Support and management of this policy. Ensure policy is adhered to by all employees.

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Kathleen Patricia Ray
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1.0 Scpe and Applicatin Kensha Cunty has develped the fllwing prgram t prtect emplyees wh must wrk in cnfined spaces that cntain serius safety and/r health related hazards.

1 1.0 Scpe and Applicatin Kensha Cunty has develped the fllwing prgram t prtect emplyees wh must wrk in cnfined spaces that cntain serius safety and/r health related hazards. Only authrized emplyees may enter a cnfined space. This plicy cmplies with Chapter 32 (Public Emplyee Safety and Health) f the Wiscnsin Administrative cde as prmulgated by the Wiscnsin Department f Cmmerce and 29 CFR () prmulgated by the U.S. Occupatinal Safety and Health Administratin. 2.0 Respnsibilities Risk Manager: Supprt and management f this plicy. Cnsult with affected emplyees and their authrized representatives n the develpment and implementatin f all aspects f the permit space prgram. Perfrms annual review f prgrams effectiveness. Department Heads: Implementatin f plicy. Identify all cnfined spaces in their department that emplyees may enter and ensure they are labeled and/r cmmunicated t emplyees. Supervisrs: Ensure plicy is adhered t by all emplyees. Acts as Entry Supervisr. Cnducts pre-entry briefings. Authrizes Entrants and Attendants. Authrizes entry permits. Maintains entry safety equipment. Emplyees: See specific requirements fr Attendant and Entrant respnsibilities. All emplyees are respnsible fr cmplying with the requirements cntained in this plicy. Failure t abide by these requirements may subject the emplyee t disciplinary actin, up t and including discharge. Kensha Cunty Safety Manual Page 154 f 200

2 3.0 Departmental Plices and Requirements This plicy represents minimum cnfined space entry requirements. Departments having emplyees wh wrk in cnfined spaces such as Highways, Parks and Facilities will develp specific entry prcedures fr each type f cnfined space that their emplyees may enter, including sewers. 4.0 Definitins Cnfined Space: Any space that meets the fllwing three criteria: Is large enugh and s cnfigured that an emplyee can bdily enter the space and perfrm assigned wrk and; Has limited r restricted means fr entry and exit (e.g. tanks, vessels, tunnels, pits, etc.) and; Is nt designated fr cntinuus human ccupancy. Cnfined space examples include tanks, pits, vats, crawl spaces, tunnels, sewers, etc. Permit Required Cnfined Space: A cnfined space that cntains any f the fllwing cnditins: Cntains r has a ptential t cntain a hazardus atmsphere; Cntains a material that has the ptential fr engulfing an Entrant; Has an internal cnfiguratin such that an Entrant culd be trapped r asphyxiated by inwardly cnverging walls r by a flr which slpes dwnward and tapers t a smaller crss-sectin; r Cntains any ther recgnized serius safety r health hazard (e.g. physical, mechanical, electrical, etc.) Permit required cnfined spaces typically include sewers, tanks, pits, bilers, chimneys. 5.0 Training Training will be prvided s that all emplyees wh are authrized t enter and wrk in cnfined spaces acquire the understanding, knwledge, and skills necessary fr the safe perfrmance f their duties assigned under this plicy. Training will be prvided t each affected emplyee at the fllwing intervals: Kensha Cunty Safety Manual Page 155 f 200

