WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY

CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROGRAM

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 1
  2. SCOPE ............................................................................................................... 1

III. DEFINITIONS .....................................................................................................2

  1. NON-PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE .....................................................5
  2. PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE SYSTEM .................................................5
  3. RESPONSIBILITIES .............................................................................................5

VII. ENTRY PREPARATION PROCEDURES FOR PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED

SPACES ...................................................................................................................8

VIII. TRAINING ......................................................................................................10

  1. EQUIPMENT …………………………………………………………………………...…………….…...11
  2. RESCUE ............................................................................................................ 11
  3. CONTRACTORS ............................................................................................... 11

XII. PROGRAM REVIEW………………………………………………….....................................12

XIII. PERMITS……………………………………………………………….......................................13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROGRAM

  1.  INTRODUCTION

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has established a specific rule regarding confined spaces found at 29 CFR 1910.146, Permit-Required Confined Spaces. This program has been developed in accordance with this standard.

  1. SCOPE

This confined space entry program is designed to reduce the possibility of worker injury and/or damage to the Wichita State University (WSU) and all ancillary campus locations, and property resulting from accidents associated with confined space work. No WSU employee shall perform work in permit-required confined spaces without prior approval of the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) department.

III.     DEFINITIONS

  1.         Attendant: An employee designated to remain outside the permit space who monitors the

                    authorized entrants and performs all attendant’s duties assigned in this program.

  1.         Atmospheric Testing Equipment: Equipment used to monitor levels of oxygen, flammable,

                    combustible and toxic gases prior to and periodically during work in a confined space.

  1.         Authorized Entrant: A person who is approved or assigned by the department head in

                    charge of the entry to perform a specific duty or duties.

  1.         Authorizing Supervisor: A person who is in charge of a confined space entry onsite with

                    knowledge of the process, hazards, and entry procedures.

  1.   Confined Space: A space that:
  2.         is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform

                                 assigned work;

  1.          has limited or restricted means for entry or exit (for example, tanks, vessels, silos,

                                 storage bins, vaults, and pits are spaces that may have limited means of entry); and

  1.        is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.

 

  1. Confined Space with No Entry Allowed: A confined space that, due to limitations

                  (equipment and/or rescue capabilities), no WSU employee is allowed entry into these spaces.

                  If entry into one of these spaces is required for maintenance or repair activities, a competent

                  contractor experienced in confined space entry shall be used to perform such activities.

  1. Emergency: Any occurrence (including any failure of hazard control or monitoring

                  equipment) or event internal or external to the permit space that could endanger entrants to

                  the confined space.

  1. Entry: The action by which a person passes through an opening into a permit required

                 confined space. Entry is considered to have occurred as soon as any part of the entrant’s body

                 breaks the plane of an opening into the confined space.

  1. Entry Permit: The written or printed document provided by entry supervisor that must be

                 completed before entry into a permit required confined space.

  1. Hazardous Atmosphere: An atmosphere that may expose employees to the risk of death,

                 incapacitation, impairment of ability to self-rescue, injury or acute illness from one or more

                of the following causes:

  1.         flammable gas, vapor or mist in excess of 10 percent of its lower flammable limit

                               (LFL);

  1.         airborne combustible dust at a concentration that meets or exceeds its LFL;
  2.          atmospheric oxygen concentration below 19.5 percent or above 23.5 percent;
  3.         atmosphere concentration of any substance for which a dose or a permissible

                               exposure limit (PEL) is published in Subpart G, of OSHA Occupational Health and

                               Environmental Control, or in Subpart Z, Toxic and Hazardous Substances and that

                               could result in employee exposure in excess of either; and

  1.        any other atmospheric condition that is immediately dangerous to life or health.
  2.   Hot Work: Any work involving burning, welding or similar fire producing operations or

                 operations that produce a source of ignition, such as grinding, drilling, or heating.

  1.  Hot Work Permit: WSU’s written authorization to perform operations capable of providing

                 a source of ignition in a confined space.

  1.  Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH): Any condition that poses an immediate

                or delayed threat to life or would cause irreversible adverse health effects or interfere with an

                 individual’s ability to escape unaided from a permit space.

  1. Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): Minimum concentration of a flammable gas or vapor in air

                 which will ignite if an ignition source is present.

  1. Lifeline: Line attached to the employee in a confined space to remove him or her if

                 unconscious or disabled.

  1. Non-Permit-Required Confined Space: A confined space that does not contain or, with

                respect to atmospheric hazards, have the potential to contain, any hazard capable of causing

                death or serious physical harm.

