Rec No. 72 CONFINED SPACE SAFE PRACTICE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES (2000) (Rev.1 Oct 2003) (Rev.2 Apr 2007) (Corr.1 Sep 2017) (Rev.3 Dec 2018) First Edition 2000 Second Edition 2019 Book ISBN: 978-1-85609-753-6 eBook ISBN: 978-1-85609-839-7 © IACS – International Association of Classification Societies, 2000–2019 2000) (Rev.1 Oct 2003) (Rev.2 Apr 2007) (Corr.1 Sep 2017) (Rev.3 Dec 2018) All rights reserved. Except as permitted under current legislation no part of this work may be photocopied, stored in a retrieval system, published, performed in public, adapted, broadcast, transmitted, recorded or reproduced in any form or by any means, without prior permission of the copyright owner. Where IACS has granted written permission for any part of this publication to be quoted such quotation must include acknowledgment to IACS. 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Permanent Secretariat 36 Broadway London United Kingdom SW1H 0BH T: +44 (0)20 7976 0660 F: +44 (0)20 7808 1100 email: [email protected] website: www.iacs.org.uk Published by Witherby Publishing Group Ltd Navigation House, 3 Almondvale, Business Park, Almondvale Way, Livingston EH54 6GA, Scotland, UK +44 (0)1506 463 227 [email protected] witherbys.com Printed and bound in Great Britain by Charlesworth Press, Wake?eld iii Contents PART 1 – Confined Space Practices 1 CHAPTER 1 Definitions 3 1.1 Confined Space 5 1.2 Confined Space Entry 5 1.3 Competent Person 5 1.4 Responsible Person 5 1.5 Attendant (also ‘Standby Person’) 6 1.6 Marine Chemist 6 1.7 Adjacent Space 6 1.8 Toxic Product 6 1.9 Surveyor 6 1.10 Permit to Enter/Permit to Work (PTE/PTW) 7 CHAPTER 2 General Hazards 9 CHAPTER 3 Requirements 13 3.1 Training 15 3.2 Confined Space Entry Policy 16 3.3 Confined Space Entry Procedures 17 3.3.1 General 17 3.3.2 Entering confined spaces adjacent to loaded tanks 19 3.3.3 Entering confined spaces adjacent to inerted tanks 20 Rec No. 72 ......................................................................Con?ned Space Safe Practice iv 3.3.4 Entering confined spaces adjacent to loaded tanks on double hull tankers – additional requirements 20 3.3.5 Permit to work (PTW) and permit to enter (PTE) 21 CHAPTER 4 Confined Space Entry 23 4.1 Testing of the Atmosphere 25 4.2 Preparation for Entering Confined Spaces 27 4.2.1 Ventilation 27 4.2.2 Isolation of Space 27 4.2.3 Attendant Rescue Team 27 4.3 Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) 29 4.3.1 29 PART 2 – Guidelines for Safe Entry of Confined Spaces 31 CHAPTER 1 General 33 CHAPTER 2 Confined Space Hazards 37 2.1 Hazardous Atmospheres from the Containment in the Tank 39 2.1.1 Oxygen-deficient atmosphere 39 2.1.2 Flammable atmospheres 40 2.1.3 Toxic atmosphere 41 2.2 Work being Performed in a Confined Space 47 CHAPTER 3 Testing 49 3.1 General 51 3.2 Testing Instruments 53 CHAPTER 4 Ventilation 55 CHAPTER 5 Isolation of Space 59 Rec No. 72 .........................................................................................................Contents v CHAPTER 6 General and Physical Hazards 63 6.1 Temperature Extremes 65 6.2 Engulfment Hazards 66 6.3 Noise 67 6.4 Falling Objects 68 6.5 Slick/Wet Surfaces 69 CHAPTER 7 Guidelines for Use of Personal Gas Detectors 71 7.1 Function Test and Full Calibration 74 CHAPTER 8 Survey Preparations 75 8.1 Cleaning 77 8.2 Lighting 78 ANNEX Checklist for Entry into Confined Spaces 79 vii Introduction This Guideline is intended to assist Societies in developing confined space entry procedures or technical instructions for the surveyors, according to a common reference standard of good practice. The Guideline is structured in two parts. In the first part, general information concerning definitions and requirements to safely enter and work in confined spaces are summarised. The second part helps the worker to recognise the hazards associated with confined spaces and gives detailed guidelines for a safe survey preparation and entry. A checklist for entry into confined spaces is also included. Rec No. 72 ..................................................................................CHAPTER 1 De?nitions 5 1.1 Confined Space A confined space is a space that has any of the following characteristics: • limited openings for entry and exit • unfavourable natural ventilation • not intended for continuous worker occupancy. It may include, but is not limited to, boilers, pressure vessels, cargo spaces (cargo holds or cargo tanks), cargo space stairways, ballast tanks, double bottoms, double hull spaces, fuel oil tanks, lube oil tanks, sewage tanks, pump rooms, compressor rooms, cofferdams, void spaces, duct keels, inter-barrier spaces, engine crankcases, excavations and pits. 1.2 Confined Space Entry Confined space entry is the process of entering, working in and exiting a confined space. 1.3 Competent Person A Competent Person is a person with sufficient theoretical knowledge and practical experience to make an informed assessment of the likelihood of an oxygen deficient/enriched or a dangerous atmosphere being present or subsequently arising in the space. Competent Persons must be trained and qualified in the hazards of confined spaces and in the use of atmospheric monitoring devices. The Competent Person’s role may be performed by a marine chemist. 1.4 Responsible Person A Responsible Person is a person authorised to permit entry into a confined space who has sufficient knowledge of the procedure to be followed and the other activities that are being undertaken that could impact on the safety of those in a confined space. Rec No. 72 ......................................................................Con?ned Space Safe Practice 6 1.5 Attendant (also ‘Standby Person’) An attendant is a person who is suitably trained and responsible for maintaining a watch over those entering the confined space, for maintaining communications with those inside the space and for initiating the emergency procedures in the event of an incident occurring. 