3 Befre the emplyee is first assigned duties under this sectin; Befre there is a change in assigned duties; Whenever there is a change in permit space peratins that presents a hazard abut which an emplyee has nt previusly been trained; Whenever the Supervisr has reasn t believe either that there are deviatins frm the permit space entry prcedures r that there are inadequacies in the emplyee's knwledge r use f these prcedures. All emplyees will be infrmed by the Supervisr at the time f hire that they are nt allwed t enter a cnfined space fr any reasn unless they are specifically authrized and have received the training described abve. 6.0 Dcumentatin Requirements Cpies f all cnfined space entry permits are t be maintained n file fr a perid f ne (1) year by the Supervisr f each department that perfrms cnfined space entries. Training certificatins are t cntain each emplyee's name, the signatures r initials f the trainers, and the dates f training. The certificatin must be available fr inspectin by emplyees and their authrized representatives. Supervisrs will keep n file recrds f calibratin fr all atmspheric test meters shwing when the unit(s) was last calibrated. 7.0 General Requirements a) Each Department Head shall evaluate the wrk space and equipment used within their department t identify permit required cnfined spaces. b) The Facilities Department will be respnsible fr marking all building type permit required cnfined spaces. All ther departments are respnsible fr marking their respective permit required cnfined spaces. Markings shall read: DANGER -- PERMIT- REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE, DO NOT ENTER r similar verbiage. Markings are nt required if equally effective means f identifying permit required cnfined spaces are made available t emplyees. Fr example, marking wuld nt be required fr sewer manhles if the Department institutes a prgram that ensures all emplyees are made aware that sewers are cnsidered t be permit required cnfined spaces. c) Department Heads shall specify which emplyees r which jb classificatins are authrized t enter cnfined spaces. Kensha Cunty Safety Manual Page 156 f 200

4 d) If an injured Entrant is expsed t a substance fr which a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) r ther similar written infrmatin is required t be kept at the wrksite, that MSDS r written infrmatin will be made available t the medical facility treating the expsed Entrant. e) All designated Entrants and Attendants will be trained in first aid, CPR and be enrlled in the Cunty s Bldbrne Pathgens prgram. f) A cnfined space is cnsidered t be entered if any part f the bdy breaks the plane t the pening f the cnfined space. g) Alternate entry prcedures fr spaces nly cntaining an actual r ptentially hazardus atmsphere are nt allwed. All entries fr permit required cnfined spaces must fllw the permit required entry prcedures cntained in this plicy. h) The Risk Manager will review entry peratins whenever the Cunty has reasn t believe that the measures taken under the permit space prgram may nt prtect emplyees and revise the prgram t crrect deficiencies fund t exist befre subsequent entries are authrized. NOTE: Examples f circumstances requiring the review f the permit space prgram are: any unauthrized entry f a permit space, the detectin f a permit space hazard nt cvered by the permit, the detectin f a cnditin prhibited by the permit, the ccurrence f an injury r near-miss during entry, a change in the use r cnfiguratin f a permit space, and emplyee cmplaints abut the effectiveness f the prgram. The Risk Manager will als perfrm a standard annual review f the effectiveness f the cnfined space prgram by reviewing all entry permits that were issued in the prir twelve (12) mnth perid. i) N eating, drinking r smking are allwed in any cnfined space. j) Welding, cutting r brazing shall be perfrmed in accrdance with the Cunty s Welding and Cutting Plicy. k) All cnfined space test meters will be calibrated as per the manufacturer s recmmendatins and recrds shall be maintained shwing the date the unit was last calibrated. 8.0 Entrant Duties Kensha Cunty Safety Manual Page 157 f 200

5 Entrants shall be respnsible fr: Knwing the hazards that may be faced during entry, including infrmatin n the mde, signs r symptms, and cnsequences f the expsure; Prperly using safety and mnitring equipment; Cmmunicating with the Attendant as necessary t enable the Attendant t mnitr Entrant status and t enable the Attendant t alert Entrants f the need t evacuate the space if necessary. Additinally, the Entrant is respnsible fr alerting the Attendant whenever the Entrant recgnizes any warning sign r symptm f expsure t a dangerus situatin, r the Entrant detects a prhibited cnditin. The Entrant will exit the permit space as quickly as pssible whenever: An rder t evacuate is given by the Attendant r the entry Supervisr, The Entrant recgnizes any warning sign r symptm f expsure t a dangerus situatin, The Entrant detects a prhibited cnditin, r An evacuatin alarm is activated. 9.0 Attendant Duties Attendants may nt enter a cnfined space fr any reasn r perfrm any duties that might interfere with the Attendant's primary duty t mnitr and prtect the authrized Entrants. Attendants may perfrm nn-entry type rescues as described in this plicy. Attendants are respnsible fr: Knwing the hazards that may be faced during entry, including infrmatin n the mde, signs r symptms, and cnsequences f the expsure; Being aware f pssible behaviral effects f hazard expsure in authrized Entrants; Cntinuusly maintaining an accurate cunt f authrized Entrants in the permit space and ensuring that the means used t identify authrized Entrants accurately identifies wh is in the permit space; Remaining utside the permit space during entry peratins until relieved by anther Attendant; Cmmunicating with authrized Entrants as necessary t mnitr Entrant status and t alert Entrants f the need t evacuate the space if necessary; Kensha Cunty Safety Manual Page 158 f 200

