Dangers of a Confined Space

Thursday, August 5, 2010 by August Mack Environmental, Inc.

A confined space is a space that meetings the following requirements: large enough for an employee to enter and perform work; has limited or restricted means for entry and exit; and is not designed for continuous employee occupancy. The dangers of confined spaces include the following:

  • Oxygen Deficiency – Oxygen level is less than 19.5 percent
  • Oxygen Enrichment – Oxygen level is greater than 23.5 percent
  • Hazardous Materials
    • Hydrogen Sulfide – H2S – 10 parts per million (PPM)
    • Carbon Monoxide - CO – 35 PPM (NIOSH), 50 PPM (OSHA)
  • Contact with moving equipment or hot surfaces
  • Heat or cold properties – steam or gases
  • Engulfment - surrounding and effective capture of an entrant by a liquid or finely divided solid substance
    • Water rushing into a tank through a pipe that is not blocked/bled off
    • Grain flowing into a bin or vessel
    • Coal conveying into a bunker or tank
To learn more about the dangers of confined spaces, contact one of the health & safety compliance experts at August Mack Environmental at 800.579.0770.

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