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OKI PULP & PAPER MILL Project No.

P-OkiPL1
PROJECT
[OKIPL1] Document No. P-OkiPL1-100-01-FRM-XXX
Revision 00
Page 1 of 8
Access to Confined Spaces
Issue Date February 10, 2016

ACCESS TO CONFINED SPACES

CONTENTS

1. SCOPE

2. DEFINITIONS
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[OKIPL1] Document No. P-OkiPL1-100-01-FRM-XXX
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Access to Confined Spaces
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3. PLANT & APPARATUS IDENTIFICATION

4. DANGERS

5. CONFINED SPACES WHICH HAVE NOT CONTAINED TOXIC, ASPHYXIATING OR


FLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES

6. CONFINED SPACES WHICH HAVE OR MAY HAVE CONTAINED TOXIC


ASPHYXIATING OR FLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES

7. NOISE

8. PRECAUTIONS ON COMPLETION OF WORK IN A CONFINED SPACE


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[OKIPL1] Document No. P-OkiPL1-100-01-FRM-XXX
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Access to Confined Spaces
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FOREWORD

The term 'Confined Space' is defined in the Confined Spaces Regulations as being any place,
including any chamber, tank, vat, silo, pit, trench, pipe, sewer, flue, well or other similar space
in which, by virtue of its enclosed nature, there arises a reasonably foreseeable specified risk.

Specified Risk means a risk of:

a) serious injury to any person at work arising from a fire or explosion


b) without prejudice to a)
i) the loss of consciousness of any person at work arising from an increase in
body temperature;
ii) the loss of consciousness or asphyxiation of any person at work arising from
gas, fume, vapour or the lack of oxygen;
c) the drowning of any person at work arising from an increase in the level of liquid; or
d) the asphyxiation of any person at work arising from a free flowing solid or the inability to
reach a respirable environment due to entrapment by a free flowing solid.

1. SCOPE

This Code of Practice applies the principles established by the SZC Safety Rules
setting down procedures designed to achieve Safety from the System for personnel
requiring access to general confined spaces. The Code of Practice is concerned only
with general confined spaces and excludes Boiler and dead spaces; culverts and cable
tunnels which are the subject of other Codes of Practice.

2. DEFINITIONS

For the purpose of this document the following definitions apply:-

i) Diving operation as per regulation 2(1) of the Diving Operations at Work


Regulations.

ii) Free flowing solid means any substance consisting of solid particles and which
is of, or is capable of being in, a flowing or running consistency, and includes
flour grain, sugar, sand or other similar material.

iii) Occupational Exposure Limit (O.E.L.) - A long term or short term limit of
exposure substances hazardous to health as stated in the UK Health and
Safety Executive Guidance Note E.H.40.

iv) Lower Flammable Limit (LFL) - the concentration in air at or below which a
flammable substance will not burn when exposed to a source of ignition. (BS
5345 PART I 1976 - Table 5 lists properties of flammable gases, vapours and
liquids).
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Access to Confined Spaces
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It should be noted that limit values are subject to change and such changes if any will
be taken into account with applying this Code of Practice for the most recent values as
detailed in EH40.

3. PLANT AND APPARATUS IDENTIFICATION

Plant and Apparatus on which work or testing is to be carried out must be readily
identifiable or have fixed to it a means of identification, which will remain effective
throughout the course of the work or testing.

4. DANGERS

The main Dangers to personnel in confined spaces are:-

i) Asphyxiation
ii) Poisoning due to toxic atmospheres
iii) Burns from fire or explosion caused by the presence of flammable gases or
excess oxygen
iv) The effect of chemical deposits on the human system, e.g. due to bodily contact
v) The effect of abnormal temperatures
vi) The effect of excessive noise
vii) Falling

Special notice should be taken of the possibility of Danger due to work on the
external surfaces of confined spaces, particularly if this includes the application of
heat which may cause ignition or chemical reaction of the contents within a confined
space.

