Office of Security, Safety and Risk Management

1.1

The confined space entry procedure is to be used for workers entering confined spaces for maintenance, cleaning, and other service.

2.1

The confined space entry procedure specifies steps to be followed in locking out mechanical and electrical connections to confined spaces, disconnecting and blocking piping to tanks, pre-cleaning, pre-testing of confined space atmosphere, permit requirements, safety equipment and tools, emergency rescue procedures, and record keeping.

3.1

This procedure is to be used for the entry into hot water tanks, steam manholes, electrical manholes, telephone manholes, computer cable manholes, steam tunnels, sewer manholes, boilers fire side, boiler steam drums, boiler mud drums, cold water tanks, air handlers, duct work and any vessel or confined space that a person could enter.

4.1.1 

Denison University policy states that each worker is held responsible for the safety of his/her actions. This procedure is no excuse for unsafe action on the part of any worker. If questions of safety arise, the worker and supervisor need to communicate and resolve them before proceeding.

4.1.2 

There is a high degree of hazard in work involving confined space entry. Supervisory training and worker training on an annual basis are required prior to engaging in this work. Permits are required for each confined space entry. Testing is required prior to each confined space entry.

4.1.3 

Denison University physical plant will coordinate training and arrange annual reviews of the procedure.

4.1.4

Denison University physical plant will issue a confined space entry permits after completion of lock out and pipe disconnections, to maintain records of all confined space entries, and to inspect tools to be used.

4.1.5

Denison University physical plant will arrange testing atmosphere of each confined space prior to entry.

4.1.6

Two trained supervisors’ signatures are required to approve each worker entry into a vessel after pre-cleaning and to inspect safety equipment to be used.

4.2.1 

All employees, without exception, are collectively responsible for ensuring that work done in their departments or trades involving confined space entry is performed in a safe manner and that this procedure is followed.

4.2.2 

All employees, without exception, are collectively responsible for ensuring that work done in their departments or trades involving confined space entry is performed in a safe manner and that this procedure is followed.

4.2.3 

If work continuance poses an immediate danger to an employee, the trained observer shall stop the work immediately until all unsafe conditions are corrected, and report the incident to any supervisor or the chief of campus security and safety.

5.1.1

The lock-out procedure is a procedure to provide, as far as mechanically and procedurally possible, for the safety of those workers whose function is the maintenance, set up or service of equipment by ensuring that all energy sources are neutralized and made inoperative before any maintenance, set up or service work is performed.

5.2.1 

Pipelines, hoses, stack connections and ducts must be disconnected and solidly blanked, capped or valves locked closed to insure that no hazardous material can enter the space. Maintenance supervisor, all who will enter the space and their supervision will visually check the disconnections, blanks, caps or valves locked closed and then attach to each their personally signed "Danger- Do Not Operate" tags. A list of disconnections, blanks, caps or valves that are locked open must be attached
to the confined space entry permit (6.3). Each person will remove his/her personal tag when his/her work in the space is finished. Maintenance supervisor's tags are the last to be removed.

5.3.1 

The space shall be cleaned as well as practical, prior to entry, by draining, washing, purging or neutralizing as required.     If it is necessary to enter the space to effect cleaning, the air in the space must be tested for toxic materials, flammable vapors and oxygen concentration prior to entry. Also appropriate protective clothing and equipment including air devices, must be used in the space.

5.4.1 

The confined space atmosphere must be tested, at several locations, for toxic materials, explosive fumes and oxygen concentration before space entry is permitted. The person making a test must be protected from suspected hazards. These tests should be made no more than thirty minutes before the initial entry and repeated as indicated by conditions in the space and its surrounding environment. Attach the results of these tests to the confined entry permit. Forced ventilation shall be provided where possible and continued as long as any one is inside the space.

5.4.2

Testing for toxic materials - when the presence of toxic materials is known or suspected, entry will not be permitted until its presence or absence is confirmed. If present, its concentration shall be determined by means of a suitable analyzer. If the airborne concentration exceeds the exposure limit (tlv, permissible exposure limit, or allowable exposure limit) and cannot practicably be reduced, entry will not be permitted unless those entering wear proper protective equipment including air    supply masks.

