Hazard
VSC Sprinkler, Service, Inspection, and Alarm technicians may have to enter a Confined Space to perform various tasks. Confined Space can be immediately dangerous to workers leading to serious injuries or death! Hazards must be properly identified, evaluated, tested, and controlled prior to entering the Confined Space.
A Confined Space as defined by OSHA has the following characteristics:
- Large enough for you to enter
- Not designed for continuous occupancy
- Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit.
Remember this acronym: SAD – Size, Access, and Duration!
A Confined Space as defined by OSHA has the following characteristics: Large enough for you to enter, Not designed for continuous occupancy, and Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit. Remember this acronym: SAD — Size, Access, and Duration!
Confined space safety standards require that a trained competent person, who is knowledgeable about testing and confined space hazards, identifies and evaluates the space. The evaluation must be performed before entry and can include atmospheric testing and physical hazard assessments to identify hazards that must be eliminated or controlled before entry.
Below are Examples of Confined Spaces you may see on job sites:
OSHA uses the term “permit-required confined space” (permit space) to describe a confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics: contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere; contains material that has the potential to engulf an entrant; has walls that converge inward or floors that slope downward and taper into a smaller area which could trap or asphyxiate an entrant; or contains any other recognized safety or health hazard, such as unguarded machinery, exposed live wires, or heat stress. In addition to these hazards, the job tasks you perform may be hazardous such as creating a hazardous atmosphere while applying CPVC pipe glue, or some other product that contains inhalation hazards stated on the products SDS.
PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
As required of OSHA 1910.146(g)(1) Confined space training requirements, and the VCS safety policy Appendix L. Confined Space, employees who work in a confined space must complete confined space training. NO EMPLOYEE IS ALLOWED TO WORK IN A CONFINED SPACE WITHOUT MEETING THESE TRAINING REQUIRMENTS.
Permit Required Confined Spaces as described in this safety alert require a minimum of a three-person team. A Supervisor, Entrant, and an Attendant. The entrant and each attendant must have confined space training. For confined spaces with more than one entrant, there must be an additional trained attendant posted for each entrant to perform non-entry rescue of entrants when necessary. VSC Department Managers must contact their Regional Safety Manager to schedule a Confined Space training class to ensure three-person teams are trained prior to working in or around Permit Required Confined Space!
