Confined Space Training by Colby College

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Confined Space Entry
Training
Wade Behnke, MPH
Environmental, Health, and Safety Director
Colby College

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Learning Objectives
• Define "CONFINED SPACE"
• Recognize hazards associated with confined
space entry and how they may change
• Discuss the abnormal behavior and emergency
procedures associated with confined space
entries
• Understand your role and responsibilities as
they apply to Colby College
• Know proper entry procedures and
requirements found in the Colby College written
program
• Discuss the proper techniques for monitoring
confined spaces

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Case Study
• Autopsies of two workers who collapsed and died while
repairing a submersible pump in a pump storage tank at
a Kennebunkport, Maine, hotel on Sept. 27 (2011)
reveals they were exposed to high levels of hydrogen
sulfide gas. It is suspected that the men did not test the
atmosphere before they entered the tank.
• Between them, they had nearly 40 years of experience in
this type of work.
• Stevens Electric agreed to pay a nearly $17,000 fine after
OSHA agreed to add language to its safety citations
acknowledging that the employer
had provided safety equipment
that the employees did not use.

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What is a “Confined Space”?
Three requirements must be met:
1. Is large enough and so configured that an
employee can bodily enter and perform
assigned work; and
2. Has limited or restricted means for entry or
exit; and
3. Is not designed for continuous employee
occupancy.

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Permit Required Confined Spaces
To be a permit required confined space, the space
must meet one of the additional criteria:
•Contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous
atmosphere;
•Contains a material that has the potential for
engulfing an entrant (includes drowning);
•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
•Contains any other recognized serious safety or
health hazard.

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Examples of permit required
confined spaces at Colby College
• #6 Fuel Tanks
• ESP unit, CHP
• Storm Sewers
• Steam vaults
• Pool Filters
• Waste Sewers

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What The Statistics Tell Us
• Over 200 confined space fatalities
annually
• 60% are would-be rescuers
• Nearly 90% die of suffocation (O2
depravation)
• More than 95% had no formal training
(5% did!!)
• They all could have been
prevented!!!!!!

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Dangers of Confined Spaces
• Personnel did not recognize a permit required
confined space
• Personnel trusted their senses
• Personnel underestimated the danger
• Personnel did not stay at attendant's post
• Personnel tried to rescue others

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Hazards in Confined Spaces
• Hazardous Atmospheres at Colby College
– Oxygen Deficient and Enrichment
minus .5% (no reason +)
– Flammable and
Combustibles
Any detection (note)
– Toxic Gases and Vapors
Any detection (note)

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• Table 1. Signs and Symptoms of Oxygen-Deficient Exposure
Oxygen Content of Air, Signs and Symptoms of Persons at Rest
• 15%–19.5% Decreased ability to work strenuously. May impair
coordination and may induce symptoms in persons with coronary,
pulmonary, or circulatory problems. x
• 12%–15% Respiration deeper, increased pulse rate, and impaired
coordination, perception, and judgment. x
• 10%–12% Further increase in rate and depth of respiration, further
increase in pulse rate, performance failure, giddiness, poor
judgment, and blue lips. x
• 8%–10% Mental failure, nausea, vomiting, fainting,
unconsciousness, ashen face, blue lips. x
• 6%–8% 8 minutes, may be fatal in 50-100% of exposures; 6
minutes, may be fatal in 25-50% of exposures; 4-5 minutes,
recovery with treatment. x
• 4%–6% Coma in 40 seconds, convulsions, respiration ceases, death.

