1.1. "Attendant" means an individual with no other duties assigned other than to remain immediately outside the entrance to the confined space and who may render assistance as needed to employees inside the space.

1.2. "Blind" or "blinding" or "blanking" means the absolute closure of pipe, line, or duct, to prevent passage of any material (e.g., by fastening a solid plate or "cap" across the pipe).

1.3. "Confined space" means any space that (1) is large enough and so configured that an employee can enter to perform work, and (2) is not intended for continuous employee occupancy, and (3) has a limited or restricted means of entrance or egress and (4) and which is also subject to either the accumulation of an actual or potentially hazardous atmosphere as defined in this directive, or has a potential for engulfment as defined in this directive. Confined spaces generally include, but are not limited to, storage tanks, bins, boilers, ventilation or exhaust ducts, sewers, manholes, underground utility vaults, acid tanks, digesters, ovens, tunnels, and pipelines. Open top spaces more than 4 feet in depth such as pits, tubs, vaults, and vessels may also be confined spaces if the above criteria above are met.

1.4. "Engulfment" means the surrounding and effective capture of a person by finely divided particulate matter or liquid. There is a potential for engulfment when such particulate matter or liquid exists in the sufficient quantity or at a sufficient pressure to surround a person before normal exit can be effected.

1.5. "Entrant" means any employee who enters confined space.

1.6. "Entry" means any action resulting in any part of the employee's face breaking the plane of any opening of the confined space, and includes any ensuing work activities inside the confined space.

1.7. "Entry permit" means CMU's written authorization of employee entry into a confined space under defined conditions for a stated purpose for a specified time.

1.8. "Hazardous atmosphere" means an atmosphere presenting a potential for death, disablement, injury, or acute illness from one or more of the following causes:

1.9. "Hot Work Permit" means the CMU official burning permit which authorizes an operation capable of providing a source of ignition.

1.10. "Immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH)" means any condition that poses an immediate threat to life, or which is likely to result in acute or immediately severe health effects.

1.11. "Lockout or tag out" means placing locks or tags on the energy isolating device. Tags shall indicate that the energy isolated device shall not be operated until the removal of the tag by an authorized person. Consult REFERENCE 2.

1.12. "Qualified person" means a person who is trained to recognize the hazard(s) of the confined space and how to evaluate those anticipated hazards and shall be capable of specifying necessary control measures to assure work safety. The primary "qualified person" designee is a representative of EH&S.

1.13. "Rescue Team" means those persons properly trained prior to any confined space entry to perform rescues from confined spaces. CMU presently has no on-site rescue team and relies on the City of Pittsburgh Fire Department for rescue from confined spaces.

1.14. "Retrieval line" means a line or rope secured at one end to a worker's safety belt, chest or body harness, or wristlets with the other end secured to an anchor point or lifting device located outside the entry portal. The anchor point shall not be a motor vehicle. Retrieval lines must be of sufficient strength to remove an entrant when necessary.

1.15. "Zero mechanical state" means that the mechanical potential energy of all portions of the machine or equipment is set so that the opening of the pipe(s), tube(s), hose(s), or actuation of any valve, lever, or button will not produce a movement which could cause injury.

2.1. All pumps or lines which may convey flammable, injurious or incapacitating substances into a space shall be disconnected, blinded, double blocked and bled, or effectively isolated by other means to prevent engulfment, the development of dangerous levels of air contamination, or oxygen deficiency within the space.

2.2. All fixed mechanical devices or equipment that are capable of causing injury shall be placed at zero mechanical state (ZMS) by using lockout/tag out devices designed for that purpose.

2.3. All confined spaces shall be emptied, flushed, or otherwise purged of flammable, injurious or incapacitating substances to the extent feasible. Initial cleaning should be done from outside the confined space.

2.4. Where the existence of a hazardous atmosphere is demonstrated by tests performed by the qualified person, the confined space shall be mechanically ventilated until the concentration of the hazardous substance(s) is reduced to a safe level, and ventilation shall be continued as long as the recurrence of the hazard(s) is possible.

3.1. Start testing with remote probe at vent holes, if present, or on the downwind side of slightly opened door, cover, or panel. This will determine the presence of lighter than air combustibles.

3.2. Remove the covers, access panels, or doors and from outside the structure, test for combustibles and oxygen content from the bottom to the top. Test near conduits, pipes or cables. Check around all irregular surfaces in the space. The head is to be kept outside the plane of the entrance. Test at exit ports when space is mechanically ventilated.

3.3. If oxygen is sufficient and combustible atmosphere is below 10% of LEL, test for toxic materials.

4.1. Ventilation - Select the method and the equipment to ventilate a confined space prior to entry based upon the size of the opening and space, the gases to be exhausted, and the source of make-up air.

4.2. Isolation or the removal of space from service must be accomplished by one or all of the following methods to ensure no release of hazardous energy could render the space unsafe for occupancy.

4.3. Respiratory Protection - Air purifying respirators are not to be used in confined spaces where there is insufficient oxygen to support life or airborne toxic chemical levels exceed PELs or cannot be filtered by air purifying respirators. Supplied air respirators are required in these cases. All personnel assigned to wear respiratory protection must maintain Respiratory Protection Qualification Status (i.e., training and medical qualifications). See REFERENCE 4.

4.4. Attendants and Rescue Teams

5.1. Training

5.2. Entry Permit

1.1. Obtaining necessary equipment including respirators, PPE, and life lines/winches.

1.2. Coordinating appropriate training through EH&S.