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p t ■Th n po a l l t t e e r a - ma t t r b b e e t t d d d d n i l l a a s i ro t a r yi l ot n i n i n n a a t e en n n w w i nt n n t c t c a a c s t t r r t i e e d l d l i a a l r n r n o o lf u l u l y c y c l o fo a c a c o d r d r p e o o r re n n s d e o o v v n n n n e e g g fi fi r r o u u l g g a a g i g i w n lfi u u p p fin r r n n p o ng a a p o g w g w w h smaller cross-section; or (4) contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard. . h s The effects of exposure to an oxygen- s minutes, so there’s little time for rescue. i c s l o p e s d o w n w t i t i g a a a o o r r a a l a l d a d a n ne n s n s r a r a e s o s o u u n n n n c c s s t tr p d a d a ra h h h h p r b r b an h h nt y y t a a x x y fl y fl p e p e ; ; ( t a t a i a i a ( r r 3 3 t t s t s t e b n ) ) h n e n e e b ha o o o o f p o t i s t t e e e e o i as n n s i - Th y i n n t t d d e e c c e e r c c t t i t t e e c c t t . . e o l l r r r - - n o o f p g i h g i h o o n n n a n a s a s a h r r o d o d t t t h b o b o e u u e c e i e i er e c c c v v re i i e h e h e s o n n m m si o id n n g t g t fi a a e o e o du fi u t e m t e m n n o e e e s e s x f i f i s sa i m n n an s s nd p a r r p p i i a a o x i m i i p i p i dc p a s s ch c a c a a a s s he t t i i e c e c b b e l l v l l v o o m m r r n i i i e n e n c ca al ls o o e e sr o o l l t a t a . Th r n n e em c c e e p a p a n n ai t r i b b n n l o a a - - l k t t i r r w w g g . . person p a s s e e . . g o o u n n a n a e t o d l l y n f h o c n n i p d i d i e s m m o r p a n o c p a p a o t a s c c e i i i i e s i i , o o o s a n n u u g j g j b r c s s l t l t n n n c u i l u u o o e e s While it’s not as common as low oxy- gen, too much oxygen (over 21 percent) is also dangerous to the occupants of a con- fined space. It increases the risk of fire or explosion and can be detected only by us- ing a properly calibrated oxygen monitor. Th c c o o c c r r n n t t i p r d m d m o fi o fi u l l u l l s s s n n e e o s o s d h d h n n t Th t Th l k her way h i i i i l l l l b b e e e e e e l y n o t a b i i s o s o ■ r o t t d d s s e e gth, fall u t o f h e s p a c e , o r c t r t r e e n n d l o c o n s c w w If employees are expected to enter per- mit spaces, the employer must develop a written permit space program and make it available to employees or their repre- sentatives. They must meet the guide- lines established by either Federal or State safety standards and regulations. This may include issuing entry permits, assigning attendant(s), designating entrants, and en- suring a means of rescue.3 Gaining a permit also requires test- ing the confined space atmosphere using equipment designed to detect chemicals and gases that may be present. Even once given the all-clear to enter, if a worker exits the space and later needs to re-enter, the atmosphere needs to be tested again.4 Top Confined Space Hazards: Lack of Oxygen, Hydrogen Sulfide, Carbon Monoxide If a workplace contains a permit space, the entry employer must protect its workers against the hazards present. Potential risks include explosions, loss of consciousness, drowning, asphyxiation, low oxygen levels and more. The protection that is required depends on the type and severity of the hazards present in the permit space. Since many serious and fatal hazards are invisible, confined space testing can mean the difference between life and death for workers. For example, a space that lacks oxygen is not readily apparent. In a rusty tank, the oxidation process, which creates rust reduces the level of oxygen in the air. Entering a rusty, confined space can be as deadly as entering a fuel tank. According to OSHA and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the atmosphere of a confined space is only safe for workers when: 5 ■ Oxygen concentration is 19.5 to 22 percent by volume. ■ The concentration of a flammable vapor in the atmosphere is less than 10 percent by volume of its lower explosive limit. ■ Any toxic materials in the atmo- sphere are within permissible concentra- s han six h h h t t a at o c e s s a n c u i l e e s s s deficient atmosphere are swift and can be irreversible, even fatal. From the mo- ment a person enters that space, they’re effectively impaired. The oxygen content within the blood starts to drop. This af- fects the brain, causing a loss of coordina- COME SEE US AT NSC, BOOTH #4013 The LION BullsEyeTM Digital Fire Extinguisher Training System allows you to conduct extinguisher training anywhere. Pair it with the LION R.A.C.E. StationTM to help reinforce the Rescue, Alert, Confine, Extinguisher method and better prepare your trainees to respond to an actual fire emergency. WWW.LIONPROTECTS.COM/FIRE-SAFETY-TRAINING-TOOLS www.ohsonline.com OCTOBER 2023 | Occupational Health & Safety 75