Contents |
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Page last reviewed: 08/14/2007
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Highlights |
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- OSHA Alert: Loss of Start-Up Oxygen in CSE SR-100 Self-Contained Self-Rescuers [2 MB PDF*, 2 pages]. (2012, April). Alerts employers and workers using the CSE Corporation’s SR-100 Self-Contained Self-Rescuer (SCSR) to potential failure problems with these respirators.
- Permit-Required Confined Spaces in General Industry [53 KB PDF*, 2 pages]. OSHA QuickCard. Explains what workers should do before entering a confined space, such as an underground vaults, tanks, storage bins, silos or manholes.
- Confined Spaces in Construction; Proposed Rule. OSHA Federal Register Proposed Rules
72:67351-67425, (2007, November 28). OSHA is proposing a rule to protect employees from the hazards resulting from exposure
to confined spaces in the construction industry.
- Shipyard
Employment. OSHA eTool. Confined and enclosed space
operations have a greater likelihood of causing fatalities, severe injuries,
and illnesses than any other type of shipyard work.
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Confined Spaces
Many workplaces contain
spaces that are considered "confined" because their configurations
hinder the activities of employees who must enter, work in, and exit them.
A confined space has limited or restricted means for entry or exit, and it is not designed for continuous employee
occupancy. Confined spaces include, but are not limited to underground vaults,
tanks, storage bins, manholes, pits, silos, process vessels, and pipelines. OSHA
uses the term "permit-required confined space" (permit space) to describe a
confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics: contains
or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere; contains a material that
has the potential to engulf an entrant; has walls that converge inward or floors
that slope downward and taper into a smaller area which could trap or asphyxiate
an entrant; or contains any other recognized safety or health hazard, such as
unguarded machinery, exposed live wires, or heat stress.
Confined space hazards are addressed in specific
standards for the general industry and shipyard employment.
Standards
This section
highlights OSHA standards, directives (instructions for compliance officers), standard interpretations (official letters of interpretation of
the standards), and national consensus standards related to confined spaces.
OSHA
Note:
Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved
State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement
policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are
identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different
standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement
policies.
General Industry (29 CFR 1910)
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1910 Subpart H, Hazardous materials,
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1910.124, General requirements for dipping and coating operations
- 1910 Subpart
J, General environmental controls
- 1910.146,
Permit-required confined spaces
-
Appendix A, Permit-required confined space decision flow chart
- Appendix B, Procedures for
atmospheric testing
- Appendix C, Examples of
permit-required confined space programs
- Appendix D, Confined
space pre-entry check list
- Appendix E, Sewer
system entry
- Appendix F, Rescue
team or rescue service evaluation criteria (Non-mandatory)
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1910 Subpart Q, Welding, cutting, and brazing
-
1910 Subpart R, Special industries
Shipyard Employment (29
CFR 1915)
- 1915
Subpart B, Confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres
in shipyard employment
- 1915.11,
Scope, application, and definitions applicable to this subpart
- 1915.12,
Precautions and the order of testing before entering confined and
enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres
- 1915.13,
Cleaning and other cold work
- 1915.14,
Hot work
- 1915.15,
Maintenance of safe conditions
- 1915.16,
Warning signs and labels
- Appendix A, Compliance
assistance guidelines for confined and enclosed spaces and other
dangerous atmospheres
- Appendix B, Reprint of
US coast guard regulations referenced
in Subpart B, for determination of Coast Guard authorized persons
Directives
Standard Interpretations
National Consensus
Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However,
they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to
worker protection.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/American
Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)
- Z117.1 - 2003, Safety Requirements for Confined Spaces
Construction
For information related to construction, see OSHA's Confined Spaces - Construction page.
Hazards and Solutions
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.
- Safe Tank Entry: When Entering Aboveground Storage Tanks [191 KB PDF*, 4 pages]. OSHA and the OSHA Safe Tank and Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association (ILMA) Alliances, (2008, July). Includes information on how to prevent confined space entry-related injuries when working in aboveground storage tanks.
- 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.
- Permit-required Confined Spaces. OSHA Quick Card 3214-10N-05, (2006). A Spanish version is also available.
- Procedures for Atmospheric Testing in Confined Spaces [21 KB PDF*, 2 pages]. OSHA Fact Sheet, (2005, September).
- Working Outdoors in Warm Climates [74 KB
PDF*, 2 pages]. OSHA Fact
Sheet, (2005, September).
- Small
Business Handbook. OSHA Publication 2209-02R, (2005). Also available as a 587 KB PDF, 56 pages.
- Permit-required Confined Spaces. OSHA Publication 3138-01R, (2004). Also
available as a 665 KB PDF, 23 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.
- Confined Space Entry on Drilling Rigs. OSHA Hazard
Information Bulletin (HIB), (1990, May 30).
- Hurricane Preparedness and Response. OSHA. Includes information such as news releases, public service announcements, fact sheets, frequently asked questions, and more.
- Confined Spaces. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Workplace Safety and Health Topic.
- 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).
- 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:
- Completed Investigations. U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB).
- 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.
Additional Information
Training
- Small
Business Handbook. OSHA Publication 2209-02R, (2005). Also
available as a 587 KB PDF,
56 pages. Contains basic information about occupational safety and
health, with specific focus on the needs of small business.
- Confined Spaces. National Ag Safety Database (NASD). Provides
a linked reference to several videos relating to confined space entry.
Other Resources
- ANSI Z117.1 Committee. American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE).
Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management at (202) 693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF materials.
*These files are provided for downloading.
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