Chemicals Hazards, Storage & Protection

 

Chemicals Hazards, Storage &

 Protection

Hazardous Area Classification (HAC)

01. Many chemicals are used in industry some of them are may be irritating and result in serious injuries and bums on the face, body, hands, arms, and legs, and also can be flammable, explosive, toxic and result in fire and loss of life. Proper Personal Protective Equipment-PPE‟s must be provided for the employees who are dealing with chemicals. (such as; PVC gloves, aprons, overalls, Breathing Appratus-B.A. and face shield … etc.)

02. All the chemicals shall properly stored as per the Safety Data Sheet-SDS in well ventilated, illuminated, protected, and secured area, away from other materials. Store all flammable chemicals (solvents, petroleum products) separated from other chemicals. Do not store near heat or where strong sunlight will strike them. Provide the required signage in the storage area.

03. All chemical substances shall have their Safety Data Sheet (SDS) available with each store. And the name, characteristics, type of hazard, protection and first aid action clearly displayed on the container label. Provide the basic fire protection in the storage area.

Ergonomic Safety – Part 2

04. Source of clean running water should be available (like; water tapes, eye wash station) for cleaning and diluting the concentration of harmful chemicals (acids, base) splashed on the body, skin, hands or in the eyes as a basic first aid measure.

05 Remove any contaminated clothing immediately and wash the affected part of

the body by large amount of water. Seek the medical help immediately.

06. If employee inhaled large amount of chemical vapours and became unconscious, start artificial respiration. Seek the medical help immediately. Display the emergency contact number in the storage area.

07.Ensure No source of ignition in chemical storage area. No eating or drinking of any type is allowed while using or handling chemical substances. Employees to be trained the safe handling of chemicals.

08. Appropriate number of Fire extinguishers (dry chemical powder or C02) should be available for each chemicals storage area. All employees to be trained on the basic practical firefighting training.

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09. Dilution of Acids - To dilute acids always, add the acid to water NEVER add water to acids. Do not mix acids with solvents and petroleum products. Do not stir acids with metal apparatuses. Use glass ones.

10. Keep floors clean in the chemical storage & handling area, do not allow them to become slippery. In case of spillage or leaks of dangerous chemicals the area shall be cordoned off and the HSE Department notified. Spill kit to be made available in the storage area.

11. If you are in doubt about any chemical, consider it very hazardous and ask your supervisor or ask the HSE Department. Do not store any chemicals in disposable water bottles. Chemical container should be without any labels.

12. Empty containers or bottles, should not be used for domestic or private use and should be disposed off in a safe way as per the company/local government guidelines.

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Use of Explosives & Safety Measures

 

Use of Explosives & Safety Measures

Confined Space Physical Hazards – Part 2

1.Local Authorities - The use of explosives will be strictly controlled by the local Authorities. They will lay down the conditions/procedures for the transportation and storage of explosives.

2.Ensure all the explosives stores shall be clean and dry. The iron should not be exposed inside the store. It shall be kept securely locked at all times when not actually in use and the lock key shall be kept by a accountable employee nominated by the company management.

3.Any Ignition Source - No smoking or any means of ignition shall be allowed within 50 meters (min.) of any explosives. Any kind of tools used in the explosive material store shall be wood or non-sparking material properties.

4.Removing of explosives from the wrapping - Explosive shall not be removed from its immediate wrapping, or cartridge wrapping within the store. Always ensure the Detonators shall be stored and transported separately from the bulk explosives.

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5.Issue of explosives - All explosives, detonators and related equipment shall only be issued against a proper requisition as per the company procedures which is signed by an authorized supervisor or Manager.

6.Competent Employee - Explosives shall only be handled or used by a competent employee. He shall be properly trained and experienced and shall be appointed in writing by Management Only the competent employee may draw explosives from the store. The competent employee has to be provided for all the required Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) for handling the explosives. He shall sign for the quantity of each item received, and shall be appointed in writing by the company Management.

7.Blasting Work – Ensure the immediate area shall be cleared of all employees/visiting personnel other than those engaged in the blasting work before setting the charges of blasting.

8. Ensure the flagmen shall be posted in prominent locations on the perimeter of the blasting area. Flagman shall prevent the entry of employees to the blasting area and indicate by signal to the competent blasting employee that the area is clear before he fire the blasting charge.