All work which includes the use of naked flames, burning or welding within a confined
space must be reviewed for implications which may constitute Danger to personnel. A
Selected Persons Report must be obtained for work in confined spaces if naked
flames, burning in or welding are utilised.

Danger can be present as in clauses 4.1(i), (ii) and (iii) in the case of an open topped
space containing the gases of chemicals such as liquefied petroleum gases, chlorine
and certain solvent cleaners which are heavier than air or those such as nitrogen and
carbon monoxide which are of a similar weight to air.

Danger can also be present in an inverted (open bottomed) space containing a gas
such as hydrogen which is lighter than air or those such as nitrogen and carbon
monoxide which are of a similar weight to air.

The Dangers as in clauses 4.1(i), (ii) and (iii) cannot occur if a sufficient volume of
forced ventilation is provided such that:-
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Access to Confined Spaces
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i) Exposure to toxic substances does not exceed the O.E.L. and the concentration
of flammable gases in the confined space atmosphere is not above the LFL.

ii) There cannot be a significant decrease or increase in the amount of oxygen in


the atmosphere.

At normal temperature and pressure the percentage of oxygen in atmosphere by


volume is approximately 21 per cent. A lowering of this value by a small amount may

result in the loss of consciousness by personnel in such oxygen deficient


atmospheres.

5. CONFINED SPACES WHICH HAVE NOT CONTAINED TOXIC, ASPHYXIATING OR


FLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES

Before access to and subsequent work in such confined spaces is permitted, the
precautions given below should be observed.

After draining and isolation as appropriate, work should be carried out under a Safety
Document.

It should not be assumed that confined spaces that have been flushed or chemically
cleaned are free from noxious substances or harmful atmospheres.

Before allowing work or testing to proceed, consideration should be given to the


provision of forced ventilation. Even if a completely enclosed steel tank has not
contained any substance but atmosphere and has been left completely closed for
some time, the oxygen in the air can be depleted by the formation of oxidation
products on the inside surfaces of the vessel.

In the event of failure of any forced ventilation if provided, it is the responsibility of the
Acceptor in charge of the work in the confined space to evacuate the Personnel
working in that space as quickly as possible.

Where doubt exists about the condition of a confined space, a Selected Person
should be consulted and a Selected Persons Report obtained.

Where substances liable to give off gases, vapours or fumes (e.g. some paints and
resinous compounds) are to be taken into the space, a Selected Person must be
informed of the substances and their application in order that he may advise on any
precautions which should be taken to avoid Danger.

Oxygen enriched atmospheres can cause normally quiescent materials to become


highly combustible e.g. grease can become liable to spontaneous combustion when
oxygen enriched. Under no circumstances, therefore, must oxygen be released into
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the atmosphere to 'sweeten' it, and care must be taken when using gas burning or
welding equipment inside a confined space to prevent the accidental escape of
oxygen from the equipment.

When not in use, gas burning or welding equipment must be shut off at a source or
removed from the confined space. The gas bottle key must always be left in the bottle
valve to enable a speedy shut off in an emergency.

Because of the Danger from the products of combustion, internal combustion engines
must not be used in any confined space unless precautions are taken to remove such
products. Wherever practicable, engines should be placed outside confined spaces
and in such a position that exhaust gases are not drawn into the ventilation system.

6. CONFINED SPACES WHICH HAVE OR MAY HAVE CONTAINED TOXIC,


ASPHYXIATING OR FLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES

Before access to and subsequent work in such confined spaces is permitted, the
precautions given below must be observed.

Work or testing must be carried out under a Safety Document.

A Selected Persons Report recommending such special precautions which may be


required to safeguard Personnel must be obtained before a Safety Document can be
issued to enable work to take place. During the course of the work the Acceptor in
charge must satisfy himself that such Dangers continue to be excluded.

If a hazard is suspected the Acceptor must withdraw all personnel and report the
matter to a Safety Controller.

If it is necessary for a Selected Person to enter the confined space in order to make
tests or take samples, then he must only do so after a Safety Document has been
issued for that purpose to him. The following actions and procedures must be taken at
the appropriate times:

i) The Selected Person entering must wear Approved breathing apparatus.