  1.  Oxygen Deficient Atmosphere: An atmosphere that contains less than 19.5 percent oxygen

                 by volume.

  1.   Oxygen Enriched Atmosphere: An atmosphere that contains more than 23.5 percent oxygen

                by volume.

  1.   Permit-Required Confined Space: A space that has one or more of the following

                characteristics:

  1.             contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere,
  2.        contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant,
  3.         has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by

                              inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a

                              smaller cross-section, or

  1.             contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.
  2.  Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Equipment to protect eyes, face, head, and

                 extremities, safety glasses, hard-hats, respirators, gloves, and protective clothing.

  1.  Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL): Concentration of a substance to which an individual

                 may be exposed repeatedly without adverse effect.

  1.        Power Ventilator: Explosion proof electrically powered fan and duct system which supplies

                 fresh air into a confined space, and lowers the concentration of hazardous gases and vapors.

  1.  Retrieval line: A line or rope secured at one end to the worker by chest-waist or full- body

                 harness, and with its other end secured to either a lifting (or other retrieval) device, or to an

                 anchor point located outside the entry.

     

  1. NON-PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACES

A confined space that does not contain or, with respect to atmospheric hazards, have the potential to contain, any hazard capable of causing death or serious physical harm may be considered a non-permit-required confined space. Procedures for such spaces are as follows:

  1. Before entry into any confined space, the authorizing supervisor must follow the pre-entry

                 checklist provided on page 14, Blank Permits.

  1. Before each entry into any confined space, atmospheric testing utilizing direct-reading

                 instruments must be performed to verify that the space meets the conditions of

                 not requiring a permit. If all conditions in the air monitoring section of the pre-entry checklist

                 indicate “yes” answers, and the space does not meet the definition of a permit-required

                 confined space, no written permit is required.

  1. PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE SYSTEM
  2. No WSU employee shall perform work in permit-required confined spaces without prior

                 approval of the EHS.

  1. A written permit system has been established which provides for the proper preparation,

                 issuance, and implementation of entry permits.

  1. A list of known permit-required confined spaces will be developed as spaces are identified.
  2. No entry into a permit-required confined space will be allowed without a permit. This permit

                 is designed to assure that employees identify conditions that could endanger confined space

                 entrants and attendants. Employees and supervisors are required to contact the EHS for

                 permits when needed.

  1. All permits must be retained for at least one year after the entry permit has been canceled.
  2. RESPONSIBILITIES
  3. The Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHS) is responsible for:
  4.       conducting initial air monitoring in the event of a confined space entry.
  5.       conducting awareness level training for employees who may encounter a confined

                             space during the performance of their daily duties,

  1.        conducting detailed training for authorized entrants into a permit required spaces,
  2.       conducting detailed training for approved attendants in the proper operation of air

                             testing equipment,

  1.       assisting supervisors in identifying confined spaces on WSU campus,
  2.        providing, maintaining and calibrating the air testing equipment used during confined

                             space entry, and

  1. Supervisors are responsible for:
  2.       identifying confined spaces on the WSU campus and reporting those identified spaces

                             to the EHS,

  1.       ensuring that all employees required to perform any confined space entry procedure

                             have received the appropriate level of training,

  1.       obtaining and completing the appropriate permit-required confined space entry

                             permit,

  1.        providing necessary personal protective equipment to employees,
  2.        ensuring that all employees perform their assigned duties as outlined in this program,

                             and

  1.        taking appropriate disciplinary action whenever an employee under his or her

                             direction fails to follow safety precautions outlined in this program.

  1. Authorizing Supervisors are responsible for:
  2.           evaluating the hazards which may be faced during permit-required confined space

                             entry;

  1.        verifying that all employees have been trained on safe entry procedures and proper

                             use of entry and personal protective equipment;

  1.        completing and signing a new entry permit before each entry into a permit-required

                             confined space and communicating the contents of the permit to all parties involved;

  1.       determining that the necessary procedures, practices, and equipment for safe entry

                             are in effect before allowing entry (see Section VII., Entry Preparation Procedures

                             for Permit-Required Confined Spaces);

  1.        periodically determining whether entry operations remain consistent with the terms

                             of the permit-required confined space entry permit, and that acceptable entry

                             conditions are present;

  1.       canceling the entry authorization and terminating entry whenever acceptable

                             conditions are not present;

  1.        taking necessary actions when terminating an entry operation, such as closing off a

                             permit space and canceling the permit, once the work authorized by the permit has

                             been completed; and

  1.        taking appropriate measures to remove unauthorized personnel who are in or near

                             entry permit spaces.

