or safety.
 Confined Space Inventory
 CCR Title 8, Article 108 requires employers to evaluate the
workplace to determine if any spaces are permit-required
confined spaces.
 In order to achieve compliance with Article 108, an
inventory of spaces was performed at each research and
extension center.
 Each space was evaluated to determine whether it met the
criteria of a confined space.
 Identified confined spaces were subsequently evaluated to
determine whether they fit the criteria for a permit-required
confined space.
 Confined Space Inventory (cont.)

 Permit-required and non-permit confined spaces were

designated and described for each research and extension
center.
 The inventory process was accomplished through a
cooperative effort between research and extension center
staff and OFPM personnel.
 Individual permit-required and non-permit descriptions
were compiled into confined space notebooks for each
research and extension center.
 Reclassification of Permit-Required Confined
Spaces

A permit-required confined space may be reclassified as a

non-permit confined space under the following procedures:

 If the permit-required space poses no actual or potential

atmospheric hazards and if all hazards within the space are
eliminated without entry into the space the space may be
reclassified as a non-permit confined space for as long as
the non-atmospheric hazards remain eliminated.
 The employer shall document the basis for determining
that all hazards in a permit-required confined space have
been eliminated through a certification that contains the
 Reclassification of Permit-Required Confined
Spaces (cont.)

Date, the location of the space, and the signature of the

person making the determination. The certification shall be
made available to each employee entering the space.
 OFPM and REC policy requires elimination of hazard
certifications to be reviewed and approved by OFPM prior
to reclassifying permit-required confined spaces.
 If hazards arise within a permit-required confined space
that has been reclassified as a non-permit confined space,
each employee in the space shall exit the space.
Confined Space Policies And Procedures

 OFPM and research and extension center policy prohibits

employees from entering permit-required confined
spaces.
 Entry into permit-required confined spaces is restricted to
personnel working for qualified contractors who are
following an approved written permit space program.
 Permit-required confined spaces are to be secured at all
times to prevent unauthorized entry.
 Permit-required confined spaces are to be posted at all
times with danger signs that read “DANGER - PERMIT-
REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE, DO NOT ENTER”
Confined Space Policies And Procedures
(cont.)
 OFPM and research and extension center policy requires
air quality monitoring to be performed in non-permit
confined spaces where air circulation may be poor.
 Non-permit confined spaces requiring air monitoring are
identified in the research and extension center confined
space notebooks.
 Employee entry is not restricted for non-permit confined
spaces where air circulation is not poor. However,
employees are encouraged to exercise common sense
when entering these spaces.
 Air Quality Monitoring
 Air monitoring will be performed with a Gas Baron
oxygen deficiency meter.
 The oxygen meter will be introduced into the non-permit
confined space without the employee entering the space.
 A minimum of three instrument readings will be obtained
from the lower, middle, and upper thirds of the space.
 Air monitoring data will be recorded on the Air Quality
Monitoring Form.
 If the air quality of a non-permit confined space is
measured to be unsuitable for breathing (less than 19.5%
oxygen) then the space will be redesignated a permit-
required confined space.
 Air Quality Monitoring Form

Example of Form:
Confined First Second Third Additional Additional Monitoring
Space Oxygen Oxygen Oxygen Oxygen Oxygen Employee
Date Number Reading Reading Reading Reading Reading Signature
 Air Quality Monitoring

Air Quality Monitoring Location Schematic:

Confine d S pac e Program - Attac hme nt B
ADMINIS TRATIVE GUIDE XII. P.-0 4 -1 5 -9 9

AIR QUALITY MONITORING S CHEMATIC

N. T. S .

AIR MONITORING LOCATION 1

AIR MONITORING LOCATION 2

AIR MONITORING LOCATION 3

AIR MONITORING LOCATION 1

STANDPIPE
AIR MONITORING LOCATION 2

AIR MONITORING LOCATION 3

For vaults and standpipes:

VAULT
Air monitoring is to be conducted at three (3)
locations:
1. Upper third
2. Middle third
3. Lower third of the structure
Pa ge
 CONFINED SPACE INVENTORY

RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER

Confined Space Number:

Location:
Description of Space:
Dimensions of Space:
Volume of Space:
Atmospheric Hazard:
Physical Hazard:
Unusual Hazards:
Orientation:
Number of Entry Points:
Reason for Entry:
Entrant:
Frequency of Entry:
Entry Permit Required:
Entry Precautions Necessary:
Comments:
Surveyed By:
Date Added:

PICTURE INSERTED HERE

The End