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Signs and Symptoms of an
Exposure to a Atm. Hazard
• Dizzy, Faint,
Lightheaded
• Suddenly Feel Tired
• Nauseous
• Burning Eyes or Skin
• Itching, Sneezing
• Difficult Breathing
• Cool, Clammy Skin
• Face Suddenly Feels
Flush
• Having Difficulty
Focusing

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• Stratification of hazardous gases in confined spaces

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Other Hazards in Confined
Spaces at Colby
• Steam
• Electrical Shock
• Slippery and/or sloped
surfaces
• Moving Equipment
• Poor lighting
• Flooding
• Restricted
Access/Egress
• Falls
• Temperature Extremes
• Work created
hazards (welding
fumes etc)

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Hazard Control
Ventilation, ventilation, ventilation!!!
Primary control for atmospheric hazards

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Hazard Control
• Hazardous Energy Control
– LOTO to control electrical, pneumatic, steam and
other physical hazards
– LOTO before entering the space

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Hazard Control
• Isolation procedures
– Blanking/blinding
– Double block and bleed
– Line breaking

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Roles and Responsibilities
(Colby)
• The main players:
– Entry Supervisor
– Authorized Attendant
– Authorized Entrant
– Waterville Fire Dept.
• The secondary players:
– EHS Director
– Assistant Director for
Operations PPD
– Stockroom Manager
– Contractors

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Entry Supervisor
• Definition: Personnel responsible for
determining if acceptable entry conditions are
present, authorizing entry, signing the entry
permit, overseeing entry operations, and
terminating entry.
• The Entry Supervisors at Colby College are
– CHP, Engineer in Charge
– All other Spaces, Supervisor of Mechanical and
Electrical Services
– Backups, EHS Director and Assistant Director for
Operations

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Entry Supervisor - Continued
• Responsibilities
– Determines whether a confined space is involved
for each task under his/her supervision and
complete any required permits.
– Ensures the entry permit contains the required
information before authorizing or allowing entry.
– Ensures that the procedures, practices and
equipment necessary for safe entry are in effect
before allowing entry.
• Never Enter the space until an Entry Supervisor has
signed the permit

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Entry Supervisor - Continued
– Ensures that employees who work as authorized
Entrants and Attendants are trained.
– Informs authorized Entrants of the required
personal protective equipment (PPE) and
informs on the proper use of the PPE.
– Ensures at specified intervals throughout the
access, that entry operations and conditions
remain consistent with the terms of the entry
permit.
– May serve as attendant or entrant.
– Notifies Security before entry.

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Authorized Attendant
• Definition: Any trained employee who is
stationed and remains outside of the confined
space for the purpose of monitoring the
Entrants and who performs all Attendant’s
duties.

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Authorized Attendant - Continued
– Maintains an accurate count of all Entrants
– Can recognize potential confined space
hazards
– Can recognize signs and symptoms of a
hazardous exposure
– Performs non-entry retrievals in an
emergency

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• Responsibilities - Continued
– Maintains effective and continuous contact with
authorized Entrants
– Ensures Entrant is protected from external
hazards
– Notifies the Security department in case of
emergency (have a radio)
– Performs no duties that might interfere
with the Attendant’s primary
responsibility of monitoring the
Entrants

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– Orders Entrant(s) to evacuate the confined
space immediately upon observing any of
the following:
• conditions which are not authorized by permit
• detects signs/symptoms of hazard exposure
• detects hazardous situation outside
• the Attendant cannot effectively and safely
perform all duties required

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Authorized Entrant
• Definition: Any trained employee or who
enters a confined space.

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Authorized Entrant - Continued
– Know the hazards that may be encountered
– Use safety equipment properly, this includes
monitoring equipment
– Maintain communication with Attendant
– Alert Attendant whenever:
• Any warning sign and/or symptom of exposure
to a dangerous situation is recognized
• Any prohibited condition is detected

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Authorized Entrant - Continued
– Exit from a confined space as quickly as
possible whenever:
• an order to evacuate is given by the Attendant
• recognizes any warning sign and/or symptom of
exposure to a dangerous situation
• detection of a prohibited condition
• an evacuation alarm is activated

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Contractors
• When requested the subcontractor shall provide the
EHS Director or Assistant Director of Operations
with the following:
– Written copy of their confined space program.
– Training records for potential Entrants,
Attendants, and Entry Supervisors.
– Evidence that all air monitoring equipment is
properly calibrated.
• Subcontractor shall follow all Colby safety policies
listed in the Contractor Handbook.
• Contractors must provide their own equipment and
personnel.