Height Work Working At Height Basic

Heat Stress

 

Heat Stress

The Importance of Spill Control

The exposure to heat can cause illness and severe health concerns to employees especially those who working in outdoor jobs. The most serious heat illness is heat stroke. Other heat illnesses, such as heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat rash, should also be avoided, the following measures and precautions to be considered.

1.Understand that heat stress is a normal physical condition which is caused by any physical exertion. However, when employees directly exposed to sunrays, temperatures can exceed 50 ºC (120 ºF), which may lead to other adverse health effects because of this exposure.

2. Drinking enough water - Heat exhaustion can occur if an employee becomes too hot, expends too much energy, and does not drink enough required water for the body. Heat exhaustion is generally not dangerous and the symptoms are:

2.1. Profuse Sweating. 2.2. Nausea. 2.3. Dizziness2.4. Muscle cramps, generally in the legs & abdomen are the general symptoms.

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3. Employee should be training in basic first aid and the First Aid for heat exhaustion is:

3.1. Help the employee to lay down in the shade or air-conditioned area for the body temperature control.

3.2. Provide enough water - Give in small quantities every 2 to 3 minutes until the employee recovers.

3.3. Call for support from the Medical Facilities.

3.4. Remember - DO NOT gives salt or ice.

3.5. Instead apply cool water to the back of the neck and wrist.

4. Heat stroke is potentially life threatening and it occurs very rare, Heat stroke may occur after heat exhaustion has set in and has the below symptoms.

4.1. The body of the sufferer stops sweating but is very hot to the touch.

4.2. The employee will be disoriented or may become unconscious.

4.3. The employee generally will suffer condition of heat exhaustion prior to heat stroke effects.

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5. The basic First Aid for heat stroke is:

5.1. Call for company/local medical assistance immediately.

5.2. Move the sufferer into shade or air-conditioned area for the body temperature control.

5.3. If available, Pack the ice, around the sufferers wrists, under the arms, and groin area. If ice is not available, use water.

5.4. If the sufferer is conscious give small amounts of water to drink every 2 to 3 minutes.

5.5. Remove clothing of the employee in the chest to torso.

5.6. Remember - Do not allow stroke sufferer to swallow ice and DO NOT give salt.

6. Keep the sufferer calm and wait for the medical assistance to arrive for the medical support to the employee.

Chain Pulley Block Safety

SPILL & WASTE CONTROL

 

SPILL & WASTE CONTROL

Chain Pulley Block Safety

Spill and waste control in any industry is very much important as it may lead to incidents and environmental concerns. The most common spills encountered by employees in industry are around moving oil and diesel, leachate, chemical spills and fire water run-off. The most crucial measures employed to prevent & contain spills include carrying out risk assessments (may be a requirement of the respective local government legislation), implementing Environment Management Plan(EMP) and employee training. Some control measures described included spill kits, double skinned tanks and sealed drainage systems i.e. a system that is not connected to surface or foul sewer such as a sealed sump. The Spills will cause damage and cost money. It is in every employees responsibility to prevent spills and where necessary contain them safely.

Ventilation Requirements for Confined Space

1.Always ensure that the hazardous waste material shall be stored in a separate dedicated storage area – Radioactive material require special measures(follow as per SDS).

2.The area shall have an impermeable surface with a suitable effective drainage control, roofing and be properly banded.

3.Ensure that the quantities stored in the area shall be kept to an absolute minimum.

4.The chemical containers shall be marked with warning labels to precisely describe their contents in a legible way.

5.Hazardous chemicals shall be stored and handled in accordance with the Manufacturer’s Safety Data Sheet (SDS) or as per the Customer or Local Government Regulatory Authority Requirements. All employees who are handling need to be trained.

The Importance of Electrical Safety in Industry

6.All the relevant Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to be displayed at the Chemical Storage Area and the location where chemicals are being used.

7.Ensure the usage of correct tools in transporting, loading, filling materials and fluids which can be controlled and contained with the use of suitable Hoppers, Nozzles, Funnels to avoid the spill, use required PPE – Personal Protective Equipment required

8.All polluted materials (such as rags, gloves..) to be disposed of in RED Tag area.

9.Food waste will be a source of high risk to the project site and employees; it will invite wild life to the site area (such as: scorpions, snakes, birds, rats, dogs, cats,..) also can cause many diseases.

