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.

 How Technology and Innovation are 

Transforming HSE

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

Ergonomic Safety – Part 2

 

Ergonomic Safety – Part 2

Ventilation Requirements for Confined Space

A proactive approach to Ergonomics will ensure that:

• Engineers will receive training in ergonomics and have appropriate information and guidelines regarding risk reduction

• Management planning new work processes should have knowledge of Ergonomics principles that contribute to the reduction or elimination of risk for the employees.

• Design strategies emphasize fitting job demands to the capabilities and limitations of employees. Incorporate the hierarchy of control, For example, for tasks requiring heavy materials & manual handling, use of mechanical assist devices to reduce the need for manual handling would be designed into the process

• Considering the other aspects of design should include like load design, layout of the workplace to allow for ease of access when using mechanical aids and eliminating unnecessary lifting activities.

Managing Heat Stress in the Workplace : A Complete Guide

Symptoms of MSDs

• Pain

• Weakness

• Stiffness

• Sensitivity

• Swelling

• Burning sensation

• Tingling

• Drowsiness

• Difficulty moving

• Clumsiness

Human Factors in Industry The Key to a 

Safe and Secure Workplace

Basic Ways to Reduce Ergonomic Risks

Hierarchy of control to be applied & Importance to be given for the Engineering Improvements. Engineering advancements include rearranging, modifying, redesigning, or replacing tools, equipment, workstations, packaging, parts, or products. These enhancements can be very effective because they may reduce or eliminate contributing factors. (For example, if your job requires sitting for prolonged periods of time, having an adjustable seat or foot stool so that your knees are higher than your hips helps protect your lower back.)

Administrative Improvements. Administrative improvements include changing work practices or the way work is organized.

• Providing variety / rotation in jobs

• Adjusting work schedules and work pace

• Providing recovery time (i.e., muscle relaxation time)

• Modifying work practices

• Ensuring regular housekeeping and maintenance of work spaces, tools, and equipment

• Encouraging exercise

Personal Protective Equipment. Safety devices, or personal protective equipment (PPE), includes gloves, knee and elbow pads, safety shoe, and other items that employees required to wear for that specific activity.

 Workplace Risk Assessment: 

A Key Step in Improving Safety

What are the advantages of ergonomics?

1. Increased savings

→Less injuries

→More productive and sustainable employees

→Fewer workers’ compensation claims

2. Fewer employees experiencing pain

→Implementing ergonomic improvements can reduce the risk factors that lead to  discomfort.

3. Improved productivity

→Ergonomic improvements can reduce the primary risk factors for MSDs, so workers are more efficient, productive and have greater job satisfaction.

4. Increased morale

→Attention to ergonomics can make employees feel valued because they know their employer is making the workplace safer.

5. Reduced absenteeism

→Ergonomics leads to healthy and pain-free workers who are more likely to be engaged and productive.

Hearing Protection Safety Why It Matters

Definitions of Terms in Chemical Safety

 

Definitions of Terms in Chemical Safety

FIRE PREVENTION & PROTECTION

Threshold Limit Value (TLV) Air-borne concentration of toxic substances which nearly all personnel involved may by repeatedly exposed day after day without adverse effect. TLV values are expressed in ppm (parts per million) or mg/m3.

Time Weighted Average (TLV-TWA) is the time weighted average concentration for a normal eight hour day or 40 hr week. Nearly all persons can be exposed day after day to airborne concentrations at these limits without any adverse effect.

Asphyxiant is a gas, exposure to which leads to a morbid condition caused by the failure of the tissues to receive or utilize oxygen, the fault occurring in the lungs, blood or tissues or caused by dilution of atmospheric oxygen.

Confined Space Physical Hazards – Part 2

Simple asphyxiants are physiologically inert substances that dilute oxygen in the air. Examples are nitrogen, hydrogen, helium, methane and carbon dioxide.

Chemical asphyxiants are substances that interfere with the supply or utilisation of oxygen in the body by chemically reacting with blood, e.g., carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide.

Flammable Limit - A flame can propagate in a mixture of flammable gas and air (or oxygen) only if the concentration of the gas is between two limits known as the lower and upper flammable limits.

Lower Flammable Limit (LFL) - The minimum percent by volume of flammable vapor in air below which flame will not propagate in the mixture.

Process Safety Incidents - Case Studies

Upper Flammable Limit (LFL) – The maximum percent by volume of flammable vapor in air above which flame will not propagate .in the mixture.

