CONFINED SPACES

Date:

Job Name:

If you have any
questions or
concerns about
confined space
entry, check
with the Safety
Department.

Supervisor Signature:

Primary Potential Health & Physical Hazards

• Insufficient Oxygen - Asphyxiation - Suffocation
• Toxic Air Contaminants - Impairment - Incapacitation - Death
• Flammable Gases & Vapors - Fires & Explosions

Primary Exposures for Mechanical Construction Workers

• Entry into pipelines, ductwork, equipment housings, boilers, manholes,
  sewers, vaults, tunnels, shafts, vessels, pits, tanks, etc. that have limited
  or restricted means for entry or exit, and are not designed for continuous
  human occupancy
• Hot work inside a confined space that could change what would otherwise
  be acceptable atmospheric conditions to hazardous atmospheric conditions

Common Hazardous Gases/Issues in Mechanical Construction

• Oxygen — Levels in confined spaces must be between 19.5% and 23.5%. Levels
  below 19.5% can lead to immediate organ damage and ultimately death. Levels
  that are too high can make the space more susceptible to fires and explosions.
• Methane — Is highly flammable (it is the main constituent of natural gas).
  Methane is not considered to be toxic. However, it can displace oxygen in the
  lungs leading to asphyxiation and suffocation.
• Carbon Monoxide — Prevents efficient exchange of oxygen in the circulatory
  system and can be fatal.
• Hydrogen Sulfide — Is highly flammable, and is considered a toxic substance. It is
  an irritant that can cause respiratory failure over time if it goes undetected.

Safe Work Practices

• Never enter any confined space until you have the appropriate confined
  space entry safety training. Before entering any confined space, make sure
  the Competent Person has tested the atmospheric conditions inside the
  space and informed you that it is safe to enter.
• Treat every confined space as a Permit-Required space unless your
  company’s designated Competent Person and Entry Supervisor reclassify
  the space as Non-Permit Required.
• Once you enter the space, continuously monitor the atmosphere inside for
  changes that could render the space unsafe.
• Use monitoring equipment with built-in hazard detection alarms. If an
  alarm sound, exit the space immediately and do not re-enter until the
  Competent Person informs you that it is safe to do so.

Vol.25 | No.04 | Week of 01-27-25

MEETING ATTENDEES