10.Train all the employees as how to react & respond - In case of leak or spill employee should act quickly to: a)Isolate / stop leak from the source, b)Use absorbent material to mop up the spill, c)Dispose of polluted absorbent material and contaminated soil in heavy plastic sacks and placed in suitable (RED) containers. The same to be disposed/treated as per the Customer or Local Government Regulatory Authority Requirements.

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RESPIRATORY PROTECTION – Definition of Terms

 

RESPIRATORY PROTECTION –

 Definition of Terms

Hearing Protection Safety Why It Matters

Air Purifying Respirator is a respirator with an air purifying filter, cartridge, or canister that removes specific air contaminants by passing ambient air through the air purifying element.

Atmosphere-supplying Respirator which supplies the user with breathing air from a source independent of the ambient atmosphere, including supplied-air respirators (SARs) and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units.

Demand Respirator - An atmosphere supplying respirator that admits breathing air to the face piece only when negative pressure is created inside the face piece by inhalation.

End-of-Service-Life-Indicator (ESLI) - A system that warns the respirator user of the approach of the end of adequate respiratory protection; for example, the sorbent is approaching saturation or is no longer adequate.

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Escape-only Respirator which is intended to be used only for emergency exit.

Filtering Face Piece (dust mask) - A negative pressure particulate respirator with a filter as an integral part of the face piece or with the entire face piece composed of the filtering medium.

Fit Factor – Its an quantitative estimate of the fit of a particular respirator to a specific individual; typically estimates the ratio of the concentration of a substance in ambient air to its concentration inside the respirator when worn.

Fit Test - The use of protocol to qualitatively or quantitatively evaluate the fit of a respirator on an individual. (See Qualitative Fit Test (QLFT) and Quantitative Fit Test (ANFT).)

High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filter - A filter that is at least 99.97% efficient in removing monodisperse particles of 0.3 micrometers in diameter. The equivalent NIOSH 42 CFR 84 particulate filters are the N100, R1000, and P100 filters.

The Importance of Electrical Safety in Industry

Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) - An atmosphere which poses an immediate threat to life, would cause irreversible adverse health effects, or would impair an individual’s ability to escape from a dangerous atmosphere.

Loose-fitting Facepiece - A respiratory inlet covering that is designed to form a partial seal with the face.

Negative Pressure Respirator (tight fitting) - A respirator in which the air pressure inside the facepiece is negative during inhalation with respect to the ambient air pressure outside the respirator.

Oxygen Deficient Atmosphere - An atmosphere with an oxygen content below 19.5% by volume.

Positive Pressure Respirator - A respirator in which the pressure inside the respiratory inlet covering exceeds the ambient air pressure outside the respirator.

Powered Air-purifying Respirator (PAPR) - An air-purifying respirator that uses a blower to force the ambient air through the air-purifying elements to the inlet covering.

Chemicals Hazards, Storage & Protection

Pressure Demand Respirator - A positive pressure atmosphere-supplying respirator that admits breathing air to the facepiece when the positive pressure is reduced inside the facepiece by inhalation.

Qualitative Fit Test (QLFT) - A pass/fail test to assess the adequacy of respirator fit that relies on the individual’s response to the test agent.

Quantitative Fit Test (QNFT) - An assessment of the adequacy of respirator fit by numerically measuring the amount of leakage into the respirator.

Service Life - The period of time that a respirator, filter or sorbent, or other respiratory equipment provides adequate protection to the wearer.

Supplied –Air Respirator (SAR) or Airline Respirator - An atmosphere-supplying respirator for which the source of breathing air is not designed to be carried by the user.

Tight-fitting Facepiece - A respiratory inlet covering that forms a complete seal with the face.

User Seal Check - An action conducted by the respirator user to determine if the respirator is properly sealed to the face.

Process Safety Incidents - Case Studies

CONTROL OF HAZARDOUS ENERGY SOURCES

 

CONTROL OF HAZARDOUS 

ENERGY SOURCES

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Its very important to protect the employees against the inadvertent or unintended release of energy, movement, or flow in electrical, mechanical, or material systems, which could result in injury to employees. Energy isolation with Lockout of these systems must be utilized.

Hazardous energy control procedures will be used to ensure that machines or equipment being inspected are isolated from all potentially hazardous energy and locked out before employees perform any work activities where unexpected energizing, start up, or release of stored energy could cause injury to the employee and his coworker. All kind of energies to be considered in this program like electrical, mechanical, process, chemical, hydraulic, pneumatic, steam etc.

