Safety Regulations for Oxygen Deficiency Hazards (ODH)
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) defines “Confined Space” as the space “which by design has limited openings for entry and exit, unfavorable natural ventilation which could contain or produce dangerous air contaminants, and which is not intended for continuous employee occupancy. Confined spaces include but are not limited to storage tanks, compartments of ships, process vessels, pits, silos, vats, degreasers, reaction vessels, boilers, ventilation and exhaust ducts, sewers, tunnels, underground utility vaults, and pipelines.”
This page contains some pertinent government regulation on occupational safety standards for the protection of personnel working in confined spaces and environments that have limited natural ventilation which increases the risks of oxygen deficiency or other gas-related issues.
Regulation Code/Title: 29 CFR 1910.146 – Permit-required confined spaces
Scope and application. This section contains requirements for practices and procedures to protect employees in general industry from the hazards of entry into permit-required confined spaces. This section does not apply to agriculture, to construction, or to shipyard employment (Parts 1928, 1926, and 1915 of this chapter, respectively)…
Read the entire text at the website of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
Regulation Code/Title: CPL 02-00-100 (previously CPL 2.100) – Application of the Permit-Required Confined Spaces (PRCS) Standards, 29 CFR 1910.146
This is an OSHA instruction to personnel that establishes enforcement policy and provides explanation of the standard to ensure uniform enforcement of 29 CFR 1910.146 (see above)…
Read the entire directive at the OSHA website.
Regulation Code/Title: 1915 Subpart B – Confined and Enclosed Spaces and Other Dangerous Atmospheres in Shipyard Employment
Scope and application. This Subpart applies to work in confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres in shipyard employment, including vessels, vessel sections, and on land-side operations regardless of geographic location…
Read the entire text at the OSHA website.
The above regulations are by no means the only ones that exist. I will add on to this as I find out more about other relevant government laws that are aimed at protecting workers from the dangers of working in confined spaces.
Image Credit: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/
