Page 8 - Confined Space Entry - CCPS Safe Work Practice

Strategies and Effective Practices

to Manage and Mitigate Hazards

Have the proper safety equipment for entry and exit and rescue

g The permit should specify the required safety equipment and PPE required for entrants.
g The permit should include a rescue plan and specify the safety equipment and PPE required for the rescue team,
along with equipment needed to execute a rescue.

g Perform checks of PPE (such as fall arrestors or breathing air equipment) prior to entry to ensure it is in good
working condition.
g Assure that rescue equipment is available and set up as per the rescue plan.

Plan for rescue operations. Use trained rescue teams that can respond
in a timely manner

g Qualified / trained rescue team members should be identified in the permit.
g Use a dedicated channel for confined space entry rescuers so that they can communicate with plant management
and other emergency management personnel without interference from other plant activities.
g A rescue team may be asked to provide coverage for several simultaneous confined space entries. If the rescue
team is summoned for a rescue, confined space entries in other areas may need to be discontinued until the rescue
team is available again.
g Train all personnel (including Entry Attendants) on the rescue operation plan.

Prior to Confined Space Entry, apply other SWPs such as Energy Isolation
and Line Opening to ensure that:

g Equipment and lines are emptied, purged, flushed, drained, vented, and isolated as needed to ensure that the
system is free from hazards. Isolate electrical energy, de-energize rotating equipment and other equipment that
can store kinetic or potential energy, and isolate radiation sources prior to entry.

Recognize that work activities in the confined space may cause additional hazards

g Welding can create hazardous gasses in confined spaces and represents an additional hazard.
Continuous atmospheric monitoring and ventilation is recommended during welding operations.

g Pneumatic tools should only be operated with air (not nitrogen) in confined spaces.

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