The Importance of Electrical Safety in Industry

The below listed guidance for locking out(LOTO) machines and equipment. The equipment may, and often will, include more than one energy source and/or multiple isolating points for the safe maintenance. The energy sources will include electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and other forms of energy, such as residual energy from spring tension or the effects of gravity. If at any time the authorized employee is uncertain that the employer’s lockout procedures sufficiently isolate and control all of the hazardous energy sources, the authorized employee will not proceed with lockout, and will use alternate safe procedures to document potential hazards. The written energy isolating procedure with the training to all authorized and affected employee is very important in hazardous energy control program for any industry.

 Ventilation Requirements for Confined Space

1. Only an authorized employee will lockout equipment. Every authorized employee exposed to the hazard must lockout the equipment – LOTO(Lock out & Tag out)

2. Only locks and tags issued by the employee/agency that are designated for lockout purposes are permitted for use by authorized employees. Authorized employees are not permitted to borrow locks for use.

3. The authorized employee will comply with OSHA requirements and with the employer’s lockout program as long as it meets or exceeds the OSHA requirements.

4. The authorized employee will assure that the employer’s authorized employee fully de-energizes the equipment/machine and utilizes an appropriate and effective energy isolating device(s) for the equipment/machine. The verification of isolation is very important to know the equipment is fully isolated. The authorized employee will then place his or her lock(s) on each isolating device for the equipment along with any other person(s) that may be exposed.

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5. After ensuring that no personnel are exposed to hazards, the employer’s authorized employee will conduct a verification of the lockout by operating the push button or other operating controls to assure that the equipment will not operate. The isolation verification to recorded. The authorized employee will observe the employer’s authorized employee return the operating controls to the off or neutral position after the test. At no time will the employee attempt to activate/operate the employer’s equipment. Many industry the personal LOTO system is followed.

6. Once the equipment is locked-out, the authorized employee will limit their time of exposure to the absolute minimum needed to complete the inspection.

Chemicals Hazards, Storage & Protection

7. The lockout device will only be removed from the energy-isolating device by the authorized employee who applied it. When the employee removes a lockout device, the employee must notify their responsible Manager(s) prior to leaving the worksite.

8. If the lockout device is unintentionally left on the equipment, the employee’s responsible Manager(s) will contact the employee to verify their location and the employee will return to the site for lock removal. Where the employee cannot return to the site, the employee’s responsible Manager(s) may authorize removal of the lock only after the employee’s location is verified and the employee is informed of the lock removal.

FIRE PREVENTION & PROTECTION

Safety Training Videos with Pictorial Guidelines

 

Safety Training Videos with Pictorial Guidelines

Work in confined spaces can be dangerous. You need to be aware of the risks and know how to prevent them. Work in confined spaces can kill or cause injuries in any industries/organization, ranging from those involving complex plant/process system through to simple storage. Those victims include not only people working in the confined space but also those who try to rescue them without proper training and equipment.

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Skills and Experience

Excavation work generally means work involving the removal of soil or rock from a

site to form an open face, hole or cavity, using tools, machinery or explosives.

Excavation work can occur anywhere, including:

> on construction sites

> on business premises

> in public areas.

Excavation work includes:

> open excavations

> potholing

> pit excavations

> trenches and retaining walls

> shafts and drives.

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Safety at construction site is an part of construction-related actions concerned with safe guarding construction site employees and others from injury, occupational disease or other health-related risks. 

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Process Safety Incidents - Case Studies

 

Process Safety Incidents - Case Studies

Ventilation Requirements for Confined Space

Process industries are more complex and have more hazards than the normal industries, Most of the process related incidents are catastrophic, many have the possibility of causing significant injury, property and environmental damage, and heavy business impact. The following incidents provide examples for large companies happened around the world.

 Ergonomic Safety – Part 1

• Bayer Crop Science, 2008, United States –

On startup of the methomyl process, which is used to make insecticides, a runaway reaction occurred inside a 4500-gallon pressure vessel that exploded killing two workers and injuring eight. Many roads were closed and 40,000 people in the surrounding areas were asked to shelter-in-place as a precaution. The incident investigation report stating that many safety deviations resulted into this incident. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) report concluded that written startup procedures were not followed, safety devices were bypassed, and many other factors contributed to the incident. Fortunately, a nearby tank containing a highly toxic material, methyl isocyanate (MIC), was not damaged by the explosion or the incident may have been worse. This incident resulted into the loss of life and a huge investment. The methomyl process was not operating, and $80 million was invested to improve the safety of MIC storage and handling, although the company decided to shutdown the use of MIC at the facility before startup.