  1. Authorized entrants are responsible for:
  2.       knowing the hazards that may be faced during entry to a permit-required confined

                             space;

  1.       recognizing the signs and symptoms of exposure to a hazard;
  2.       understanding the consequences of exposure to a hazard;
  3.       maintaining contact with the attendant;
  4.       notifying the attendant when the entrants self-initiate evacuation of a permit space;
  5.       using entry and personal protective equipment properly; and
  6.       exiting the permit space immediately when:
  7.             the attendant orders evacuation,
  8.             an automatic alarm is activated, or
  9.             the authorized entrants perceive that they are in danger.
  10. Attendants are responsible for:
  11.        remaining outside the permit space at all times during entry operations;
  12.       continuously maintaining an accurate count of all persons in the space;
  13.        recognizing potential permit space hazards;
  14.       monitoring activities inside and outside the permit space to determine whether it is

                             safe for entrants to remain in the space;

  1.        maintaining effective and continuous contact with authorized entrants during entry;
  2.       ordering authorized entrants to evacuate the permit space immediately when:
  3.             a condition is observed which is not allowed in the entry permit,
  4.              behavioral effects or symptoms of hazard exposure are detected,
  5.              a situation inside or outside the space is detected which could endanger the

                                            entrants,

  1.              the attendant must leave the workstation;
  2.        warning unauthorized persons to remain away from the space;
  3.        requesting the unauthorized persons to exit immediately if they have entered the

                             permit space;

  1.        informing the authorized entrants and entry supervisor if unauthorized persons have

                             entered the permit space;

  1.       summoning rescue and other emergency services as soon as the attendant determines

                             that escape is required from the space;

  1.       not entering the permit space to attempt rescue of entrants; and

VII.   ENTRY PREPARATION PROCEDURES FOR PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACES

  1. Before each entry into a permit-required confined space, a new entry permit must be

                  completed by the authorizing supervisor.

  1. The authorizing supervisor is responsible for communicating the contents of the permit to all

                  parties involved.

  1. All items on the permit must be checked and completed before any person is allowed to enter

                  a permit space.

  1. The legible name and signature of the authorizing supervisor must be on the permit before the

                  entry begins. By signing this form, the authorizing supervisor must verify that all actions and

                  conditions necessary for safe entry have been performed.

  1. The authorizing supervisor must revoke the permit when conditions or work activity are

                  different than those specified on the permit which could introduce a new hazard to the permit

                  space. The EHS must be contacted to develop a new permit.

  1. An attendant is required for each entry and shall be located outside the entry space at all

                  times. The permit must remain in the possession of the attendant at all times while entry

                  activities are underway.

  1. Atmospheric testing utilizing direct-reading instruments must be performed by the EHS

                  before entry into a permit-required confined space.

  1.     Initial monitoring of the atmosphere inside the permit-required confined space shall

                            be conducted from a safe distance outside the space by a trained EHS employee

                            using air-sampling instruments that have been properly calibrated.

  1.    Monitoring shall occur simultaneously or in the following sequence: oxygen,

                            flammability, carbon monoxide, other toxic gases.

  1.     If the permit required confined space is vacated for any significant period of time, the

                            atmosphere of the permit required confined space shall be retested before re-entry is

                            permitted.

  1. The atmosphere of the confined space shall be considered unacceptable for entry whenever

                  the following conditions are noted:

  1.      the atmospheric oxygen concentration is below 19.5 percent or above 23.5 percent,
  2.      a flammable gas, vapor, or mist is present in a concentration in excess of 10 percent

                           of its Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) or Lower Flammability Limit (LFL),

  1.     airborne combustible dusts are present at a concentration that obscures vision at a

                           distance of 5 feet or less,

  1.      atmospheric concentrations of other substances for which a permissible exposure

                            Limit (PEL) is published by OSHA or a threshold limit value (TLV) is published by

                            the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) are above

                            these recognized exposure limits, or

  1.       any atmospheric condition recognized as immediately dangerous to life or health

                            exists.

  1. Whenever atmospheric testing of the confined space indicates unacceptable conditions for

                 entry, controls such as providing additional ventilation shall be implemented to modify the

                atmospheric conditions to acceptable levels or appropriate personal protective equipment will

                be utilized. These procedures will be performed under the direction of the EHS.

