Three quick questions regarding Confined Space in the workplace:
- What is a Confined Space?
- When is it a "PERMIT REQUIRED" confined space?
- What about COVID-19?
1. WHAT IS A CONFINED SPACE?
- When a work space has limited openings for Enter or Exit.
- The space is not intended for continuous human occupation.
- Space is large enough to enter and conduct work.
Confined spaces include, but are not limited to: tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, pits, manholes, tunnels, equipment housings, duct work, pipelines etc.
2. WHEN IS IT A "PERMIT REQUIRED" CONFINED SPACE?
WHEN IMMINENT DANGER IS PRESENT, you must have a Permit Required Confined Space.
- Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous material.
- Has material that could engulf the occupant.
- Is configured so that an occupant could become trapped or asphyxiated as a result of inwardly converging walls or a floor that slopes to a small cross section.
3. WHAT ABOUT COVID-19?
TO PREVENT THE SPREAD of COVID-19:
- It is recommended that workers keep 6ft apart where at all possible.
- Employers should limit the number of personnel in a confined space to ONE wherever possible.
- Where two or more personnel are necessary , workers should wear elastomeric air purifying respirators with P 100 cartridges, and face shield or goggles, when working within two meters of coworkers.
- Where possible, employers should assure proper ventilation in confined spaces.
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