Introduction

The hazards of confined spaces are not new yet every year fatalities and injuries occur among workers who, during the course of their jobs, are required to enter confined spaces. Entry into confined spaces may be for maintenance, repair or statutory inspections. Accidents occur because of the inherent hazards or the induced hazards of wrong decisions. Personnel may have been insufficiently trained or have had their awareness blunted by experience.

The conference encompasses the hazards, the stringent precautions, and the safe systems of work necessary as well as their practical application. The final day is devoted in bringing together all this knowledge in a tabletop exercise.

This would include:

• The OSHA 1910.146 standard for permit required confined spaces
• The HSE Standard on confined space entry
• The inherent hazards of confined spaces
• Personnel training
• The required precautions necessary prior and during entry

Objectives 

• Become familiar with OSHA 1910.146 and Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 Approved Code of Practice, HSE
• Become familiar with the hazards of a confined space
• To take all the necessary precautions before entering
• Be able to maintain the confined space as a safe place to work
• Familiarise the delegates with different methods of cleaning and isolation

This would include:

• Safety Personnel
• Planning Engineers
• Entry Supervisors
• Authorised Entrants

Target Audience

• Safety and HSE (Health, Safety & Environment) Professionals
• Safety Officers and Safety Engineers
• Maintenance Engineers and Technicians
• Operations and Plant Personnel
• Entry Supervisors and Confined Space Supervisors
• Authorized Entrants and Safety Personnel
• Risk Management and Compliance Officers
• Contractors working in industrial environments
• Facility and Plant Managers
• Professionals involved in high-risk maintenance and inspection activities

Outlines 

Day 1: Introduction, Definitions & Risk Assessment

• Introduction
• Definitions - OSHA Terminology
• Risk Assessment
• Reading PIDs
• Work Permit Systems
• Contractors

Day 2: Occupational Health Hazards in Confined Spaces

• Occupational Health Hazards
  • Chemical substances Hazards
  • Physical Hazards
• H2S and Pyrophoric iron
• Washing and Changing Facilities
• Contaminated Areas and Control

Day 3: Atmospheric Testing, Cleaning and Emergency Arrangements

• Atmosphere Testing
• Cleaning of Confined spaces prior to entry
• Gas freeing of Tanks, Vessels - Use and hazards of Steam water inert gas and chemicals
• Isolation - Positive Isolation, Lockout / Tag Out, Maintaining Isolation
• Personnel Training and Duties
• Rescue Arrangements

Day 4: PPE, Common Tasks and Maintaining Safety

• PPE Requirements
• Entry with Breathing Apparatus / Entry without Breathing Apparatus
• Ventilation & Lighting
• Common Maintenance task and problems in confined spaces – Furnaces, Vessels, Tanks
• Check Lists
• Boxing Up, Hand Over and De-Isolation

Day 5: Table Top Exercise

• Presentation and discussion by the syndicate groups
• Course Evaluation
• Summary