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

prevent an accidental fall through the opening and that will protect each employee working in the space from foreign objects entering the space. 9.3. Before an employee enters the space, the internal atmosphere shall be tested, with a calibrated direct-reading instrument, for the following conditions in the order given: Between 19.5% - 23.5% Oxygen Less than 10% LFL for Combustible Less than 10 PPM for H2S Less than 10 PPM for CO (if appl) 9.7. If atmosphere inside a confined space fails to meet any of the three above criteria, space will be ventilated either through the act of opening doors or using continuous forced air ventilation. WARNING No employee will enter a permitted space until the Oxygen, Combustibles, and Toxic gas readings are below or within required settings (see above caption). 45  Okaloosa County Safety Manual Revision: 03-04-2008 NOTE Self-contained Breathing Apparatus will not be worn while working within any posted confined space at any time for any reason to include atmosphere testing. 9.8. Atmosphere within the confined space will be tested hourly and results noted on the Confined Space Permit. If an entrant exits the confined space for more than 15 minutes, the confined space will be re-tested prior to re-entry. 9.9. Continuous gas monitoring will be performed at all times. 9.10. If a hazardous atmosphere is detected or a dangerous situation develops: 9.10.1. Each entrant shall leave the space immediately; 9.10.2. The space shall be evaluated to determine how the hazardous atmosphere developed; and 9.10.3. Measures shall be implemented to protect employees from the hazardous atmosphere before any subsequent entry takes place. NOTE If the atmosphere inside a Non-Permit required confined space exceeds any of the three criteria, and/or another potential physical hazard develops (i.e. engulfment), the space will immediately become a Permit-Required confined space and the above procedures in section 9 will apply. Additionally, authorized employees MUST obtain a Confined Space Permit and attendant before work continues. 9.11. Certification that a confined space is safe for entry will be done using a Confined Space Entry Permit. These permits will be filled out by the entry supervisor, shift supervisor, or immediate supervisor with no less than: • Date of the entry and monitoring, • Location of the confined space, • the Signature of the person providing the certification, and • reason for entry. 9.12. Also, the signed permit will be posted by the confined space while work is being performed (if attachment is possible) and maintained until the entry has been completed. 9.13. Permits will be maintained and stored as directed by the director upon completion of the work. Permits will be kept on file for one (1) year. 9.14. All safety equipment, special tools (to include harnesses, tripods, and lifelines) are to be present prior to beginning work. 46  Okaloosa County Safety Manual Revision: 03-04-2008 9.15. For any form of cutting, welding or burning while inside the permit-required confined space, in addition to a confined space entry permit a Hot Work permit must also be obtained prior to work being performed. 11. RESCUE TEAMS 11.1. “Rescue teams” will not be authorized for the general employee population of Okaloosa County as County employees will not be allowed entry into any confined space under the following conditions: (IDLH) atmosphere, hazardous atmosphere, or a potential for engulfment. However, qualified persons will be trained in basic CPR/first aid techniques. 11.2. City/County fire and rescue will be called by dialing 911 or by County radio. 11.3. Supervisors should coordinate their actions with the local fire department by notifying in advance for those entries lasting longer than one shift or involving multiple entrants. Although they do not have to be present during the entry, this information will be invaluable to fire personnel should a rescue situation develop. 12. HOT WORK PERMITS (WELDING, CUTTING & BRAZING) The “Welding and Cutting Program” of Okaloosa County Safety Manual regulates all welding, cutting, and brazing being performed in posted Confined Spaces. Employees performing any kind of hot work must first comply with the safety procedures in this policy and then secure a Hot Work Permit before performing any welding or cutting in Confined Spaces. 13. TRAINING 13.1. Training will be provided to employees required to enter into confined spaces and to those persons identified as qualified persons. The following areas will be included in the instruction: Hazard Recognition Purging Ventilation Techniques Isolation Procedures (LOTO) Use of Atmospheric Testing Equipment Test Procedures Flammable Gases and Vapors Toxic Gases and Vapors First Aid Procedures Safe Work Practices Performing Hot Work 47  Okaloosa County Safety Manual Revision: 03-04-2008 Controlling ignition Sources Personal Protective Equipment Use of Fall Arrest Systems Demonstration and Performance Evaluation (actual hands-on) 13.2. Training for employees will occur: 13.2.1. Initially, before new employees are assigned work in confined spaces throughout the County, 13.2.2. Before there is a change in assigned duties, 13.2.3. Whenever there is a change in permit space operations that presents a hazard about which an employee has not previously been trained, 13.2.4. Whenever the employer has reason to believe either that there are deviations from the permit space entry procedures or that there are inadequacies in the employee's knowledge of use of these procedures. 14. DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES 14.2. Because of the dangerous nature of entering confined spaces, this policy must be adhered to fully. For this reason, the following acts will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination: 14.2.1. Entering a posted confined space or performing any procedure within this policy and not first having confined space entry training. 14.2.2. Failing to perform an atmosphere test prior to entering a posted confined space. 14.2.3. Failing to provide an "Attendant" while performing work within a posted confined space. 14.2.4. Working within a posted confined space without both continuous monitoring with a device set to mandatory settings and use of a harness fall restraint or lifeline. 14.2.5. Failing to first secure a "Confined Space Permit" before beginning work within a posted permit-required confined space. 14.2.6. While acting as the "Attendant" abandoning your position either to enter the confined space in performing first aid or leaving permanently. 14.2.7. Failing to obey any of the procedures or any other directive within this policy. 48