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Confined Space Entry Procedure
• Entry Supervisor and entry team will review the
space and determine the hazards
• The Entry Supervisor and entry team will
completely fill out the Entry Permit (in ink)
including:
– Monitor the atmosphere in the space with the gas meter.
For deep spaces check every 4 feet, record results!
– Determine control methods, i.e., ventilation, LOTO and
piping isolation
– Determine PPE and entry/rescue gear to be worn
– Contact Security and provide details on the job.

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• The Entry Permit must be posted outside the
entrance throughout the job duration
• For vertical confined space entries without
obstructions, the entrant must wear a fall
harness connect to a retrieval winch and tripod
• The Entrant must wear a gas meter throughout
the process unless the space can be monitored
from the opening

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Alternate Entry Requirements
If there are obstructions in a confined space making the use of
non-entry retrieval/rescue gear impossible, all hazards and
potential hazards must be removed before entry!
• Ventilation must be use to removed atmospheric hazards
• LOTO for hazardous energy
• Isolation for piping hazards
**NEVER ENTER A SPACE WITHOUT RESCUE GEAR
UNLESS ALL HAZARDS HAVE BEEN
ADDRESSED/REMOVED

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Confined Space Rescue
• Non-entry rescue is the only type of rescue
to be performed by Colby Employees!!
• In the event of equipment failure
– Immediately notify Security
– Waterville Fire Department will be summoned by
Security to perform the rescue
– Never attempt to perform the rescue or enter the
space

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Key Program Requirements
• Use the permit and employee experience as planning
tools
• Identify and evaluate all potential hazards before entry
• Manage the hazards (ventilate, rescue gear, LOTO)
• Use only trained personnel
• Always utilize an attendant
• Establish and maintain communications with Entrants at
all times
• Have an emergency plan: know what to do and who to
notify

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What Do You Need To Do
• Never take shortcuts when working in confined
spaces (no job is more important than you)
• Always follow the procedures in this training
and written program
• If you have questions, concerns or equipment
issues DO NOT ENTER THE SPACE and discuss
the problem with the Entry Supervisors

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1) True or False?
A confined space is a space that is large enough to enter,
has limited or restricted entries or exits, and is not
designed for continuous occupancy.

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2) Name three permit required confined
spaces at Colby College.
1.______________________________
2.______________________________
3.______________________________

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3) What are the specific potential hazards in
the spaces you listed?
1.______________________________
2.______________________________
3.______________________________

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4) Which of the following lists, includes all
types of air hazards which must be
checked before entering a confined space?
a) Toxics, flammable/explosive gas, oxygen content
b) Hydrogen Sulfide, Carbon Monoxide, dust
c) Toxics, carbon monoxide, flammable explosive
d) Toxics, Hydrogen Sulfide, oxygen content

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5) Which of the below is not an example of a
permit required confined space at Colby?
a. #6 Fuel oil tanks
b. Custodian’s closet
c. ESP
d. Pool Filters

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6) True or False?
Any Colby Employee may enter a permit required confined
space provided the Entry Supervisor is present.

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7) Which of the following does not need to
be completed before an employee may
enter a permit required confined space?
a. The permit is signed by the Entry Supervisor
b. The atmosphere has been monitored
c. The entrant dons the correct PPE and rescue gear
d. All of the above must be completed before entry

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8) Colby College Confined Space Policy
requires oxygen levels be between?
a. 19.5% to 23%
b. 20.3% to 22.3%
c. 16% to 20.8%
d. 19.5% to 20.8%

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9) True or False?
When not wearing rescue/retrieval gear, it is permissible
to turn off ventilation in a confined space only if you do
not detect any atmospheric hazards

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10) What is the number one cause of
fatalities in confined spaces
a. Hydrogen sulfide exposure
b. Drowning
c. Carbon Monoxide
d. Oxygen depravation

Confined Space Training by Colby College

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