  1. All energy sources and pipelines, which enter the workspace, will be locked out.
  2. Any temporary lighting or portable power tool to be used in a permit-required confined space

                where there is a potentially explosive atmosphere shall be explosion proof.

  1. Any temporary lighting or portable power tool to be used in a permit- required confined space

                where there is a potential of electrical shock shall be battery operated or served through a

                ground fault circuit interrupter.

  1. Rescue provisions and a system of effective and continuous communication between the

                attendant and the authorized entrants must be established prior to entry

  1. Personal protective equipment that will be required for entry will be determined by the

                 supervisor with the advice of the EHS. This may include respirators, coveralls, gloves, head

                protection, foot protection, safety glasses and/or hearing protection. This information will

                appear on the permit.

  1. Any employee required to wear respiratory equipment must receive additional training on

                 respirator use, a fit test on the respirator to be used, and a physical examination to ensure that

                 the employee is capable of wearing the respirator without undue physical distress.

  1. Upon completion of the entry permit, and after all entrants have exited the permit space, the

                authorizing supervisor signing the permit must cancel the permit.

VIII.   TRAINING

  1. Training is required for permit-required confined space entry to ensure that attendants,

                 authorized entrants, and supervisors can work safely in and around the permit space. Training

                should be provided to each affected employee before the employee is first assigned duties in

                a confined space area. The EHS will coordinate this training which shall include as a

                minimum:

  1.    duties and responsibilities of each participant in entry procedures,
  2.      hazard recognition of all hazards which may be faced during entry,
  3.       how to recognize the signs and symptoms of exposure to a hazard,
  4.      the potential consequences of exposure to a hazard,
  5.      proper communication procedures,
  6.      procedures for evacuation of a permit space,
  7.     proper use and limitations of protective equipment, and
  8.     proper procedures for rescue.
  9. Awareness training will be provided for shop and other personnel on general procedures for

                 recognizing confined spaces, limitations on entering, and procedures for entry into non-

                permit-required confined spaces.

  1. Training shall be reinforced at least annually through additional training sessions.
  2. EQUIPMENT
  3. Supervisors must provide, ensure maintenance of, and ensure the proper use of the equipment

                necessary for safe entry, including rescue, atmosphere monitoring equipment, communication

                equipment, and personal protective equipment.

  1. The EHS will provide instruction on the proper use of atmospheric testing and monitoring

                equipment.

  1. Any use of hot work equipment during confined space entry must comply with the WSU Hot

                Work Permitting Program.

  1.     RESCUE PROCEDURES
  2. Wichita State University will rely on the city of Wichita Fire Department in the event of an

                emergency.

  1. CONTRACTORS
  2. Permit-required confined space entry involving outside contractors shall be pre-planned and

                coordinated by the contractor’s job site supervisor, WSU Project Manager and EHS.  The

                Contractors shall:

  1.      work to their approved confined space entry program.
  2.     ensure employees are trained.
  3.     designate entry supervisors.
  4.     ensure all equipment is inspected and calibrated.
  5.     enforce program compliance.
  6.      notify WSU EHS of any discovered or created confined spaces.

XII.    PROGRAM REVIEW

  1. The EHS Department shall review this plan tri-annually to verify compliance with all current

                 requirements.

  1. WSU Confined Spaces shall be reviewed and tested every 5 years to verify status as permit

                  required of non-permit required confined space.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PERMIT

  1. Confined Space Location____________________________ Purpose of Entry _______________________________________

Dept. Entering ___________________________     Date______________________   Time:         Entry ______________________

Building & Description of Space_____________________________________________              Exit________________________                                                         

B.    Potential Hazards (check all that apply)

C.     Monitoring Record

 

 

Oxygen (O2) deficiency       <19.5%

 

Oxygen enrichment             >23.5%

 

Combustible vapors             >10% of LEL

 

Carbon Monoxide (CO)       >25ppm

 

Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)        >10ppm

 

Electrical shock

 

Hot work

 

Engulfment/Drowning

 

Moving mechanical equipment

 

Heat stress

 

Biohazards

 

Chemical Contact

Time*

%02

% LEL

CO

(ppm)

H2S

(ppm)

Initials

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                         

 

 

                       

 

                           *Monitor top, middle, and bottom of space for each

                   Monitoring Equipment _______________________

                   Calibration Date ____________________________

D. Safety Equipment Checklist

E. Hazard Control Checklist

 

___ Hard Hat                                ___ Foot protection

 

 

