Rog-Hse-Pro-012, Confined Space Entry Procedure

Document No: ROG-HSE-PRO-012
CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROCEDURE

PURPOSE
The purpose of this safety procedure is to protect employees who enter confined spaces.
Scope and Applicability
A confined area or space is one which by design has limited openings for entry and exit, which
has unfavorable natural ventilation which could contain or produce dangerous air contaminants,
and which is not intended for continuous employee occupancy. Confined spaces can present
dangerous hazards to employees who perform work activities in them.
This safety procedure provides guidelines for entry into confined spaces to protect employees
who work in them. This safety procedure presents details on the hazards of confined spaces and
on identifying confined spaces. Additionally, it presents discussion on evaluating confined
spaces and the requirements for permit-required confined space entry.
This document applies to any operation that requires the company employees or contractors to
enter or work inside any existing tank, tank car, tower, sewer, manhole, sump, vault, vat, process
vessel, pit, tunnel, or similar confined spaces.
DEFINITIONS
Attendant
Person who remains outside the permitted space while the work is being done.
Confined Space
A confined space by design has limited openings for entry and exit, may lack adequate
ventilation, and may contain or produce dangerous air contamination.
Entrant
A employee who is authorized by the employer to enter a permitted space.
Entry Permit
A written document that is provided by the employer to allow and control entry into a permit
required space.
Entry Supervisor
The person responsible for determining if acceptable entry conditions are present at a permit
space where entry is planned, for authorizing entry and overseeing entry operations, and for
terminating entry as required.
Revision: 00 Issued: 18.06.2010


Hot Work Permits
A permit allowing employees to perform work involving welding, cutting, or any task that would
deplete oxygen, create toxic fumes and vapors, or create the potential for fire or explosion.
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL)
The minimum concentration of a combustible/flammable gas or vapor in air which will ignite if
an ignition source is present.
Oxygen Deficiency
An atmosphere containing oxygen at a concentration of less than 19.5% by volume as measured

by an oxygen measuring device.
Oxygen Maximum
An atmosphere containing oxygen at a concentration of more than 23.5% by volume as measured

by an oxygen measuring device.
Qualified Person
A person who has been trained and authorized to perform atmospheric testing.
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL)
The maximum concentration of a combustible/flammable gas or vapor in air before its saturation
point which will ignite if an ignition source is present.
A confined space is one that:
 Is large enough for a person to enter and perform assigned work

 Has entry and exit openings that may be limited in size and/or number
 Is not intended for continuous human occupancy.
Confined spaces in NCDOT can include any existing tank, tank car, tower, sewer, manhole,
sump, vault, vat, grease pit, tunnel, or other similar confined spaces.
Hazards of Confined Spaces
Confined spaces present many hazards to employees due to the nature of the space’s shape, size,
lack of ventilation, proximity to toxic gases, and other contributing substances. Potential
confined space hazards include hazardous atmospheres, and general safety hazards.
Hazardous atmospheres expose employees to risks of death, incapacitation, injury, or acute

illness. These hazardous atmospheres include:
 A flammable gas, vapor, or mist in excess of ten percent of its lower explosive limit
(LEL)
 An airborne combustible dust at a concentration that obscures vision at a distance of five
feet or less
 An atmospheric oxygen concentration below 19.5 percent or above 23.5 percent

 An atmospheric concentration of any substance which could result in employee exposure

in excess of its permissible limit(s)
 Any atmospheric condition recognized as immediately dangerous to life or health.
General safety hazards include but are not limited to:
 Physical hazards
 Structural hazards
 Electrical hazards
 Mechanical hazards
 Biological hazards
 Radiation hazards.
Physical hazards include non-chemical, physiologic stressors and include noise, vibration,
slick/wet surfaces, falling objects, temperature extremes, employee fatigue, and engulfment.
Structural hazards include confined space areas that may contain structural defects.
Electrical hazards include shock, burns, and/or electrocution due to exposed or ungrounded
electrical energy sources.
Mechanical hazards include any inadvertent mechanical movement of or within a confined space
that threatens the safety of the employee working in the confined space.
Biological hazards include bacterial action that can consume oxygen to produce carbon monoxide
or emit hydrogen sulfide or methane.
Radiation hazards include those sources that can inadvertently expose employees to dangerous
levels of radiation.
Once all permit-required confined spaces have been identified, no employee can enter that space
until several requirements are met. These requirements include:
 Establishing a permit system

 Conducting pre-entry atmospheric testing
 Isolating energy sources (lockout/tagout)
 Ventilating and cleaning the confined space
 Posting permit-required confined spaces with warning signs
 Having appropriate PPE
 Having appropriate tools in place
 Having attendants in place
 Having rescue teams in place
 Having provisions for contractor compliance with these requirements.

Rog-Hse-Pro-012, Confined Space Entry Procedure

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Rog-Hse-Pro-012, Confined Space Entry Procedure

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Rog-Hse-Pro-012, Confined Space Entry Procedure

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

What are some of the potential hazards of confined spaces?

What are some of the potential hazards of confined spaces?

What are the requirements for entering a permit-required confined space?

What are the requirements for entering a permit-required confined space?

Document No: ROG-HSE-PRO-012

CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROCEDURE

Scope and Applicability

A employee who is authorized by the employer to enter a permitted space.

Revision: 00 Issued: 18.06.2010

Revision: 00 Issued: 18.06.2010

Hot Work Permits

Lower Explosive Limit (LEL)

An atmosphere containing oxygen at a concentration of less than 19.5% by volume as measured

An atmosphere containing oxygen at a concentration of more than 23.5% by volume as measured

Upper Explosive Limit (UEL)

A confined space is one that:

 Is large enough for a person to enter and perform assigned work

Hazards of Confined Spaces

Hazardous atmospheres expose employees to risks of death, incapacitation, injury, or acute

Revision: 00 Issued: 18.06.2010

 An atmospheric concentration of any substance which could result in employee exposure

General safety hazards include but are not limited to:

 Establishing a permit system

Revision: 00 Issued: 18.06.2010

You might also like