6 Mnitring activities inside and utside the space t determine if it is safe fr Entrants t remain in the space and rdering the authrized Entrants t evacuate the permit space immediately under any f the fllwing cnditins; If the Attendant detects a prhibited cnditin; If the Attendant detects the behaviral effects f hazard expsure in an authrized Entrant; If the Attendant detects a situatin utside the space that culd endanger the authrized Entrants; r If the Attendant cannt effectively and safely perfrm all f his r her duties. Summning rescue and ther emergency services as sn as the Attendant determines that authrized Entrants may need assistance t escape frm permit space hazards; Taking the fllwing actins when unauthrized persns apprach r enter a permit space while entry is underway: Warning the unauthrized persns that they must stay away frm the permit space; Advising the unauthrized persns that they must exit immediately if they have entered the permit space; and Infrming the authrized Entrants and the entry Supervisr if unauthrized persns have entered the permit space Entry Supervisrs Supervisrs are designated as Entry Supervisrs. Entry Supervisrs must: Knw the hazards that may be faced during entry, including infrmatin n the mde, signs r symptms, and cnsequences f the expsure; Verify, by checking that the apprpriate entries have been made n the permit, that all tests specified by the permit have been cnducted and that all prcedures and equipment specified by the permit are in place befre endrsing the permit and allwing entry t begin; Terminate the entry and cancels the permit if prhibited cnditins develp; Verify that rescue services are available and that the means fr summning them are perable; Remve unauthrized individuals wh enter r wh attempt t enter the permit space during entry peratins; and Kensha Cunty Safety Manual Page 159 f 200

7 Determine, whenever respnsibility fr a permit space entry peratin is transferred and at intervals dictated by the hazards and peratins perfrmed within the space, that entry peratins remain cnsistent with terms f the entry permit and that acceptable entry cnditins are maintained Retrieval Equipment and Nn-Entry Rescues T facilitate nn-entry rescues, retrieval systems r methds shall be used whenever an authrized Entrant enters a permit space, unless the retrieval equipment wuld increase the verall risk f entry r wuld nt cntribute t the rescue f the Entrant. Retrieval systems must meet the fllwing requirements. Each authrized Entrant is required t use a chest r full bdy harness, with a retrieval line attached at the center f the Entrant's back near shulder level, abve the Entrant's head, r at anther pint which the Supervisr can establish presents a prfile small enugh fr the successful remval f the Entrant. Wristlets may be used in lieu f the chest r full bdy harness if the Supervisr can demnstrate that the use f a chest r full bdy harness is infeasible r creates a greater hazard and that the use f wristlets is the safest and mst effective alternative. The ther end f the retrieval line must be attached t a mechanical device r fixed pint utside the permit space in such a manner that rescue can begin as sn as the rescuer becmes aware that rescue is necessary. A mechanical device must be available t retrieve persnnel frm vertical type permit spaces mre than 5 feet deep. Attendants may perfrm nn-entry rescues prvided that the entry Supervisr is alerted immediately and it is safe t retrieve the Entrant frm the space. Attendants are nt t enter the cnfined space fr any type f rescue attempt. Attendants will alert all unauthrized persnnel that may be near the space t nt attempt an entry rescue as it culd be dangerus t life and health and nly qualified rescuers can enter such spaces Rescue And Emergency Services Department Heads will make arrangements with lcal emergency respnders fr cnfined space rescues by evaluating the rescuer's ability t respnd t a rescue summns in a timely manner, cnsidering the hazard(s) identified. Additinally, they will evaluate a prspective rescue service's ability, in terms f prficiency with rescue-related tasks and equipment, t functin apprpriately while rescuing Entrants frm the particular permit space r types f permit spaces identified. Department Heads will select a rescue team r service frm thse evaluated that: Kensha Cunty Safety Manual Page 160 f 200