Yes      N/A

___ Safety Eyewear                 ___ Protective clothing

 

___       ___          Warning signs posted & barricade in place?

___ Air-supplied Respirator      ___ First aid kit

 

___       ___           Ventilation

___ Air-purifying Respirator      ___ Fire extinguisher-ABC

 

___       ___          Mechanical systems locked out and tagged?

___Type of resp. cartridge:       ___ Traffic barricades

 

___       ___          Electrical systems locked out and tagged?

   HEPA ____ Org. Vapor ___     ___ GFCI 

 

___       ___           Piping blanked or disconnected?

   Acid Gas___ Ammonia ___     ___ Low voltage lights

 

___       ___           Ignition sources isolated?

                                                        ___ Other

 

___       ___           Communication system (specify)__

___ Harness/lifeline/hoist

 

___       ___           Other controls (specify) _______________

___ Spark proof tools

 

 

 

G. Authorization For Entry

 


I certify that all precautions have been taken as required by the WSU Confined Space Entry Program for safe entry and work in this confined space.

___All hazards listed above have been removed and space has been declassified to “non-permit”

 ___All hazards except potential atmospheric hazards have been removed, ventilation and monitoring is in place for “alternate procedures entry”

 ___Permitted confined space, all precautions apply

 

Entry Supervisor: (signature) ________________________________________________     Date:_____________________

 

CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PERMIT AND CHECKLIST

Pre-Entry Checklist

Date:_____________________________________________ Time:____________________________

Location and Description of Confined Space:______________________________________________

Purpose of Entry:____________________________________________________________________

 

ISOLATION CHECKLIST  

Yes

No

N/A

Time

Inspected by:

Electrical

 

 

 

 

 

Pumps off and locked out

 

 

 

 

 

Lines disconnected, blinded or

blocked

 

 

 

 

 

Valves shut and locked/tagged

out

 

 

 

 

 

 

VENTILATION CHECKLIST

Yes

No

N/A

Time On

Inspected by:

Mechanical

 

 

 

 

 

Natural ventilation only

 

 

 

 

 

 

AIR

MONITORING

Time

Result

Within Safe

Parameters

Signature

Yes

NO

Oxygen

 

 

 

 

 

Flammable gases (LEL)

 

 

 

 

 

Carbon monoxide

 

 

 

 

 

Instrument calibration

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warning: If any “No” block is checked or air quality is not within safe parameters, entry is not

permitted. Contact EHS before entering the space.

Authorizing Supervisor’s signature: ______________________________________________________

Authorizing EHS signature: _____________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

PERMIT REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PERMIT AND CHECKLIST

Entry Checklist

Date:___________________                                                          Time:_______________________________

Location and Description of Confined Space:_________________________________________________

Purpose of Entry:_______________________________________________________________________

Entrant(s):      _________________________________   _______________________________________

                         _________________________________   _______________________________________

Attendant(s): _________________________________   _______________________________________

                         _________________________________   _______________________________________

 

Action

Check

Initial

Notify Environmental Health and Safety Office 3 days in advance of

project

 

 

Are all employees involved properly trained?

 

 

Has area been ventilated for at least 10 minutes prior to entry

 

 

Assign one person to carry monitoring device for oxygen, LEL an carbon monoxide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warning: There can be no hazardous atmospheres within the confined space whenever a employee is

inside. If a hazardous atmosphere is detected while in the workspace, each employee must leave the

confined space immediately.

 

Authorizing Supervisor Signature:________________________________________

Completion of Project                     Date:_____________ Time:_________________ 

Supervisor Signature of Permit Cancellation: _______________________________

 

 

 

 

PERMIT REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PERMIT AND CHECKLIST

Attendant Checklist

Date:___________________                                                          Time:_______________________________

Location and Description of Confined Space:_________________________________________________

 

ENTRANT(S)

Time

 

Initials

In

Out

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATTENDANT AIR

MONITORING

Oxygen

Flammable Gases

(LEL)

Carbon Monoxide

Initials

Time:

 

 

 

 

Time:

 

 

 

 

Time:

 

 

 

 

Time:

 

 

 

 

Time:

 

 

 

 

Time:

 

 

 

 

Time:

 

 

 

 

Time:

 

 

 

 

 

Warning: There can be no hazardous atmospheres within the confined space whenever an employee is

inside. If a hazardous atmosphere is detected while in the workspace, each employee must leave the

confined space immediately.

 

Attendant(s) Signature:_______________________________________________________