New to site - Confined Space Awareness

[hbyerle]

Can anybody tell me what the minimum training requirements are for Confined Space? We direct our employees not to enter PRCS, however, what should I include in the awareness training?

[Safety Barista]

Hi

Welcome to the Safety Cafe hbyerle!

I moved your post to this section - Confined Spaces fall under Hazardous Environments
Please write an introductory post in the 'Introductions' section. We would like to get to know you!

[safetyguy]

Hello,
To answer your question on confined space training;
1. Look in 29CFR 1910.146, it contains most items that cover the training for confined spaces but look out for-
2. the General Duty Clause section 5 (a)(1) which is the catch all for the OSHA program that will be exercised if your safety plan is not strong enough to cover the operation in question.
There are also several other areas that touch on confined space requirements but most are covered in the 146 section listed above. The minimums would be considered to be whatever will protect the employee during a specific operation or job that is being tasked, if the training fails and an incident occures even though all areas of 146 were covered then look out for The General Duty Clause to be applied.
Simply add Common Sense to 146 and go Above and Beyond the regular safety checklist and always look for input from the workers. 29CFR 1910.120(e) also covers training requirements you may want to use, this article is probably the most helpful for you. Read from (e) (1) to the end of (e). This also informs you on exactly whom may train these workers and how much training the trainer needs to perform this function. I hope this helps you out. Remember this section was written to cover workers that work in Hazardous Materials and may need some revision to cover other applications.

Good Luck
Les Powell

[Ohalim]

Hi, The reference quoted CFR/OSHA is a good place to look for details and in addition of that for quick reference following areas should be in the list of actions;

1. Risk Assessment / JSA
2. Permit to work.
3. Awareness to possible hazards associated with the scope of job; pyrophoric substances.
4. Atmosphere pre-entry checks with digital multi gas detectors or sometimes by dragger tubes (only when you know exactly what possible vapours can be encountered; mercury
5. One of the most important task is "Responsibilities" of a standby person and his actions, because lives of personnel depending upon him.
6. Also when the spaces are not in use there should be a sign board "Restricted Access", there are some industry reports where even in small heat exchanger person poked in but totally unware with the presence of N2 purging as no sign was dispalyed.
7. Entry & exit control checlist.
8. Rescue Plan and how many personnel are allowed to work inside.......
9. Use of low voltage inside; 50 v.
10. Acoustic noise levels if there is a grinding,....jobs
11. Heat / cold factors, AC units will help to control the temperatures.

Hopefully these details will help you in preparing your tasks.


Regards,
Omer Qureshi
Safety Specialist