8 Has the capability t reach the victim(s) within a time frame that is apprpriate fr the permit space hazard(s) identified; Is equipped fr and prficient in perfrming the needed rescue services; Department Heads will als infrm each rescue team r service f the hazards they may cnfrnt when called n t perfrm rescue at the site; and prvide the rescue team r service selected with access t all permit spaces frm which rescue may be necessary s that the rescue service can develp apprpriate rescue plans and practice rescue peratins. Preference will be given t the lcal fire department wh meets the abve qualificatins and their use shall be dcumented in writing. In the event that n fire department is equipped t meet the abve requirements, the Department Head shall cnsult with the Risk Manager t lcate a suitable private rescue service Cntractrs If a cntractr is used t enter a cnfined space, the Kensha Cunty Supervisr is charge f the prject will: Infrm the cntractr that the wrkplace cntains permit spaces and that permit space entry is allwed nly thrugh cmpliance with a permit space prgram meeting the requirements f this sectin; Apprise the cntractr f the elements, including the hazards identified and the Cunty s experience with the space, that make the space in questin a permit space; Apprise the cntractr f any precautins r prcedures that the Cunty r Department has implemented fr the prtectin f emplyees in r near permit spaces where cntractr persnnel will be wrking; Crdinate entry peratins with the cntractr, when bth Cunty persnnel and cntractr persnnel will be wrking in r near permit spaces; and Debrief the cntractr at the cnclusin f the entry peratins regarding the permit space prgram fllwed and regarding any hazards cnfrnted r created in permit spaces during entry peratins Permit Required Cnfined Space Entry Prcedures Entry Supervisrs will prvide at least ne Attendant utside the permit space int which entry is authrized fr the duratin f entry peratins. Attendants are nly allwed t versee the Entrant(s) t a single cnfined space and may nt mnitr mre than ne space at a time. Kensha Cunty Safety Manual Page 161 f 200

9 Any cnditins making it unsafe t remve an entrance cver shall be eliminated befre the cver is remved. When entrance cvers are remved, the pening shall be prmptly guarded by a railing, temprary cver, r ther temprary barrier that will prevent an accidental fall thrugh the pening and that will prtect each emplyee wrking in the space frm freign bjects entering the space. Befre an emplyee enters the space, the internal atmsphere shall be tested, with a calibrated direct-reading instrument, fr xygen cntent, fr flammable gases and vaprs, and fr ptential txic air cntaminants, in that rder. Testing can be perfrmed by the Entrant, the Attendant r the entry Supervisr prvided that they have been trained t use the test meter and interpret the results. The space will als be evaluated fr physical and ther hazards. Entry Supervisrs will reevaluate the permit space in the presence f any authrized Entrant r that emplyee's authrized representative wh requests that the Cunty cnduct such reevaluatin because the Entrant r representative has reasn t believe that the evaluatin f that space may nt have been adequate. Additinally the entry Supervisr will immediately prvide each authrized Entrant r that emplyee's authrized representative with the results f any testing cnducted. Testing f the space shall be perfrmed withut entering the space. Entrants r their authrized representative will be prvided an pprtunity t bserve the pre-entry testing. There may be n hazardus atmsphere within the space whenever any emplyee is inside the space. Hazardus atmsphere is defined as a cncentratin in excess f the OSHA permissible expsure limit, ACGIH threshld limit value r a cncentratin that is knw t be immediately dangerus t life and health. Cntinuus frced air ventilatin shall be used, as fllws: An emplyee may nt enter the space until the frced air ventilatin has eliminated any hazardus atmsphere; The frced air ventilatin shall be s directed as t ventilate the immediate areas where an emplyee is r will be present within the space and shall cntinue until all emplyees have left the space; The air supply fr the frced air ventilatin shall be frm a clean surce and may nt increase the hazards in the space. The atmsphere within the space shall be peridically tested as necessary t ensure that the cntinuus frced air ventilatin is preventing the accumulatin f a hazardus atmsphere. Any emplyee wh enters the space, r that emplyee's authrized representative, shall be prvided with an pprtunity t bserve the peridic testing required by this paragraph. Kensha Cunty Safety Manual Page 162 f 200

