Page 16 - Occupational Health & Safety, August 2018

CONFINED SPACES
For permit required confined space, OSHA requires employers to identify hazards in confined spaces, test the air prior to entry and during entry, keep the space ventilated, have the proper safety equipment for entry and exit and rescue, and have procedures for summoning proficiently trained rescue teams who can respond in a timely manner.
most often not retained, or utilization of a third-party trainer who doesn’t specialize in confined space training; thus, they’re receiving poor-quality training.
They do not have the proper equipment for confined space re- trieval or rescue. They do not have the proper personal protective equipment, or their equipment has not been taken care of and is not safe to use. Or worse yet, they have no equipment at all. Their workers are not trained on the hazards associated with permit re- quired confined spaces. They have no rescue plan or rescue team in place. They opt to call 911 (not an option). They decide they will perform only non-entry rescues, which are rarely effective when you need to rescue an unconscious victim. (Non-entry rescue only as a plan is an entire topic for another article later!)
The reality is workers and rescuers are still dying or getting se- riously injured in confined spaces. The reality is permit required
confined spaces are still the leading cause of multiple fatalities in the workplace. The reality is that OSHA regulations mandate em- ployers to provide training, equipment, and proficient rescue ser- vices for permit required spaces.
For permit required confined space, OSHA requires employers to identify hazards in confined spaces, test the air prior to entry and during entry, keep the space ventilated, have the proper safety equipment for entry and exit and rescue, and have procedures for summoning proficiently trained rescue teams who can respond in a timely manner.
So how do we change the statistics of confined space injuries and fatalities? Every facility needs to conduct a reality check. A well-designed and properly executed rescue plan is a must (not an option). Investigate their permit required confined space proce- dures thoroughly. Make changes. Identify and comply with OSHA regulations. Make changes. Inventory their equipment—replace, buy, repair. Make changes. Assign and train their workers and res- cuers. Make changes.
The reality is, things must change, and it is the employers who are responsible for protecting their workers.
Time for Things to Change
Why am I so passionate about permit required confined space safe- ty? I have witnessed the “best in class” facilities that made the right changes, and continue to make changes, to their permit required confined space entry procedures. Unfortunately, I also have visited the ones who did not, have not. The reality is, I have conducted
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