CAS Number - Chemical Abstract Service. Registry of chemicals by assigning numerical identification

Chronic Health Effect - An adverse effect with symptoms that develop or recur very slowly, or over long periods of time as a result of continued or periodic exposure to the offending agent

Acute Health Effect - A severe effect which occurs rapidly after a brief intense exposure to a substance. ANSI - American National Standards Institute is a private group that develops consensus standards.

SPILL & WASTE CONTROL

Ergonomic Safety – Part 1

 

Ergonomic Safety – Part 1

Use of Explosives & Safety Measures

Workplace Ergonomics is very important for the employees, especially the repetitive works have great concern. Ergonomics is the science of fitting jobs to workers instead of trying to get the worker to fit the job. It concentrates on designing workstations, tools & work tasks for safety, efficiency and comfort. Ergonomics study helps to decrease fatigue and injuries, along with improving comfort, productivity, job satisfaction and safety to employees.

Ergonomics is very important to all employees because when you’re doing a job and your body is stressed by an awkward posture, excessive temperature, or repeated movement your musculoskeletal system is impacted. Employees may begin to have symptoms such as fatigue, discomfort, and pain, which can be the first signs of a musculoskeletal disorder(MSD).

Safety Training Videos with Pictorial Guidelines

What are Musculoskeletal Disorders(MSDs)?

MSD is the result of longtime exposure. Musculoskeletal disorders or MSDs are cumulative and chronic injuries of the soft tissue-muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, joints, and blood vessels. The body has limits and can fail or wear out when abused or misused. MSDs are defined as injuries to muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves and discs that are caused or aggravated by our actions and/or environment that does not follow safe and healthy work practices.

A known MSD is carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS) which occurs when the nerve, which runs from the forearm into the palm of the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist. The carpal tunnel - a narrow, rigid passageway of ligament and bones at the base of the hand - houses the median nerve and tendons. Sometimes, thickening from irritated tendons or other swelling narrows the tunnel and causes the median nerve to be compressed resulting in pain, weakness, loss of grip or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm. With this, the employee cannot be able to work safely resulting into incidents.

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Operation Safety for Lifting Appliances

 

Operation Safety for Lifting Appliances

Workplace Risk Assessment: A Key Step in Improving Safety

Every crane or lifting appliance operator shall possess required skill and training in the operation of the particular lifting appliances, provided further that

Engaging young - No person under eighteen years of age shall be in control of any lifting machine, scaffold winch, or give signals to the operator;

Necessary all precaution shall be taken by the trained operator to prevent lifting appliance from being set in motion inadvertently;

Crane Operation Signals - The operation of lifting appliances shall be governed by signals in conformity with the approved standards;

Attention to Crane Operation - The operator’s attention shall not be distracted while he is working;

Ensuring a Safe and Healthy Workplace: The Importance of Occupational Health

Safe Working Load(SWL) - No crane, hoist, winch or other lifting appliance or any part of such crane, hoist, winch or other lifting appliance shall, except for testing purposes, be loaded beyond the safe working load;

Suspended Load - During the hoisting operation by the crane, effective precaution shall be taken to prevent any employees from standing or passing under the suspended load in such operation;

Operator shall not leave lifting appliance unattended while crane engine power is on or the load is suspended to such appliance;

Horseplay - No person shall ride on a suspended load of any lifting appliance;

Prevent Danger - Every part of a load in course of being hoisted or lowered shall bee adequately suspended and supported;

Hot Work Safety - A Complete Guide to Safe Practices

Every receptacle used for hoisting bricks, tiles, slates or other material shall be suitably enclosed as to prevent the fall of any such material;

The hoisting platform shall be enclosed when loose material or loaded wheel barrows are placed directly on such platform or lowering such materials or wheel barrows;

Avoid Sudden Jerk - No material shall be raised, lowered or slewed with any lifting appliance in such a way as to cause sudden jerks to such appliance;

In hoisting a barrow, any wheel of such barrow shall not used be as a means of support unless adequate steps have been taken to prevent the axle of such wheel from slipping out of its bearing;

The Importance of Electrical Safety in Industry

Guide Rope/Tag Line - Long objects like planks or girders shall be provided with tag line to prevent any possibility of danger while raising or lowering such objects;

During the process of landing or material, a building employee shall not be permitted to lean out into empty space for finding out the loading and unloading of such material;

When hoisting of load is done in an enclosed space, neither the lifting material nor the boom shall project outside the enclosed space;

Contact with any Objects – All required steps shall be taken to prevent a load, in the course of being hoisted or lowered from coming into contact with any object to avoid any displacement of such load and appropriate appliances provided and used for guiding heavy loads when raising or lowering heavy loads to avoid crushing of hands of building workers during such raising or lowering of loads.

 Construction Safety Pictorial Guidelines