10 If a hazardus atmsphere is detected during entry: Each emplyee shall leave the space immediately; The space shall be evaluated t determine hw the hazardus atmsphere develped; and Measures shall be implemented t prtect emplyees frm the hazardus atmsphere befre any subsequent entry takes place. The Entry Supervisr will verify that the space is safe fr entry and that the pre-entry measures required abve have been taken, thrugh a written permit system. The permit must be signed befre entry is allwed. Electrical systems r cmpnents that present a pssible safety hazard within a cnfined space will be lcked ut accrding t the Cunty s lckut prcedure befre entering the space Permit System Entry Supervisrs must sign a permit authrizing entry int a permit required cnfined space. The permit frm is cntained in the appendix. Befre entry begins, the entry Supervisr identified n the permit shall sign the entry permit t authrize entry. The cmpleted permit shall be made available at the time f entry t all authrized Entrants r their authrized representatives, by psting it at the entry prtal r by any ther equally effective means, s that the Entrants can cnfirm that pre-entry preparatins have been cmpleted. The duratin f the permit may nt exceed the time required t cmplete the assigned task r jb identified n the permit. The entry Supervisr will terminate entry and cancel the entry permit when: The entry peratins cvered by the entry permit have been cmpleted; r A cnditin that is nt allwed under the entry permit arises in r near the permit space. The entry Supervisr will retain each canceled entry permit fr at least ne (1) year t facilitate the review f the permit-required cnfined space prgram. Any prblems encuntered during an entry peratin shall be nted n the pertinent permit s that apprpriate revisins t the permit space prgram can be made. Kensha Cunty Safety Manual Page 163 f 200

11 16.0 Openings and Obstructins Openings int the cnfined space shall be kept free frm bstructins at all times, such as, but nt limited t, hand tls and debris. Openings shall be guarded and barricaded when pened t prevent unauthrized emplyees r persnnel frm entering the cnfined space and t prevent bjects r debris frm falling int the cnfined space. All guarding shall be accmplished by the use f any f the fllwing barrier methds nly and shall be installed such that unauthrized individuals cannt accidentally walk, fall in, r therwise enter the space withut having t physically remve, defeat and/r bypass the barrier that is used : Yellw cautin tape wrapped arund the pening. Vertical ples with assciated yellw chain linked fencing placed arund the pening. Orange r yellw traffic cnes placed arund the pening. N ther types f barrier guarding are allwed (i.e., use f chairs, tables, trashcans, etc.) 17.0 Vehicle Traffic Area Entry Requirements Cnfined space entries int cnfined spaces lcated in vehicle traffic areas need t be identified and additinally prtected by ensuring all f the fllwing actins are perfrmed (These are in additin t thse requirements under Openings and Obstructins discussed abve): A vehicle must be parked near the manhle in such a way as t prtect the space pening and in such a manner as t nt ttally bstruct the flw f traffic; Vehicle s fur way flashers and yellw strbe lights shall be n at all times; Traffic cnes shall be placed near the entry t channel traffic; Barricades and signs shall be used when apprpriate in high traffic areas; Vehicles exhaust fumes shall be directed away frm the entry pint; All emplyees abve grund shall wear safety clred range vests and Entrant s safety rpe shall be attached t a tripd winch. Attendant shall use radi cmmunicatin t cmmunicate with Entrant and ff-site supervisry persnnel. Flagmen directing traffic shall nt serve as an Attendant. Entrants and Attendants wh wrk n highways, rads, streets r their easements shall wear traffic safety vests r use clthing r equipment that prvides similar prtectin. Kensha Cunty Safety Manual Page 164 f 200

12 18.0 Sewer Entries All sewer entries will be perfrmed in accrdance with the requirements f this and all ther applicable Cunty Safety Plicies. Department Heads will develp specific sewer entry wrk prcedures t supplement the requirements f this plicy. Such practices will address at a minimum: Unique hazards assciated with the sewer t be entered. Type f sewer system t be entered. Surge flw and flding. Intrductin f cntaminants. Special Equipment. [ This Sectin Intentinally Left Blank ] End Plicy Kensha Cunty Safety Manual Page 165 f 200

CONFINED SPACES SAFETY & HEALTH ISSUES AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

CONFINED SPACES SAFETY & HEALTH ISSUES AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE Are the emplyees r cntractrs wh wrk in yur facility expsed t cnfined space hazards? Have yu cnducted a thrugh assessment f yur facility