Definition of a Hazardous Atmosphere – Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH)
Blog Post #13 – In this post to The Confined Space Training Blog, we will examine the fifth and final category listed in the Federal OSHA definition for a hazardous atmosphere in a confined space, which is an atmosphere that is Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health, or IDLH. What Does IDLH Mean? IDLH stands for “Immediately dangerous to life or health”. This term is defined in the Federal OSHA confined space standards as “any condition that would interfere with an individual’s ability to escape unaided from a permit space and that poses a threat to life, or that would ...
Confined Space Engulfment Hazards
Blog Post #14 – In this post to The Confined Space Training Blog, we will examine another reason a confined space identified at your workplace should be classified as a permit-required confined space. And that is when a confined space contains a liquid or material that could potentially engulf the entrant. The Federal OSHA definition of engulfment can be found in 1910.146 paragraph B, and includes confined spaces where the entrant could suddenly be surrounded or captured by liquid, trapped inside the space, and drown in the liquid. Engulfment by liquid could occur in sanitary and storm sewers, as well ...
Confined Space Hazards – Trapped by Inwardly Converging Walls or Floors
Blog Post #15 – In this post to The Confined Space Training Blog, we examine one more reason a confined space in the workplace must be classified as a permit-required confined space. And that is when a confined space has walls that converge inward or floors that slope downward and taper into a smaller area which could trap or asphyxiate an entrant. OSHA explains in their documentation this would occur primarily by compressing the torso of the trapped entrant, making it difficult to escape or to breath. Examples of Confined Spaces with Potential Entrapment Hazards Some examples of confined spaces ...
Permit Space Triggers – Other Recognized Serious Safety or Health Hazards
Blog Post #16 – In this post to The Confined Space Training Blog, we examine the fourth and final criteria listed in OSHA’s definition of a permit-required confined space. And that is, any confined space that contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard. OSHA Definition of Other Recognized Serious Safety or Health Hazards In the OSHA confined space standards for general industry or construction, there is no specific definition for the phrase “other recognized serious safety or health hazard.” However, in the preamble to the Confined Spaces in Construction standard, OSHA explains they are taking about “hazards that ...
OSHA Requirements for Signage and Notifications for Permit-required Confined Spaces
Blog Post #17 –The OSHA 1910 and 1926 confined space entry standard requirements address one of the employers’ first responsibilities at worksites where permit-required confined spaces are identified in the workplace; Informing affected workers and others of the existence and dangers of the permit spaces. Be aware that there are multiple ways this can, or must, be accomplished. OSHA Requirements for Signs at Permit-required Confined Spaces Paragraph 1910.146(c)(2) of the general industry standard for permit-required confined spaces and paragraph 1926.1203(b) of the confined spaces in construction standard states if the workplace contains one or more permit-required confined spaces, the employer ...
When it is Necessary to Reclassify Non-permit Confined Spaces as Permit-required Confined Spaces
Blog Post #18 – In the previous blog posts, we discussed how there are two categories of confined spaces; non-permit required confined spaces, and permit-required confined spaces. But one of the hardest things for many people to get their head around is that the classification of a confined space can change due to various factors. So, the focus of this blog post is why and when non-permit spaces must be reclassified as permit-required spaces. When Must You Reassess a Non-permit Required Confined Space? By definition, a non-permit required confined space is a space that meets all three of the elements ...
How to Reclassify a Permit Required Space to a Non-permit Space Through Hazard Isolation
Post #19 - While entry into a permit-required confined space typically requires implementation of a full permit system and program, there are some permit spaces where that may not be necessary. That is because OSHA provides special procedures to reclassify certain permit-required confined spaces temporarily to non-permit required status through hazard isolation. Those reclassification procedures are found in 1910.146, paragraph (c)(7) of the general industry confined space entry standards, and for construction work in 1926.1203(e)(1). So, what are the benefits of reclassifying a permit-required confined space to a non-permit space? By reclassifying the permit space as non-permit required under the ...
OSHA Alternate Entry Procedures for Permit-required Confined Spaces
Blog Post #20 – Some permit-required confined spaces qualify to be entered under the alternate entry procedures listed in 1910.146(c)(5) of the general industry standards for permit-required confined spaces, and in 1926.1203(e) of the confined spaces in construction standards. These procedures, which allow entry into permit spaces that contain only atmospheric hazards which the employer demonstrates can be sufficiently controlled with forced air ventilation alone, differ from those discussed in the previous blog post, which explained how and when you can temporarily reclassify a permit space to non-permit space status. The advantages to utilizing the alternate entry procedures listed in ...
