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Confined Spaces |
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Confined spaces may be encountered in virtually any occupation;
therefore, their recognition is the first step in preventing fatalities.
Since deaths in confined spaces often occur because the atmosphere is
oxygen-deficient, toxic or combustible, confined spaces that contain or have the
potential to contain a serious atmospheric hazard should be classified as
Permit-required confined spaces and should be tested
prior to entry and continually monitored. The following references aid
in recognizing and evaluating hazards and possible solutions related to
confined spaces.
- Completed Investigations. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB).
-
Valero Refinery Asphyxiation Incident Delaware City, DE, November 5, 2005
- Union
Carbide Corp. Nitrogen Asphyxiation Incident, Hahnville, LA, March 27, 1998
- Hazards of Nitrogen Asphyxiation. Safety
Bulletin No. 2003-10-B, (2003, June), 218 KB PDF,
10 pages.
- CSB Recommendations
- Confined Spaces Advisor
1.1. OSHA, (2007, March). A downloadable
version is also available. Provides an interactive
expert help for the Permit-Required Confined Spaces Standard (29 CFR
1910.146). Assists users in identifying confined spaces and deal with
permit-required confined spaces.
- Small
Business Handbook. OSHA Publication 2209-02R, (2005). Also available as a 260 KB
PDF, 56 pages.
- Working Outdoors in Warm Climates. OSHA Fact
Sheet, (2005, September), 26 KB
PDF*, 2 pages.
-
Permit-required Confined Spaces. OSHA Publication 3138-01R, (2004). Also
available as a 486 KB
PDF, 22 pages.
- Asphyxiation
Hazard in Pits: Potential Confined Space Problem. OSHA Hazard
Information Bulletin (HIB), (1996, June 13). Alerts the reader that pits may
be permit-required confined spaces which are regulated by 29 CFR
1910.146.
- Suffocation
Hazards in Flat Storage Buildings and Tanks. OSHA Hazard Information
Bulletin (HIB), (1994, December 15). Heightens awareness of the existence of
a serious engulfment (suffocation) hazard in grain handling facilities.
- NIOSH
Warns Farmers of Deadly Risk of Grain Suffocation. US Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 93-116, (1993, April 28).
Discusses cases of nine farmers that suffocated to death in stored grain
after being buried alive.
- Preventing
Deaths of Farm Workers in Manure Pits. US Department of Health and Human
Services (DHHS), National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 90-103, (1990, May). Describes seven
deaths from asphyxiation (suffocation) that occurred during two incidents
involving entry into manure pits.
- Preventing
Occupational Fatalities in Confined Spaces. US Department of Health and Human
Services (DHHS), National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 86-110, (1986, January).
- Criteria
for a Recommended Standard: Working in Confined Spaces. US Department of Health
and Human Services (DHHS), National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 80-106, (1979, December).
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Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH). Concentrates on investigations of fatal occupational injuries, causes
of death and recommendations for accident prevention. The
following worker fatal injury facts were found in occupational confined
space:
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Confined
Space Entry. US Department of Energy (DOE), Health and Safety Plan
Guidelines, Chapter 13.
Contains guidelines on establishing a site-specific confined spaces program.
- OSHA
Confined Space Entry Poster. National Ag Safety Database (NASD).
- Confined
Space Hazards a Threat to Farmers. National Ag Safety Database (NASD), (2002,
April). Discusses modern farming methods that have brought new dangers that
arise from farmers entering confined areas where oxygen levels may be
inadequate or where toxic gases are present.
- Beware
of Manure Pit Hazards. National Ag Safety Database (NASD), (2002, April).
Discusses cases that have been reported where several individuals have died
while attempting to rescue a coworker or family member from a manure pit.
- Confined
Space Entry Policy and Procedures Manual. St. Olaf College.
*These files are provided for downloading.
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