5.4.3

Testing for explosive atmosphere - an explosion meter shall be used to test the space's atmosphere for the presence of    explosive vapors. If the meter indicates more than 0%, the source of the flammable vapor shall be identified and removed, if possible if the flammable vapor source cannot be removed, personnel shall evaluate the degree of hazard and the need for additional precautions and then allow entry only after determining that work can proceed safely. In no case shall entry be permitted if the meter indicates as much as 25% of the lower explosive limit.

5.4.4

Testing for oxygen content - an oxygen meter shall be used to determine the oxygen concentration in the space atmosphere. Concentrations from 20.8% to 22.0% oxygen are considered acceptable for entering the space    without wearing an air-supplied breathing device, provided other conditions are acceptable. If the oxygen concentration is outside the 20.8% to 22.0% range, do not enter the vessel without wearing an air supplied mask. Below 20.8% oxygen the danger is encountering hypoxia. Above 22.0% oxygen the danger is encountering the equivalent of hyperventilation.

5.5.1 

Depending on the particular job to be done, consideration should be given to other needs such as:

1. Special clothing - flame retardant, chemical resistant suits, boots, special gloves, goggles, etc.
2. Access into space - size of opening, ladder, platform, etc.
3. Footing inside - smooth linings; curved surfaces; use of scaffolds, special non-slip mats, or special footwear.  Consider protection of the lining as well as safety of personnel.
4. Cooling - forced air.
5. Fire extinguishers - type, size, number and location.

6.1

No One May Enter a Space Until a Confined Space Entry Permit, 6.3, Has Been Prepared and Has Been Authorized by the Maintenance Supervisor.

1. Other supervisory signatures - the permit must be signed by two trained supervisors, one of whom is the direct supervisor for the employee(s) entering the space.
2. Signature of persons entering the space - each person who intends to enter the space must:
3.  
1. Obtain authorization from his/her immediate supervisor.
2. Read and understand the confined space permit.
3. Tag as required by this procedure.
4. Wear the required personal protective equipment.
5. Sign the confined space entry permit. Obtain authorization from his/her immediate supervisor.

6.2

The confined space entry permit is automatically voided at the end of each shift or by the appearance of a new hazard. Personnel shall leave the confined space if a new hazard appears.

6.3

Confined Space Entry Form

7.1

Safety equipment - Safety equipment required for the job must be indicated on the confined space entry permit check list. Before entry can proceed, the equipment must be at the space for each person who is to enter and for each standby person. 

7.2

Tools

8.1

Standby person - Since rescue of personnel inside the confined space may become necessary, sufficient manpower and rescue equipment shall be kept available outside the space. At least one standby person, physically capable of   rescuing personnel if the need arises, shall remain at   the entry point. This person must be equipped with the same protective clothing and equipment as those who enter the space, if the size of the space permits. The standby person will:

1. Remain at the entry point as long as anyone is in the space.
2.  Wear safety harness and have a horn, air-supplied mask, and special "v" -shaped lifeline available and ready for use.
3. Know who is in the space at all times. Confirm frequently that each is all right. Alert them to any hazards. Prevent fouling of air hoses and lifelines.
4. Assist in handling materials, tools and messages.
5. In case of emergency, use the horn to summon help or alert personnel in the space. Use the radio to call physical plant and have them call 911. Be prepared to enter the tank wearing the proper protective equipment, but do not enter the space until help arrives. Do not allow anyone to enter the space to affect a rescue unless they are wearing the necessary personal protective equipment.

8.2

Other Personnel -
Any employee that can hear the horn must call physical plant on a radio a signal 91 immediately. Physical plant when they hear signal 91 must immediately call 911. If employee does not have a radio used nearest telephone to call 911 and then the physical plant. The physical plant will notify all personnel carrying pagers that there is a signal 91 and the location.

9.1

The maintenance supervisor will review all completed confined space entry permits. Any failures of safety equipment, injuries, incomplete confined space entry permits, new hazards or reported violations of this procedure will be reviewed by the maintenance supervisor with Denison university chief of campus security and safety with in three (3) days.

9.2

All properly conducted confined entries will be reported to the physical plant director, and the chief of campus security and safety.