Hazard Alert: Confined Spaces

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  CPWR--The Center for Construction Research and Training
• Description:
  What is a confined space? It is a work space that has: a) Limited or restricted ways to get in and get out and b) Is not designed for people to work in it. Examples of confined spaces are: Tanks, Boilers, Vessels, Vaults, Pipes, Manholes, Crawl spaces, Equipment rooms, some HVAC equipment, and even trenchesand excavations. How can a confined space kill me? Hundreds of construction workers are severely injured in confined spaces each year, and many of them die from: a) Lack of oxygen, b) Explosive or flammable vapors, c) Toxic fumes, d) Uncontrolled fluids can enter and drown you, e) Flowable solids like grain or sand. More than a third of the confined space deaths happen to untrained co-workers or friends who try to rescue a worker who has collapsedin a confined space. Know the basics... 1) Ask questions - It is the employer's responsibility to provide a safe workplace. If you think you may be entering a confined space, ask the competent person on your worksite. Do not enter without proper training. Never enter alone. 2) Get training - Your employer must train you for confined space work (an online course is not adequate). Know possible hazards before entering and be sure they are addressed in the entry plan. 3) Test air before entering - Never enter a confined space before air is tested. The employer must have the air checked first for proper oxygen levels, then for flammable or explosive gases or vapors, and finally for toxic gases or vapors. If there is a problem with the air, don't go in. Control the hazards your work may create Remember that the work you are doing in a confined space may create hazards. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Air Pollution Confined Spaces Construction Industry Environmental Monitoring Hazardous Substances Occupational Health Oxygen Safety Safety Management Staff Development Ventilation

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• Keywords:
  Air Quality Air Sampling Confined Spaces Construction Construction-equipment Construction-industry Construction-workers Hazard Controls Hazard Identification Hazard Recognition Oxygen Deficient Atmospheres Safety-education Safety-programs Toxic Fumes Toxic Gases Toxic Materials Toxic Vapors Training

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• Series:
  CPWR - Center for Construction Research and Training Publications
• Subseries:
  Hazard Alerts
• Publisher:
  CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Report
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; OSHA Region 3
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1 pdf page
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20049684
• Citation:
  Silver Spring, MD: CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training, 2016 Aug; :1
• CAS Registry Number:
  Oxygen (CAS RN 7782-44-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction
• Performing Organization:
  CPWR - The Center for Construction Research and Training, Silver Spring, Maryland
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20090901
• End Date:
  20240831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:b6d1627a109f62816e8ebb822a3058c4a1c5936b007469c414a4d04beeab679df37b4aafb0a4427ac2323513a5ab529362302cfcf9bb9f7d97a65bb83346aae2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/212898/cdc_212898_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.43 MB ]