1.6 Marine Chemist A Marine Chemist is a person holding a valid and suitably recognised qualification as a marine chemist or equivalent. 1.7 Adjacent Space An adjacent space is any space bordering the confined space in any direction, including all points of contact, corners, diagonals, decks, tank tops and bulkheads. 1.8 Toxic Product A toxic product is any chemical liquid, gas or solid material that can give toxic vapour and which is assigned with suffix ‘T’ in column ‘k’ of the table given in Chapter 17 of the IBC Code, or assigned with suffixes ‘T’ or ‘F+T’ in column ‘f’ of the table given in Chapter 19 of IGC Code, or classified as a Toxic Substance (Class/Division 6.1) within part 2 of IMDG Code, or any other product that has a toxic symbol in the data sheet or is a hazard classified as toxic. 1.9 Surveyor A surveyor is any person employed by the Classification Society conducting activities within a confined space on behalf of the Classification Society. Rec No. 72 ..................................................................................CHAPTER 1 De?nitions 7 1.10 Permit to Enter/Permit to Work (PTE/PTW) A Permit to Enter or Permit to Work is a documented authorisation that has been signed and dated, including time of issue by the Responsible Person, which states that the space has been tested by a Competent Person and that the space is safe for entry, what precautions, equipment, etc. are required and what works are to be done. Rec No. 72 ............................................................................CHAPTER 3 Requirements 17 3.3 Confined Space Entry Procedures 3.3.1 General Societies should include in their procedures the requirement that surveyors should refuse to enter a confined space (or should exit the space) if: • Safe entry procedures (such as entry permit, ‘safe for workers’ certificate, ‘safe for hot work’ certificate, etc.) are not in place, have time expired or are not being followed. • the Responsible and Competent Persons are not identified. • the access and exit arrangements to and within the confined space are not considered safe (where available, multiple entry and exit ways should be opened) • communications arrangements are not adequate • the confined space is not adequately clean to allow safe working • lighting is not adequate for entry and exit and to allow safe working in the confined space • the atmosphere has not been demonstrated as being safe (safe limits are: atmospheric oxygen the range of 20.6% to 22% by volume, combustible gases less than 5% of lower explosive limit, toxics within acceptable limits) • adequate ventilation arrangements are not in place or not functioning • isolation of the confined space, as applicable, from other tanks, cargo spaces, pipes, etc. and of machinery in the space, is not confirmed • they are required to wear breathing apparatus – The surveyor may wear a respirator or other escape device if required by an owner’s policy but only if sufficiently trained in the use of such equipment. However, the space should be safe first. • effective communication is adversely impacted by the surrounding noise • extreme temperature effects are not adequately considered • electrical equipment in the confined space is not suitable or not in acceptable condition • toxic product is contained in an adjacent space, unless the following has been carried out: 1) A risk assessment has been completed by the ship’s Management Company and the risk is mitigated. 2) All identified controls are confirmed in place prior to tank entry. Rec No. 72 ......................................................................Con?ned Space Safe Practice 36 Not designed for continuous worker occupancy: Most confined spaces are not designed for workers to enter and work in them on a routine basis. They are designed to store a product, enclose materials and processes or transport products or substances. Therefore, occasional worker entry for survey, inspection, maintenance, repair, cleanup, or similar tasks is often difficult and dangerous due to chemical or physical hazards within the space. A confined space found in the workplace may have a combination of these three characteristics, which can complicate working in and around these spaces as well as rescue operations during emergencies. Note: If a survey requires entry to one or more work spaces with the characteristics listed above, read the following information – some day it may save lives. Manhole Confined spaces Rec No. 72 ...........................................................CHAPTER 2 Con?ned Space Hazards 41 Some bulk cargoes may produce dust that is toxic and that also represents an explosive hazard, especially during cargo handling and cleaning. Oxygen Flammable atmosphere! Fuel (gas, vapour, or dust) HeatThe Fire Triangle 2.1.3 Toxic atmosphere Unless a certified Marine Chemist or a Competent Person has certified a space as safe, assume that any substance (liquids, vapours, gases, mists, solid materials and dust) in a confined space can be hazardous. Toxic substances may range from fast acting poisons to long term cancer causing carcinogens. Toxic substances can come from the following: • the product stored in the space • the work being performed in a confined space • areas adjacent to the confined space. Some bulk cargoes will act in a corrosive manner on skin, eye and mucous membrane. Products stored in the space Chemical products In cargo tanks for chemicals it is possible to find all types of chemicals. It is very important that the customer provides a data sheet for the product