CHAPTER 8 – CONFINED SPACE

1.0 REFERENCES AND RESOURCES:

2.0 APPENDICES:

Appendix A Confined Space Survey Summary

Appendix B Confined Space Entry Form (Double click on a form to open in a separate document)

3.0 PURPOSE and SCOPE:

The VCEA Confined Space Program establishes policy to protect VCEA employees from hazards, associated with confined space entry. A confined space must meet all of the following requirements to be subject to the requirements in this chapter:

Large enough for an employee to enter fully;
Restricted entrance and exit e.g. tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, excavations, and pits;
Not primarily designed for continuous human occupancy.

A permit required confined space meets the above requirements and one or more of the following characteristics:

Contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere;
Contains a material with the potential for engulfing someone who enters;
Has an internal configuration that could allow someone entering to be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor, which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross section;
Contains any physical hazard. This includes any recognized health or safety hazards including engulfment in solid or liquid material, electrical shock, or moving parts;
Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard that could either:

(a) Impair the ability to self-rescue; or

(b) Result in a situation that presents an immediate danger to life or health.

VCEA employees will not enter permit required confined spaces. However, alternate entry procedures may be utilized to control hazards as described in the following sections.

4.0 RESPONSIBILITIES:

VCEA Supervisors (or Faculty, PI of the laboratory or Administrative Professional) are responsible for identifying projects and tasks subject to this chapter and verifying conditions allowing for entry into a non-permit required confined space.

VCEA Supervisors shall identify the individual responsible for completing the confined space entry form provided in Appendix B and a copy of that form is provided to the Department’s safety representative, when employees are entering confined spaces or alternate entry confined spaces identified in Appendix A.

VCEA Supervisors shall ensure employees receive the training necessary to identify confined spaces, evaluate confined space hazards and ensure employees demonstrate proficiency in their knowledge of confined spaces and confined space hazards.

VCEA Supervisors are responsible for ensuring employees adhere to this Chapter’s requirements.

Note: It is possible that in the course of assigning employees work, a supervisor may unknowingly assign employees to tasks which require confined space entry; therefore:

VCEA Employees will participate in confined space training and are responsible for identifying tasks requiring confined space entry to their supervisor if encountered.

DEFINITIONS:

Refer to the definitions as outlined in WAC 296-809-099 – Definitions

5.0 TRAINING REQUIREMENTS:

This program will provide guidance on classifying permit required and non-permit required confined spaces, along with identifying designated employee duties and use of required equipment.

Employees must receive the Confined Space Awareness training prior to performing work if required by their individual job tracks in Train Track. Training includes the use of multi gas detectors to evaluate potential atmospheric hazards.
Employees shall receive training before evaluating confined space hazards, including potential atmospheric hazards and documenting that evaluation on the confined space entry form provided in Appendix B. Prior evaluation of the Confined space can be obtained from EH&S and/or Department’s safety representative.
Training shall be documented and competency will be verified with testing or field verification by the immediate supervisor.
The employee’s immediate supervisor provides information to affected employees and contractors about the existence, location, and danger of any permit-required confined spaces in the workplace by posting danger signs and/or training, other equally effective means to inform employees.
Employees must receive sufficient training to:
- Identify a confined space as defined in Section 3.0;
- Understand the controls in place e.g. lock-out-tag-out (see Chapter XX) to render the space “non-permit required.”
Supervisors must receive sufficient training to evaluate hazardous atmospheres and other potential hazards outlined in Section 3.0 defining a permit required confined space. Supervisors may consult with additional subject matter experts as needed to support this evaluation.
Facilities Services will provide protective measures such as posting signs reading; Danger-Permit Required Confined Space, “DO NOT ENTER” or other similar wording, or protective measure that may include bolted covers, or locks.
VCEA personnel may be trained as attendants to assist Facilities Services personnel entering permit required confined spaces.

6.0 NON-PERMIT REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PROCEDURE:

The supervisor is responsible for determining if a confined space meets non-permitted conditions. Non-permit required confined spaces are identified in Appendix A. EH&S may be consulted if questions arise during this process. The following requirements and conditions must be met in order to classify a confined space as non-permitted:

The confined space does not contain any actual or potential hazards or hazardous atmosphere, capable of causing death or serious physical harm. This includes any recognized health or safety hazards including engulfment in solid or liquid material, electrical shock, or moving parts, etc.

Document for entering no permit-required confined space form provided as Appendix B. This form must be signed by the supervisor or a qualified individual identified by the supervisor e.g. lead.

All employees must exit the confined space if a hazard is identified/develops.