 Confined space standby man responsibilities

• Imperial Sugar, 2008, United States –

Dust explosion in the process industry is highly dangerous with respect to human safety and equipment damage & environmental concerns. This sugar refinery processed raw cane sugar into granulated sugar. Conveyers and elevators were used to transport sugar through the plant and to large storage silos. An initial dust explosion occurred in a conveyer near the storage silos that dispersed additional sugar dust into the air, leading to secondary dust explosions and fires throughout the facility. Fourteen people were killed, 36 were injured, and the facility was severely damaged. U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) concluded that equipment design and housekeeping practices allowed sugar dust to accumulate that led to the explosions.

 FIRE PUMP SYSTEM

• Bhopal, 1984, India –

One of the major incident in India, A pesticide plant was not operating, but a large release of highly toxic methyl isocyanate (MIC) occurred from storage that resulted in many fatalities and injuries in the nearby community in the middle of the night. Water was introduced into a storage tank containing MIC that led to a runaway reaction and subsequent venting of MIC from the tank. Many safeguards at the site, including tank refrigeration, instrumentation, scrubber, and process flare, were shut down or not operating. The lack in safety awareness on the MIC also a leading factor for the more casualties.

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• Piper Alpha, 1988, United Kingdom –

This incident is one big in the oil & gas industry, Piper Alpha was a large oil platform in the North Sea. After the accidental release of flammable hydrocarbons, a series of explosions and fires occurred that led to total destruction of the platform, 167 fatalities, and a property loss of $1.5 billion. The investigation of the catastrophe determined that a primary cause of the event was a faulty work permit system that separated the work permits for a condensate pump and its associated relief valve, allowing the pump to be inadvertently started up with the relief valve still out-of-service. The ineffective permit to work / work permit system resulted into the loss of many lives and huge property damage.

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Hypothermia & Frostbite - Cold Illness

 

Hypothermia & Frostbite - Cold Illness

The Importance of Spill Control

Cold related injuries also be looked into serious as heat related safety concerns, for the cold injuries it is to prioritize and limit our outside work during low temperature and wind chill extremes, and to use the correct PPE for any outside work.

Pay special consideration to protection of the face & head, hands, wrists, and feet. Gloves with gauntlets should be used to prevent exposed skin areas between the jacket and gloves.

Hypothermia

Hypothermia is one of the serious health concern bcz of the cold temperature, it will lower the body core temperature to the point where it is no longer functioning properly. Hypothermia symptoms include intense shivering, poor coordination, stumbling, loss of memory, thickness of speech and drowsiness.

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Hypothermia is insidious, and left untreated, may result in collapse and sometimes death. Employees to be very careful, Dehydration, or the loss of body fluids, occurs gradually in the cold environment and may raise the susceptibility of workers to cold injury due to a significant change in blood flow to the extremities. During cold climates, Warm, sweet drinks and soups should be taken to the work site to provide caloric intake and fluid volume. Employees with a cold, or flu, or certain diseases, such as diabetes, heart, vascular, and thyroid problems may be more susceptible to the cold/winter elements. Becoming exhausted or immobilized, especially due to injury can speed up the effects of cold weather. It is important to note that most hypothermia cases are reported during cool weather conditions.

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A Practical Guide

Treatment

Prevent further heat loss, contact emergency services, and transport as soon as possible as directed to a medical facility.

Frostbite

Frostbite is very dangerous, its freezing the body tissue. It may range from minor injury (“frost nip”) to complete freezing of an extremity. Untreated frostbitten areas will first become reddened, and then become gray or white, particularly on exposed ear lobes, cheeks, or nose. Left untreated, the skin becomes numb and dead white. Watch co-workers for signs of frostbite.

Treatment

Transport as soon as possible to a medical facility.

RESPIRATORY PROTECTION – Definition of Terms

Steam Hazards and Safety Requirements

 

Steam Hazards and 

Safety Requirements

The Importance of Electrical Safety in Industry

Steam is one of the major utility source in industry and it is used for various purposes. Each cleaning or purging application utilizing steam to eliminate a process equipment flammable atmosphere will require a written specific job plan that is reviewed by a Engineer and Safety office. These plans at a minimum must address the requirements outlined in the Tank / Vessel / Piping Preparation and Cleaning Procedure and the following considerations.