Canister type respirators must not be used for this purpose.

ii) If practicable, the person must wear an Approved safety belt or harness to
which a rope is securely attached with another person capable of pulling him out
holding the free end of the rope and keeping watch outside the space. A further
person must be stationed outside the space with breathing apparatus ready for
immediate use.

iii) Sources or materials which could inadvertently cause ignition must not be
introduced into the confined space or the vicinity of an opening into a confined
space which has previously contained a flammable substance; particular
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Access to Confined Spaces
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attention must be paid to the suitability of the lighting arrangements. Portable


lighting equipment must be of Intrinsic design and manufacture.

iv) Any sludge or deposits which might be disturbed by personnel when working
must be stirred up before samples are taken.

Where the work is to be carried out using breathing apparatus, the Selected Persons
Report must state the conditions that are to be complied with during the working
period. Where the condition of the confined space is to be made safe for work without
the use of breathing apparatus, the Selected Persons report state how this is to be
achieved and maintained.

Before allowing work to proceed, consideration must be given by the Safety


Controller preparing the Safety Document to the provision of forced ventilation.

In the event of failure of any forced ventilation provided, it is the responsibility of the
Acceptor in charge of the work in the confined space to evacuate personnel working
in that space as quickly as possible.

If the Safety Controller decides that it is necessary to remove noxious or flammable


substances or clean deposits from the confined space, this must be done under a
Safety Document and the requirements of clauses 6.3(i) and (ii) complied with by
each person entering the space. Additionally in the case of flammable substances the
requirements of clause 6.3 (iii) should be met.

When it is considered that the work of removing and cleaning the deposits is
sufficiently complete to enable work to proceed, the Safety Controller issuing the
Safety Document must call for a further inspection and report from a Selected
Person.

Where substances liable to give off gases, vapours or fumes (e.g. some paints and
resinous substances) are to be taken into the space, a Selected Person must be
informed of the substances and their application in order that he may advise on any
precautions which should be taken to avoid Danger.

Oxygen enriched atmospheres can cause normally quiescent materials to become


highly combustible e.g. grease can become liable to spontaneous combustion when
oxygen enriched. Under no circumstances therefore must oxygen be released into the
atmosphere to 'sweeten' it, and care must be taken when using gas burning or
welding equipment inside a confined space to prevent the accidental escape of
oxygen from the equipment.
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When not in use, gas burning or welding equipment must be shut off at source or
removed from the confined space. The gas bottle key must always be left in the bottle
valve to enable a speedy shut off in emergency.

Because of the Danger from the products of combustion, internal combustion engines
must not be used in any confined space unless precautions are taken to remove such
products. Wherever practicable, engines should be placed outside confined spaces
and in such a position that exhaust gases are not drawn into the ventilation system.

7. NOISE

If hammering or other work external or internal to a confined space is likely to cause


injury to the hearing of personnel working in that confined space, consideration must
be given to the prevention of such Danger by the use of ear defenders.

8. PRECAUTIONS ON COMPLETION OF WORK IN A CONFINED SPACE

In order to avoid entombing Personnel within the confined space at the completion of
work the following safeguards must be taken.

i) The Acceptor in charge of the Working Party must ensure that, when
personnel under his charge are withdrawn, they are personally warned by him
not to re-enter the confined space;

ii) The person in charge of boxing-up a confined space must ensure, so far as he
personally can, that no-one is entombed in the process. If, owing to the nature
of the confined space the person considers it necessary to make a final check,
all access points except one should be closed and secured and that one point of
access then guarded so as to ensure that no person re-enters the space whilst
the check is being made;

iii) If it is necessary for the person in charge of boxing-up a confined space to enter
it in order to make a final check and the work has been done by persons in
accordance with a Selected Persons Report and/or which required breathing
apparatus to be worn, then that person so entering must also comply with the
requirements of the Selected Persons report and/or wear breathing apparatus;

The Safety Controller cancelling any Safety Document should if he considers it


necessary, personally supervise the closing of the final access point.

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