(A) Identification and evaluation. Survey the area where work is to be conducted to identify confined spaces. Any time a person is not certain about an area, he or she shall contact his or her supervisor prior to entry.
(B) Before entry.
(1) Determine that entry is absolutely necessary to perform his or her work;
(2) (a) An employee attempting to do the work shall be trained for confined space work and hazards involved; also in the proper use and selection of personal protective equipment, and the proper use of air monitoring devices.
(b) Any area meeting the above criteria determined to be a confined space shall be provided with forced air ventilation prior to entry and while occupied by employee. Some specific types of spaces are sewers, pipes, utility vaults, life stations, manholes and wet wells.
(c) Potential hazards such as energy sources shall be eliminated and confined space shall be isolated by recognized engineering practices, such as lock out-tag out, blinding-blanking, double block and bleed and the like.
(d) Atmospheric condition of confined spaces shall be tested to be certain that the oxygen level is at least 19.5%, but not greater than 23.5%. There is a hydrogen sulfide level of less than ten parts per million. There is a combustible gas/vapor mixture of less than 10% of the LEL/LFL and that no other hazardous chemicals are present.
(3) No employee shall enter a confined space without an attendant on standby immediately outside of confined space who shall remain in constant communication with occupant. The attendant shall not attempt rescue by entering confined space unless he or she has been properly trained and provided with the proper personal protective equipment and then only after additional rescue operations have been contacted.
(C) While employee is occupying confined space.
(1) Forced-air ventilation shall be provided to confined space.
(2) The employee shall monitor air quality in confined space continuously. If air levels fall outside limits, stated in division (B)(2) above, the employee shall vacate confined space immediately.
(3) An employee occupying confined space shall remain in constant communication with outside attendant.
(4) Hot work shall not be performed within a confined space without taking proper precautions and approval of the employee’s supervisor.
(D) Training requirements.
(1) In general, all persons responsible for supervising, planning, entering or participating in confined space entry and rescue shall be adequately trained in their functional duties prior to any confined space entry. All training shall be performed by a qualified person and shall include the following:
(a) An explanation of the general hazards associated with confined spaces;
(b) Discussion of specific hazards associated with the facility, location or operation;
(c) The reason for, proper use and limitations of personal protective equipment and other safety equipment required for entry into confined space; how to respond to emergencies;
(d) Duties and responsibilities cf individual employees entering into confined spaces; and
(e) A description of how to recognize probable air contaminant overexposure symptoms to themselves and co-workers, and method(s) for alerting attendants.
(2) Each employee using atmospheric monitoring equipment shall be trained in the proper use of the equipment including the following:
(a) Field calibration of the equipment;
(b) Basic to knowledge of the work being performed;
(c) The anticipated hazardous contaminants; and
(d) Any process which could significantly alter original conditions inside or outside the confined space.
(3) Each employee acting in the role of attendant shall be trained in the following:
(a) Summoning rescue or other emergency services; and
(b) The proper use of equipment used for communicating with entry and emergency/rescue personnel.
(4) All employees acting in the role of emergency rescue shall be trained in the following:
(a) The rescue plan and procedures developed for each type of confined space they are anticipated to encounter;
(b) The use of emergency rescue equipment;
(c) First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques; and
(d) Work location and confined space configuration to minimize response time.
(5) The employer shall deep up-to-date accurate records of all training and shall also do the following:
(a) Annually have a qualified person evaluate the confined space entry program to determine its effectiveness; and
(b) Repeat training at least annually to maintain an acceptable level of personnel conscience.
(Ord. passed - -)