7.0 CONFINED SPACE ALTERNATIVE METHODS:

Alternate entry procedures shall be applied to all non-permit required confined spaces. EH&S may be consulted if questions arise during this process. The following requirements and conditions apply when entering confined spaces:

Note: To apply alternative methods, you must document monitoring and inspection information supporting the following:

• All physical hazards are eliminated e.g. lock-out tag-out, line breaking or blanking.

• The only potential or actual remaining hazard is a hazardous atmosphere. DO NOT ENTER A CONFINED SPACE TO EVALUATE ATMOSPHERIC HAZARDS. USE A 4 GAS METER AND ATTACHED PROBE.

• If hazardous atmospheric conditions are identified, forced air ventilation must be sufficient to control the atmospheric hazard.

• Document atmospheric monitoring data collection and applicable controls on the confined space entry form provided in Appendix B. This information must be immediately available to all entrants.

Follow these alternative methods for confined space entry.

• Eliminate any unsafe conditions before removing an entrance cover.

When entrance covers are removed, promptly guard the opening with a railing, temporary cover, or other temporary barrier to prevent accidental falls through the opening and protect entrants from objects falling into the space.
- Certify that pre-entry measures have been taken (such as safe removal of the cover and having protection needed to gather pre-entry data), with the date, location of the space, and signature of the person certifying. Enter this information in the confined space entry form provided in Appendix B.
- Make the pre-entry certification (Appendix B) available before entry to each entrant.
Before an employee enters the confined space, test the internal atmosphere with a calibrated, direct-reading instrument and probe (do not enter the space) for all of the following, in this order:
- Oxygen content.
- Flammable gases and vapors.
- Potential toxic air contaminants (hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide).
Provide entrants, or their authorized representatives, with an opportunity to observe pre-entry and periodic atmospheric testing.
Ensure the atmosphere within the space is not hazardous when entrants are present e.g. continuous monitoring and forced air ventilation as necessary.
When hazardous atmospheres are identified, use continuous forced air ventilation, as follows:
- Wait until the forced air ventilation has controlled the hazardous atmosphere before allowing entry.
- Direct forced air ventilation toward the immediate areas where employees will enter and work, and continue ventilation until all employees have left the space.
- Provide the air supply from a clean source and make sure it does not increase hazards in the space.
Continually monitor the atmosphere within the space to ensure hazards do not accumulate.
If a hazardous atmosphere is detected while personnel are in the confined space, do all of the following:
- Evacuate employees from the space immediately.
- Evaluate the space to determine how the hazardous atmosphere developed.
- Implement measures to protect employees from the hazardous atmosphere before continuing the entry operation.
- Verify the space is safe for entry before continuing the entry operation, under a new, revised confined space entry form.

8.0 CONFINED SPACE RECORD KEEPING:

Completed entry forms shall be submitted to the Department’s safety representative for VCEA filing and retention. The Department’s safety representative will keep entry forms for at least one year. In some special circumstances, records may be kept for longer than the one year period. Some special circumstances include:

There was an unauthorized entry of a permit required space.
A new hazard was identified.
A prohibited condition occurred.
An injury or near miss occurred.
There is a change in the use or configuration of the space.
Employee complaint.

The EH&S representative will complete annual evaluations of confined space permits when first line supervisors (such as Faculty, PI of the laboratory space or Administrative Professional) and Department’s safety representative monitor the process and provide necessary information. This permit review will be done jointly with all parties. Annual reviews led by the EH&S representative will include the following items:

The overall confined space program.
Individual confined space forms that were completed in the last calendar year.
The protection provided to employees entering confined spaces.

9.0 CONFINED SPACE EQUIPMENT:

The direct VCEA supervisor and confined space entry supervisor shall ensure that affected employees, entrants and attendants are provided with, and properly use equipment associated with confined space entry. The unit supervisor will be responsible for maintaining the equipment.

WAC code 296-809-50010 equipment table:

Typical Equipment Required:	Use
Testing and monitoring equipment	Evaluating confined space conditions
Ventilating equipment	Obtaining and maintaining acceptable entry conditions
Communication equipment	Effective communication between the attendant and the entrants and to initiate rescue when required
Personal protective equipment (PPE)	Protecting employees from hazards of the space or the work performed
Lighting equipment	Employees to see well enough to work safely and to exit the space quickly in an emergency
Barriers or shields, such as pedestrian, vehicle or other barriers	Protecting employees from hazards outside of the space
Ladders	Safe entry and exit by entrants
Rescue and emergency equipment, except for equipment provided by the rescue service provider	Safe and effective rescue
Any other equipment	Safe entry into and rescue from permit-required confined spaces

Confined space atmospheres will be evaluated with a 4 gas meter and/or other direct reading instruments as necessary (whenever there is reason to suspect a hazardous atmosphere), VCEA personnel will not enter confined spaces with hazardous atmospheres. Engulfment sources or sources of hazardous energy and/or equipment will be locked-out (see Chapter XX) to render the space not permit required prior to personnel entry. All criteria in Section 3.0 defining a permit required confined space shall be eliminated prior to personnel entry.

