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CONFINED SPACES The No. 1 cause of fatalities in confined spaces is preventable atmospheric hazards. Even if oxygen levels are normal, there may be hazardous con- taminants in the air, like hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell) and carbon monoxide, which is odorless and colorless. OSHA requires that all employees who enter and work in con- fined spaces be trained by their employer to perform all required duties safely. These spaces can present physical and atmospheric hazards that can be prevented if addressed prior to entering the space to perform work. The bottom line is that no confined space is safe to enter until it has been tested and determined to be safe by a competent person. An untested space is immediately danger- ous to life and health (IDLH).6 Hazard Recognition The causes of most confined space entry incidents are simple: employers and workers fail to recognize and control the hazards associated with confined spaces, and they conduct inadequate or incorrect emergency responses, resulting in the death or injury of the initial entrant, the would-be rescuer, or both. Pre-planning for confined space entry should include all per- tinent parties and involve reviewing entry procedures as well as covering specific hazards inherent to the spaces being entered.7 Cangemi adds, “It’s important for employers to recognize if their confined spaces require vertical or horizontal entry and access in order to determine the correct PPE for the application.” Individuals who work in confined spaces must be aware of the risks involved and how to prevent them. Hazards in confined spaces can be deadly because of the potential for engulfment, ox- ygen deficiency, oxygen enrichment, flammable gases or vapors, combustible dusts, toxic substances and other physical hazards. Other health hazards that could impact employee safety include electrical equipment, mechanical equipment, poor visibility, bio- hazards, claustrophobia, noise, radiation, and temperature.8 Safety Training Senior Technical Training Specialist Mark Cangemi points out, “In my opinion, the biggest problem is employers not fully under- standing the risks associated with their specific confined spaces.” He recommends companies invest the time and money to edu- cate themselves on the particular hazards and proper solutions for their confined space workers. Learning about and understanding confined spaces is crucial. Cangemi continues, “People die because of a lack of information; because there are no safety plans in place for rescue. Awareness is everything.” He also adds that employers should provide the most effective safety equipment and invest in the training to use that equipment properly to control the hazards. “And remember, a well-designed and properly executed rescue plan is a must.” Confifined space rescue and descent operations require top- level safety solutions to help keep workers safe. Enclosed spaces or working at height expose workers to high risks of fifire, explo- sion, loss of consciousness, asphyxiation, or falling. Fall protec- tion PPE and portable gas detectors are valuable tools in the effort to prevent serious (and fatal) injuries. Possessing the appropriate safety products, tools, space rescue systems, descent devices and rope descenders are essential for helping to save lives in confined spaces. Safety training also helps companies avoid penalties and inju- ries by ensuring the highest quality training to meet requirements for OSHA 29 CFR § 1910.1469 Permit-required and Non-permit Confined Spaces Standard. Who is required to take this training? 1.) People supervis- ing confined space entry and 2.) Anyone entering and working within a confined space, along with attendants (those who are tasked with assisting with the entry, but not actually entering themselves). Approximately 5,000 people attend safety training sessions hosted by my company each year. The sessions are conducted on- site, at various locations, and online, offering practical training to suit customer needs. Circling back to the opening scenario, what should a person do if a workmate collapses in a confined space? Senior Technical Training Specialist Mark Cangemi concludes: “What you should do is follow the hierarchy of rescue, the steps of your company’s exact rescue plan and procedures established for this specific con- fined space and work scenario. This plan needs to be developed, practiced, and reviewed for effectiveness.” His final advice for confined space employers and workers is simple: “Be safe. Be compliant.” Omar Vikin is the General Manager of High-Risk Personal Protec- tive Equipment at Honeywell. Learn more at sps.honeywell.com. REFERENCES 1. ohsonline.com/articles/2018/08/01/we-must-change-the-statistics-of- confined-space-injuries-and-fatalities.aspx 2. www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/86-110/default.html#:~:text=More%20 than%2060%25%20of% 20confined,a%20variety%20of%20confined%20 spaces 3. simplifiedsafety.com/blog/the-basics-of-confined-space-4529/ 4. www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-media/NFPA- Journal/2021/Fall-2021/News-and-Analysis/Dispatches/Bahamas 5. www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-media/NFPA- Journal/2021/Fall-2021/News-and-Analysis/Dispatches/Bahamas 6. www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.14 6#:~:text=Immediately%20dangerous%20to%20life%20or%20health%20 (IDLH)%20means%20any%20condition,unaided%20from%20a%20pe- rmit%20space. 7. www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.146 8. www.ehstoday.com/emergency-management/article/21906642/ expanding-confined-space-awareness 9. static.compliancetrainingonline.com/docs/29_CFR_1910_146.pdf 76 Occupational Health & Safety | OCTOBER 2023 www.ohsonline.com