General Safety Requirements

PPE considerations need to be assessed to protect employees from burns from hot surfaces or contact with steam, it to be the last line defense. The exiting steam and waste can form an ignitable mixture once it combines with the outside air. It is important to eliminate ignition sources near the tank / pipe / vessel such as vehicles, heaters, etc. and monitor the wind direction. Place the caution signages to alert the people. The steam plume exiting a vessel, tank or pipe can contain high level of hydrocarbons including benzene. Caution must be used to ensure that employees, offices, or air intakes are not in the path of the plume. Always place barricades and or visible signs as needed. Employees to be trained in the emergency preparedness and evacuation. Safety shower and eye wash provisions to be provided.

Safeguarding Your Construction Site: 

A Practical Guide

Contraction and expansion must be considered for all types of equipment and coatings due to rapid temperature changes. This can affect tanks, vessels, or pipelines. The way equipment is secured and allowed to move must also be considered. This is especially true when using both steam and nitrogen to purge systems. Ensure that the steam nozzle and tank/vessel are bonded together and grounded to prevent static discharge during operations. Follow all energy isolation procedures to prepare the equipment for cleaning or purging.

Environmental Considerations

All solid and liquid waste streams should be managed and disposed of in accordance with the local government guidelines. Some waste streams may require sampling and lab analyses to determine the proper disposal option. Environmental should be contacted prior to generation of wastes. Appropriate spill prevention procedures should be developed and implemented prior to any steaming operation. All spills must be reported per defined procedures. The force of the exiting steam may produce misting containing hydrocarbon residue. Necessities for mist containment must be considered:

The Importance of Electrical Safety in Industry

If a tank is to be steamed it must be determined if the tank is a double walled tank. It is critical that there be a vent between the inner and outer wall of the tank. Usually this vent is located on the upper outer wall of the tank. If no vent is located on the tank, steaming cannot be performed as severe damage to the tank could result. If it is deemed that repairs to the tank walls need to be preformed additional atmospheric testing must be done inside the tank and in the space between the inner and outer wall, all confined space safety requirements must be ensured.

 Hearing Protection Safety Why It Matters

Ventilation Requirements for Confined Space

 

Ventilation Requirements 

for Confined Space

The Importance of Spill Control

Ventilation is very important in confined space for the safe work. Mechanical ventilation (e.g., air movers) in confined space shall be used to ensure the removal of all hazardous airborne contaminants where a hazardous atmosphere exists or could develop during the course of planned work (painting, welding, gas cutting etc.).

Mechanical Ventilation - If the confined space is within process equipment or where combustible or flammable material may be present, mechanical ventilation shall be used during the entire period of occupancy, even if gas testing indicates no hazardous concentrations inside the space.

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Venting - Flammable/toxic gases or vapors vented from a confined space shall be removed in such a manner that the venting does not pose a risk to employees, equipment, or operations. Precautions shall be taken to eliminate potential sources of ignition in areas where flammable gases or vapors are vented.

Procedure for mechanical ventilation - Where practical, mechanical ventilation shall provide air blowing into the bottom or lower portion of the confined space and exhaust out the top or upper portion of the space.

 Heat Stress

Air Contaminants - Blowers or other means of introducing air into a confined space shall be placed so as to minimize the possibility of introducing air contaminants (e.g., CO).

Bonding of Electrical Equipment’s - All electrical and static-producing equipment, including air movers, shall be properly grounded and bonded to the vessel/tank (if applicable).

Mechanical ventilation/cooling shall be directed at the immediate areas where persons are working within the confined space and shall continue until all person(s) have left the space.

Ensuring Safety at Heights in Industry

For some jobs like welding, grit blasting, spray painting, etc., additional ventilation may be necessary to sufficiently reduce the accumulation of hazardous vapor, mist or particulates. Local exhaust ventilation may also be required for such jobs when the internal configuration of the confined space impedes air circulation.

Never Use - Plant air or engine-driven compressed air shall never be used for mechanical ventilation.

Natural Ventilation - In lieu of mechanical ventilation, natural ventilation may be used as the source of ventilation in a confined space only if there is no potential for the development of a hazardous atmosphere. Examples of such locations include entries into open excavations or structures, diked areas surrounding tanks, etc.

Hot Work Safety - A Complete Guide to Safe Practices