CONFINED SPACE RESCUE TEAM DESCRIPTION:

The WSU Facilities Services Department has partnered with the City of Pullman to provide rescue extraction services for confined spaces as required. The City of Pullman will coordinate and complete the following requirements for proper support. The EH&S representative will inform the rescue team of hazards they may confront during rescues. Required elements for the City of Pullman are:

Respond to a rescue call in a timely manner, based on identified hazards.
Rescuer will have the capability to reach potential victims within appropriate time.
Ensure that at least one member of the rescue team holds a current certification in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Develop appropriate rescue plans, practice rescue operations and provide proper team training.

CONFINED SPACE AND CONTRACTOR MANAGEMENT

The contractor is responsible for following all confined space requirements as outlined in their own confined space entry program. Contractors are not to enter WSU confined spaces under WSU’s Facilities Services program, unless approved by a supervisor and they have been trained in all aspects of the WSU Facilities Services program and have completed the required training.

The Facilities Services assigned project manager shall be responsible for the following:

Inform the contractor that the workplace contains confined spaces or permit-required confined spaces.
Identify the hazards within each confined space.
Review precautions or procedures required by WSU.
Coordinate entry operations with the contractor, including control of hazardous energy, when contractor employees will be working in confined spaces.
Discuss entry operations with the contractor.

# Location Space CS PRCS APCS Sign Notes 44 CA Steam Plant Coal Bin #1 Y Y N No No entry required except to demo 45 CA Steam Plant Coal Bins #3, 4 & 5 Y Y N No No entry required except to demo 38 Feed Mill Roof Top Grain Bins Y Y N Yes A new sign is needed 43 GW Steam Plant Oil Tank Y Y N No A sign is needed 1 Beef Center Large Bin Y N N Yes No entry required 2 Beef Center Medium Bin Y N N No No entry required 3 Beef Center Small Bin Y N N No No entry required 4 Cattle Feeding Labs Grain Bin 1 Y N N No No entry required 5 Cattle Feeding Labs Grain Bin 2 Y N N No No entry required 6 Cattle Feeding Labs Grain Bin 3 Y N N No No entry required 7 Cattle Feeding Labs Grain Bin 4 Y N N No No entry required 8 Cattle Feeding Labs Grain Bin 5 Y N N No No entry required 9 Cattle Feeding Labs Grain Bin 6 Y N N No No entry required 10 Cattle Feeding Labs Grain Bin 7 Y N N No No entry required 11 Cattle Feeding Labs Grain Bin 8 Y N N No No entry required 12 Cattle Feeding Labs Grain Bin 9 Y N N No No entry required 13 Cattle Reproduction Labs Grain Bin N Y N N No No entry required 14 Cattle Reproduction Labs Grain Bin S Y N N No No entry required 15 Central Stores N Filling Shed N N N NA This operation is moving 16 Creamery Cheese Vat Y N N Yes LOTO from outside the space 17 Creamery Pasteurizer Vat Y N N Yes LOTO from outside the space 19 Dairy Center CUDS Milk Storage Tank Y N N Yes LOTO from outside the space

