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Confined Space Entry

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26 views3 pages

Confined Space Entry

Uploaded by

pradeepapawar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CONFINED SPACE ENTRY

What is Confined Space?


An enclosure:
• Having limited or restricted means of entry and exits.
• Having unfavorable natural ventilation which could contain or produce dangerous air
contaminants.
• Not designed for continuous employee occupancy,
• Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere;
• Large enough for a person to bodily enter and perform assigned work, which may be
situated either below or above, the ground or deck level.
Examples of confined spaces:
• Process vessels, reactors, columns, Storage tanks, boilers, furnaces, Pontoons of floating
roof tanks, column skirt, chimney etc.
• Space located below ground or deck level such as pipe trenches, Excavations, sewage pits
and associated tunnels.
Why do deaths in Confined Spaces occur?
• Do not recognize a Confined Space.
• Trust their senses too much.
• Underestimate the Hazards and Risks.
• Fail to take adequate precautions.
• Fail to comply with established procedures.

• Try to rescue fellow employees.


Confined Space Hazards:
• Three major atmospheric Hazards: Oxygen deficiency, Combustibility, Toxicity.
• Physical Hazards: Poor illumination, Electrocutions, Restricted or no access, Slippery surfaces,
Noise, Heat, Low temp., Poor ventilation, Protrusions, Work at height, Poor housekeeping.
Oxygen deficiency can cause because of consumption, displacement by inert gases or
reaction with other materials.
The presence of the toxic content could be due to the original contents, residue from
cleaning and draining, leakage into confined space from pipes, drains etc., from work
conducted in confined space, Air currents and winds (exhaust fumes etc.), Natural process of
decomposition.
There is no Universal policy for assuring safe environment for person entering a confined
space. Requirement will vary depending on the equipment and material involved. However
CONFINED SPACE ENTRY
guidelines under IEPL-HSEF-2.306 (Confined Space Entry Procedure) shall be considered while
developing safe precautions.
Precautions:
• The confined space should be depressurized / drained, vented and positively isolated to make
it free of hydrocarbons. Positive isolation can be done by spading, or disconnecting or blanking
all the connected pipelines.
• Cleaning: When flammable or toxic materials exist or have been present the equipment must
be purged with an inert gas or filled water to displace the process gas. If the inert gas is lighter
process gas, the purge shall be made from top to bottom direction. Flow purging may not be
adequate for large tanks and pressure purging may be required

• Electrical Isolation – All electrical equipment’s and power drives shall be properly de-energized
and lock out tag out in accordance with Electrical lock out / Tag out requirements. Flywheels
and reciprocating equipment must be pinned and locked or otherwise physically restrained to
prevent motion.
• Ventilate confined space to maintain a low level of airborne toxic or flammable concentration.
Ventilation air supply must be from fresh air, uncontaminated with flammables, toxins, etc.
Use Mechanical ventilation. Air movers, blowers and fan must be intrinsically safe and
electrically bonded and grounded to prevent accumulation and discharge of static charge.
• Gas Testing: Ventilation shall be stopped at least 15 minutes prior to start of conducting the
gas test. Use calibrated meters only.
• The expected gas test results for allowing confined space entry without breathing apparatus:
• Oxygen content - 20-20.9 %v
• Hydrocarbon Content (LFL) - less than or equal to 1%
• Toxic vapor - < 50 % of TLV-TWA
• Always test the air at various levels to be sure that the entire space is safe. Good air near the
opening does NOT mean there is good air at the bottom!
• Any time a limit is exceeded, no matter what the reason, all personnel shall immediately exit
the space, and no others shall enter until atmospheric conditions are returned to safe levels.
• Suitable breathing apparatus, resuscitator, safety harness, safety torches, ropes etc. should be
kept ready near the confined space for emergency use.
• A trained standby person shall be deputed while person are working inside confined space.
• Initial entry should be within 30 minutes of gas test, otherwise perform gas test again.
Atmosphere Testing shall be performed prior to every entry when the space is vacant

• Only lighting or other electrical equipment meeting area classification, operating up to a


Maximum voltage of 24 volts. Use of 110 Volt equipment may be considered if GFLI, which is
to be inspected before start of work.
CONFINED SPACE ENTRY
• The persons entering and coming out from confined spaces shall log in their names in the
checklist available with the standby person.
• Periodic gas test shall be carried out. Record shall be maintained. It is recommended that
confined space shall be continuously monitored.
• Continuous fresh air ventilation shall be provided, which can be achieved by air eductors / air
blowers. Utility air hoses shall be used for ventilating confined spaces.
• Use of pneumatic tools should be allowed only if breathing air is used.
• The temperature inside the confined space should be very near ambient.
• The number of persons permitted to enter the confined space should be kept to the minimum,
as dictated by the available space, number of escape routes and rescue facilities.
• A rescue plan shall be made for all the confined spaces.
• The attendant / standby person should never attempt to enter the confined space for rescue
purpose. Approximately 60% of all Confined Space Fatalities Occurred were Rescuers!!
• Should conditions develop which require extrication, and the entrant cannot get out of the
confined space on their own, the attendant must call for emergency assistance!

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