Okaloosa County BOCC — June 2, 2015 — County safety manual: permit-required confined space program — reading text

▪ contain or have the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere; ▪ contains a material that has the potential for the engulfment of an entrant; ▪ has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross-section; or ▪ contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard. 3.7. Non-permit Required Confined Spaces: These spaces do not contain or, with respect to atmospheric hazards, have the potential to contain any hazard capable of causing death or serious physical harm. 5. POLICY FOR SPECIFIC LOCATIONS AND HAZARDS 5.1. All manholes, water storage tanks, electrical and meter vaults deeper than four feet are considered confined spaces as it relates to this program. 5.2. All Permit-Required Confined Space entries will be attendant required and must have an attendant present. 5.3. Fall restraint devices and/or lifelines & body harnesses will be used when entering all Permit-required Confined Spaces. 5.4. Continuous gas monitoring will be performed at all times while working in all confined spaces. (This includes non-permit required confined spaces). 5.5. For sewer wet wells, dry wells, and vaults having ventilation fans; fans must run at least 10 minutes after air sampling has been performed and prior to entry. 6. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS 6.1. Entry is considered as any action resulting in any part of the employee breaking the plane of any opening of the confined space and includes any resulting work activities performed inside the confined space. Generally, there are two types of entry into a confined space, attendant and non-attendant. NOTE Due to the seriousness of unknown hazards, County employees will not be allowed to make entry into a confined space under the following conditions: ▪ Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) atmosphere, 41  Okaloosa County Safety Manual Revision: 03-04-2008 ▪ Hazardous atmosphere, or ▪ Potential for engulfment. 6.3. Additionally, entry into a posted permit-required confined space will not be allowed without securing an Entry Permit signed by a qualified person. 6.4. Attendant Entry 6.4.1. Attendant entry is an entry that requires an attendant present at all times when an entrant is inside a confined space. Attendant entry will be allowed when the following conditions are met: 6.4.1.1. The entrant secures an Entry Permit from a qualified person; 6.4.1.2. Continuous monitoring is performed with a device equipped with an alarm capable of evaluating oxygen, combustible gas, and toxic gas concentrations; 6.4.1.3. Provide general continuous ventilation with a mechanical blower before entry when a toxic atmosphere is indicated, and during entry to maintain minimum acceptable atmospheric conditions; and 6.4.1.4. The entrant wears a harness fall restraint system secured by a tripod or other approved method (i.e., lifeline). 6.5. Non-Attendant Entry Will be allowed for any entry into non-permit required confined spaces by Okaloosa County employees. Employees should seek assistance from other workers to provide attendant services, even when not required by this policy, when working in remote locations throughout the County. 7. RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES 7.3. Qualified individuals in Confined Space Entry will perform one of three roles: ▪ Authorized Entrant ▪ Attendant ▪ Entry Supervisors 7.4. Authorized Entrant will: 7.4.1. Know the hazards that may be faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and consequences of the exposure. 42  Okaloosa County Safety Manual Revision: 03-04-2008 7.4.2. Properly use appropriate personal protective equipment (e.g., face and eye protection, and other forms of barrier protection such as gloves, aprons, and coveralls); 7.4.3. Maintain communication with the attendant as necessary to enable the attendant to alert entrants of the need to evacuate the spaces if a dangerous condition arises. 7.4.4. Shall alert the attendant whenever a warning sign or symptom of exposure to a dangerous situation or detects a prohibited condition. 7.4.5. The entrant will exit from the space whenever: 7.4.5.1. an order to evacuate is given by the attendant or the entry supervisor, 7.4.5.2. the entrant recognizes any warning sign or symptom of exposure to a dangerous situation, 7.4.5.3. the entrant detects a prohibited condition, or 7.4.5.4. an evacuation alarm is activated. 7.5. Attendant will: 7.5.1. Know the hazards that may be faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and consequences of the exposure, 7.5.2. Be stationed immediately outside every confined space during entry operations unless relieved by another attendant, 7.5.3. Be within sight or call of the entrant at all times and have the means available to summon assistance (i.e. Walkie-talkie, cell phone). 7.5.4. Maintain an accurate count of employees working within the space, 7.5.5. Not go into any posted confined space to aid the entrant or perform any rescue. The practice of handing down tools, equipment, and/or supplies will be avoided when possible. Should entrant need items, the entrant will exit the space and retrieve those items. NOTE If visual or verbal communication is lost with the entrant because of engulfment, asphyxiation, or an accident, the attendant will radio, call, or seek rescue at once by calling 911 for Fire and Rescue or have a fellow employee call. The Attendant Will Not Enter The Confined Space At Any Time For Any Rescue! 7.5.6. Monitor activities inside and outside the space to determine if it is safe for entrants to remain in the space and orders the authorized entrants to evacuate the permit space immediately under any of the following conditions: 7.5.6.1. if the attendant detects a prohibited condition; 43  Okaloosa County Safety Manual Revision: 03-04-2008 7.5.6.2. if the attendant detects the behavioral effects of hazard exposure in an authorized entrant; 7.5.6.3. if the attendant detects a situation outside the space that could endanger the authorized entrants; or 7.5.6.4. if the attendant cannot effectively and safely perform all the duties required in this section. 7.5.7. Take the following actions when unauthorized persons approach or enter a permit space while entry is underway: 7.5.7.1. warn the unauthorized persons that they must stay away from the permit space; 7.5.7.2. advise the unauthorized persons that they must exit immediately if they have entered the permit space; and 7.5.7.3. inform the authorized entrants and the entry supervisor if unauthorized person has entered the permit space. 7.6. Entry Supervisor will: 7.6.1. Know the hazards that may be faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and consequences of the exposure; 7.6.2. Verify, by checking that the appropriate entries have been made on the Confined Space permit, that all tests specified by the permit have been conducted and that all procedures and equipment are in place before endorsing the permit and allowing entry to begin; 7.6.3. Terminate the entry and cancel the permit as required; 7.6.4. Verify that rescue services are available on entries found in remote locations or as required by potential or existing hazards; 7.6.5. Remove unauthorized individuals who enter or who attempt to enter to permit space during entry operations; and 7.6.6. Determine that entry operations remain consistent with terms of the entry permit and that acceptable entry conditions are maintained. 7.6.7. A list of qualified personnel will be kept in each department head’s office and updated accordingly. 8. INSTRUMENTATION 8.3. Atmospheric testing instruments accepted for use by the County under this standard will have the following features as a minimum: 44  Okaloosa County Safety Manual Revision: 03-04-2008 8.3.1. Capable of monitoring oxygen, combustible and toxic gas concentrations; 8.3.2. Capable of remote sampling by either hand aspirator, mechanical pump, or electronic cable; 8.3.3. Capable of self diagnosis; 8.3.4. Numerical digital display; 8.3.5. Alkaline or rechargeable Nicad power supply; 8.3.6. User replaceable sensors; 8.3.7. User calibrated; and 8.3.8. Have alarm points set at: 19.5% - 23.5% Oxygen 10% LFL for Combustible 10 PPM For H2S 10 PPM for CO (if appl) 9. ENTRY PROCEDURES Entry into a posted confined space shall not be made unless the qualified person has assured that the following procedures have first been completed: 9.1. Any conditions making it unsafe to remove an entrance cover shall be eliminated before the cover is removed. 9.2. When entrance covers are moved, the opening shall be guarded by a railing, temporary cover, or other barrier that will