Appendix A: Confined Space Survey Summary Confined Space Survey Summary

#	Location	Space	CS	PRCS	APCS	Sign	Notes
20	Dairy Center	Grain Bin 1	Y	N	N	No	Hazards controlled from outside space
25	Dairy Center	Grain Bin 10	Y	N	N	No	Hazards controlled from outside space
26	Dairy Center	Grain Bin 12	Y	N	N	No	Hazards controlled from outside space
27	Dairy Center	Grain Bin 13	Y	N	N	No	Hazards controlled from outside space
21	Dairy Center	Grain Bin 2	Y	N	N	No	Hazards controlled from outside space
23	Dairy Center	Grain Bin 8 (labeled 7 2030)	Y	N	N	No	Hazards controlled from outside space
24	Dairy Center	Grain Bin 9 (labeled 2012)	Y	N	N	No	Hazards controlled from outside space
22	Dairy Center	Grain Bins 3-6	Y	N	N	No	Hazards controlled from outside space
18	Dairy Center	Mothballed Grain Bin	Y	N	N	No	Bin is moth-balled; used for parts
28	Dairy Center	Knott Milk Storage Tank	Y	N	N	Yes	LOTO from outside the space
29	Feed Mill	L1 Elevator Leg Access Pit	Y	N	Y	No	A sign is needed
30	Feed Mill	Big Fat Tank	Y	N	N	Yes	No entry required
31	Feed Mill	South Elevator Pit	Y	N	Y	No	A sign is needed
32	Feed Mill	Weigh Hopper	Y	N	N	Yes	No entry required
33	Feed Mill	Molasses Tank (disabled)	Y	N	N	Yes	No entry required
34	Feed Mill	L2 Elevator Pit	Y	N	Y	No	A sign is needed
35	Feed Mill	Old Fat Tank (disabled)	Y	N	N	Yes	No entry required
36	Feed Mill	Outside Molasses Tank	Y	N	N	Yes	No entry required
37	Feed Mill	Sump	Y	N	Y	Yes	A new sign is needed
39	Golf Course	Backflow Preventer Pit	Y	N	N	No
40	Golf Course	Water Meter Pit	Y	N	N	No
41	Nat. Res. Airport Way	Water Shut-Off Valve	Y	N	N	No
42	Nat. Res. Airport Way	Pump House	N	N	N	No
46	Swine Center	Grain Bin 1002	Y	N	N	No	No entry required
47	Swine Center	Grain Bin 1021	Y	N	N	No	No entry required
48	Swine Center	Grain Bin 1	Y	N	N	No	No entry required
49	Swine Center	Grain Bin 2	Y	N	N	No	No entry required

#	Location	Space	CS	PRCS	APCS	Sign	Notes
50	Swine Center	Grain Bin 3	Y	N	N	No	No entry required
51	Swine Center	Grain Bin 4	Y	N	N	No	No entry required
52	Swine Center	Grain Bin 5	Y	N	N	No	No entry required
53	Swine Center	Grain Bin 6	Y	N	N	No	No entry required
54	Swine Center	Grain Bin 7	Y	N	N	No	No entry required
55	Swine Center	Grain Bin 8	Y	N	N	No	No entry required
56	Swine Center	Grain Bin 9	Y	N	N	No	No entry required
57	Tukey Farm	Water Meter Pit	Y	N	N	No
58	Fuel Pump Area	3 Wells	Y	N	Y	No	Procedures documented
59	Campus Wide	Sanitary Sewer System	Y	N	Y	No	Procedures documented
60	Campus Wide	Storm Water System	Y	N	Y	No	Procedures documented
61	Sloan Hall Subbasement 2 (access through B-2)	56,000 gal Water Storage Tank	Y	N	Y	Yes	Drain water, lockout water sources and evaluate atmosphere prior to entry
62	Sloan Hall B-6	Weighting Water Tanks	Y	N	Y	No	Drain water and lockout water sources prior to entry
63	Sloan Hall Subbasement 1 (access through B-6)		Y	N	Y	No
64	Sloan Hall Penthouse	Head Pressure Water Tank	Y	N	Y	No	Drain water and lockout water sources prior to entry
65	Albrook Hydraulic Laboratory Room 30	28,000 gal Water Storage Sump	Y	N	Y	No	Drain water and lockout water sources prior to entry
66	Albrook Hydraulic Laboratory Room 30	Tilting Flume Frame on a West wall	Y	N	Y	No	Lockout tilting mechanism remote
67	Albrook Hydraulic Laboratory Room 30	Crawl Space under the Broad walk next to the Zero Gravity Flume	Y	N	Y	No
68	Albrook Hydraulic Laboratory Room 30	Crawl Space under the Green radial Flume with Jets	Y	N	Y	No

#	Location	Space	CS	PRCS	APCS	Sign	Notes
69	Albrook Hydraulic Laboratory Room 50	Crawl Space under the old Dam Model	Y	N	Y	No
70	Access through Albrook Hydraulic Laboratory Room B-1 (shed area) 2SB and 3SB	Pump Well (First part of the Dead Sump)	Y	N	Y	No	Drain water and lockout water sources prior to entry, check the atmosphere.
71	Access through Albrook Hydraulic Laboratory Room B-1 (shed area)	Crawl space near Pump room, pit under “dive” tank	Y	Y	N	No
72	Access through Albrook Hydraulic Laboratory Room B-1 (shed area)	Pump room, mechanical room adjacent to lower 1SB level	Y	N	Y	No
73	Albrook Hydraulic Laboratory Room B-1	Sloped Sump (second part of the Dead Sump)	Y	Y	N	No	Drain water and lockout water sources prior to entry, check the atmosphere.

CS: Confined Space PRCS: Permit Required Confined Space APCS: Alternate Procedures Confined Space

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