Confined Space Awareness and Compliance: Safe Work Practices for Confined Space Entry

The hazards of confined spaces are not new, yet every year fatalities and injuries occur among workers who, during their jobs, are required to enter confined spaces. Entry into confined spaces may be for maintenance, repair, or statutory inspections. Accidents occur because of the inherent hazards or the induced hazards of wrong decisions. Personnel may have been insufficiently trained or have had their awareness blunted by experience.

At the end of this course the participants will be able to:

• Become familiar with OSHA and Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 Approved Code of Practice, HSE
• Become familiar with the hazards of a confined space.
• Take all the necessary precautions before entering.
• Maintain the confined space as a safe place to work.

Content

Introduction, Definitions & Risk Assessment:

• Introduction
• Definitions - OSHA Terminology
• Risk Assessment
• Reading PIDs
• Work Permit Systems
• Contractors

Occupational Health Hazards in Confined Spaces:

• Occupational Health Hazards
• Chemical substances Hazards
• Physical Hazards
• H2S and Pyrophoric iron
• Washing and Changing Facilities
• Contaminated Areas and Control

Atmospheric Testing, Cleaning and Emergency Arrangements:

• Atmosphere Testing
• Cleaning of Confined spaces before entry
• Gas freeing of Tanks, Vessels - Use and hazards of Steam water inert gas and chemicals
• Isolation - Positive Isolation, Lockout / Tag Out, Maintaining Isolation
• Personnel Training and Duties
• Rescue Arrangements

PPE, Common Tasks, and Maintaining Safety:

• PPE Requirements
• Entry with Breathing Apparatus / Entry without Breathing Apparatus
• Ventilation & Lighting
• Common Maintenance task and problems in confined spaces – Furnaces, Vessels, Tanks
• Check Lists
• Boxing Up, Hand Over and De-Isolation

For Whom

Safety Personnel, Planning Engineers, Entry Supervisors and Authorized Entrants

Training Methodology

The training methodology combines lectures, discussions, group exercises and illustrations. Participants will gain both theoretical and practical knowledge of the topics. The emphasis is on the practical application of the topics and as a result participant will go back to the workplace with both the ability and the confidence to apply the techniques learned to their duties