Environmental Health and Safety Services

The responsibilities of an entry supervisor for a confined space are:

• Know space hazards including information on the mode of exposure, signs or symptoms and the consequences of exposure
• Verify emergency plans and specified entry conditions such as permits, tests, procedures and equipment before allowing entry
• Terminate entry and cancel permits when entry operations are completed or if a new condition exists
• Verify that rescue services are available and that the means for summoning them are operable
• Take appropriate measures to remove unauthorized entrants
• Ensure that the entry operations remain consistent with the entry permit and that acceptable entry conditions are maintained

When preparing for entry into a confined space, you may need the following equipment:

• Ventilation
  • Does the space have potential for a hazardous atmosphere? If so, the space needs to be ventilated.
• Permits
  • A confined space permit needs to be filled out and reviewed by the entry supervisor, the entrants and observers.
• Testing Equipment
  • Air monitoring must be conducted prior to and during entry
  • Results are recorded on the confined space permit
  • All levels of the space need to be tested (top to bottom)
    • Some gases float and others pool
  • Testing needs to be done for oxygen content, lower explosive limits (LEL), hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide, at a minimum.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Special PPE is sometimes required
  • If the space is a permit-required confined space, then a harness and retractable lifeline may be required, so that rescue can be done without entering the space.
  • Respirator protection
  • Specialized clothing/gloves/boots
    • Protect against contamination, lacerations and potential falls

• Communication equipment (walkie-talkie, cell phone if non-flammable atmosphere)
• Audible or visual alarms
• Fire extinguisher
• Explosion-proof lighting
• Rescue and retrieval equipment
• Ventilation equipment
• Barriers, shields and signs

• No Notice of Violations (NOVs) or Notice of Deficiencies (NODs) from any of the regulatory agency inspections
   
• Reduces personnel, turnover, travel and training
   
• Ensured compliance eliminates regulatory fines and penalties
   
• Reduces future environmental, health and safety (EH&S) issues by addressing issues in a timely and efficient manner

August Mack Environmental, Inc., a full-service environmental, health and safety (EH&S) consulting firm, is pleased to the promotion of Bennett Thayer to Office Manager for the Dublin, Ohio office. Since joining August Mack in 2004, Thayer has served as a field scientist, staff scientist and project manager.

With more than eight years of experience, Thayer specializes in local, state and federal environmental compliance; environmental, health and safety (EH&S) servicing and reporting; environmental management program development and implementation; biological assessment and environmental investigations; groundwater monitoring; subsurface investigations; underground storage tank (UST) closure; environmental site assessments; wetland determinations and delineations; remedial system operations and maintenance; work plan design and implementation; asbestos surveys; Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) preparation and implementation; and Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) Plan preparation and implementation. In his new role as an office manager, Thayer will be responsible for managing the office’s daily operations, providing technical oversight for projects and managing the office’s growing staff. According to Bryan Petriko, vice president and principal environmental engineer for August Mack, “During the past six years at August Mack, Ben has shown exemplary strength in leadership, technical knowledge, resource management and client management. These qualities made him an excellent choice for the Office Manager position of our Ohio office. I am confident that our Ohio office will continue to flourish under his leadership.”

Thayer received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Science from Otterbein College.

August Mack Environmental, Inc. is a full-service environmental, health and safety (EH&S) consulting firm specializing in regulatory compliance; environmental due diligence and risk management; site investigation/remediation/closure; and sustainability services to the industrial, legal, financial, health care and government sectors throughout North America. August Mack has offices in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania. For more information on the company’s products and services, call 317.916.8000 or visit www.augustmack.com.