Sending workers in a confined space requires careful planning. Effective ventilation tools may be required. An air purifier with a flexible python hose can provide the necessary respiratory protection.
Protecting workers in confined spaces with effective ventilation tools
1. What is confined space?
And why would you want to take a python with you?
Why would you go there?
2. Hinders the
activities of
employees who
must enter, work
in, and exit it
Has limited or
restricted entry or
exit
Not designed for
continuous
employee
occupancy
Includes under-
ground vaults,
tanks,storage
bins,manholes,
pits,silos,process
vessels,and
pipelines
Confined Space
3. Who works in confined spaces?
Many types of workers may occasionally enter a confined space in
order to complete an assignment or to solve a problem.
For example, an electrician may enter a crawlspace to troubleshoot
a wiring problem or a welder may enter a [empty] tank to make a
repair.
Confined spaces differ from industry to industry. Here’s a link to a
Google search for confined space images: http://bit.ly/15G9p0s.
All work to be carried out in a confined space is regulated by OSHA
and must be carefully planned.
Planning should include consideration of a range of potentially
hazardous circumstances, from temperature extremes to poor air
quality.
4. The photo on the left shows a welder working in
a corner in all-metal festoon housing, a staple
of the oil industry.
[There a photo of a festoon house on our blog.]
The welder is working where two walls and the
ceiling meet.
At Sentry Air, we want hazardous fumes
removed from the breathing zone of welders in
similar situations.
Air quality for welders
5. Pythons for confined spaces
Our welding fume extractors can be equipped with fire-
retardant, extremely flexible “python” hoses that can be snaked
into confined spaces to capture hazardous welding fumes
before they can be inhaled by the welder.
Available in varied
lengths and two
diameters
Guard grill prevents
accidental capture of
small objects
Magnetic capture
hood secures to
metallic fixtures
6. Python & CFM: useful tools
A “python” hose attached to a fume extractor with appropriate
air flow [CFM or cubic feet per minute] may be just the tool you
need for confined space operations.
www.sentryair.com
Model 200 Portable
Mini Fume Extractor
up to 100 CFM