Attachment 13 - Confined Space ID and Entry Program.pdf

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ATTACHMENT 13

CHAPTER 4 CONFINED SPACE IDENTIFICATION AND ENTRY PROGRAM

Ref: (a) Safety and Environmental Health Manual, COMDTINST M5100.47 (Series)

(b) Shore Confined Space Entry, COMDTINST M5100.48A

(c) CH-14 Marine Safety Manual (MSM), Volume I, Administration And

Management, COMDTINST M16000.6

(d) Confined Space Entry Program TTP, CGTTP 4-11.8

(e) OSHA, Permit-Required Confined Spaces, 29 CFR 1910.146

(f) OSHA, Occupational. Safety and Health Standards for Shipyard Employment, Confined and Enclosed Spaces and Other Dangerous Atmospheres in Shipyard Employment, Compliance Assistance Guidelines for Confined and Enclosed Spaces and Other Dangerous Atmospheres, 29 CFR 1915

A. PURPOSE. To establish responsibilities and safe practices for confined spaces at the

Academy that conforms to references (a) through (f). Confined spaces are enclosures that have limited means of entry and exit. Although they are usually large enough for an employee’s body to enter they are not designed for continuous human occupancy.

Permit required confined space is defined as a space that contains or has a known potential to contain hazardous atmosphere, contains a material with the potential to engulf an entrant, has an internal configuration that could trap or asphyxiate and entrant by inwardly converging walls or a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a small cross section and lastly contains other recognized serious safety or health hazards. Permit required confined space decision flow chart is listed as enclosure 1 in this chapter.

B. DISCUSSION

1. Access or entry to confined spaces is restricted to authorized personnel having required training and a specific need to enter the space. Training requirements are listed in enclosure 2 in this chapter. Training of authorized personnel, safety testing and entry methods shall be in accordance with the procedures outlined in reference (b). A permit is required and must be posted prior to entering any confined space.

2. Academy’s Confined Space Program Manager (CSPM) is the Safety and Occupational Health Specialist (SOH).The Academy's confined space program responsibilities are divided into three major areas: Public Works, Facilities Engineering, and the Waterfront.

3. The SOH is designated as the Academy's Confined Space Competent Person.

The SOH is responsible for the day-to-day operations and management of the confined space entry program including, equipment calibration and repair, access to confined spaces for Public Works personnel and contractors. The SOH is assisted by the Fire Marshall, Duty Engineer, identified and trained Shops personnel.

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4. The (SOH) manages access for Facilities Engineering (FE) Contractors, Architects and Engineers (AEs), and Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs) into confined spaces and reviews contractor's work plans for FE Branch (me).

5. The Waterfront Engineering Chief and properly trained staff will act as the competent persons to manage access to vessel-confined spaces for personnel assigned to the Waterfront and contractors working in or on vessels. Currently there are no identified confined spaces on any Academy owned vessels.

6. Entry supervisors, Attendants, and Entrants need to know the hazards that may be faced during entry including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and consequences of the exposure.

7. Shop Supervisors shall ensure that records of training and qualification for the employees they supervise are kept on file and a copy is provided to the SOH.

8. Shop Supervisors shall ensure personnel are provided proper materials to enter, and work within confined spaces.

9. Shop Supervisors shall critique, and certify the quality of training provided to their employees acting as Entry Supervisors, Entrants, Attendants, and Competent Persons.

10. Shop Supervisors shall validate the proficiency and responsibilities of individual’s assigned duties under the Confined Space Entry Program. Certify initial competency of individuals in their duties. Review certifications annually, after any injuries or near misses during entry, and whenever competent officials question employee’s actions( i.e. making unsafe entry or not having correct amount of people).

11. The SOH shall evaluate the confined space program annually. Review permits for entries conducted during the year and recommend revisions to the program when necessary. The Confined Space Survey is listed in enclosure 3.

12. Contractors working aboard the Academy are responsible for all confined space entry that they require. Contractors must provide a copy of their confined space entry plan to the SOH prior to commencing any confine space work.

13. New London Fire Department will serve as the confined space rescue team. The fire department DOES NOT require a phone call prior to entry. All emergency numbers are enclosed in enclosure 4.

C. RESPONSIBILITIES

1. COMPETENT PERSONS. SOH, Fire Marshal, Waterfront Engineering Chief, and identified, trained Shops personnel shall:

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a. Inform employees who are exposed to confined spaces of the existence, location, and the dangers present. Post a danger sign reading “PERMIT- REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE, DO NOT ENTER” or other similar language is an acceptable means of informing exposed employees;

b. Prevent unauthorized entry into permit-required spaces by locking, tagging and/or posting signs;

c. Assist in training individuals tasked as Entry Supervisors, Entrants, and Attendants on hazards associated with entry into confined spaces and the responsibilities of their positions. Minimum training requirements for individuals are outlined in reference (b).

d. Recommend individuals for certification by the SOH when they have completed appropriate training and demonstrated proficiency in the duties assigned under this program;

2. ENTRY SUPERVISOR Shall:

a. Verify, by checking, that appropriate entries have been made on Academy's entry permit (Enclosure 5), that all tests specified by the permit have been conducted, testing procedures are listed in enclosure 6. All procedures and equipment specified by the permit are in place before endorsing the permit and allowing entry to begin;

b. Terminate the entry and cancel the permit when required;

c. Verify that rescue services are available and that the means for summoning them are operable;

d. Remove unauthorized individuals who enter or who attempt to enter the permit space during entry operations;

e. Determine, whenever responsibility for a permit space entry operation is transferred and at intervals dictated by the hazards and operations performed within the space, that entry operations remain consistent with terms of the entry permit, and that acceptable entry conditions are maintained.

f. Entry Supervisors are allowed to act as attendants as long as the side of the assignments and conditions permits adequate supervision.

3. ATTENDANT Shall:

a. Continuously maintain an accurate count of authorized entrants in the permit space and ensure that the means used to identify authorized entrants accurately identifies who is in the permit spaces;

b. Remain outside the- permit space during entry operations until relieved by another qualified attendant;

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c. Communicate with authorized entrants as necessary to monitor entrant status and to alert entrants of the need to evacuate the space;

d. Monitor activities inside and outside the space to determine if it is safe for entrants to remain in the space and order the authorized entrants to evacuate the permit space immediately under any of the following conditions:

e. Detects a prohibited condition.

4. AUTHORIZED ENTRANTS Shall:

a. Know how to use testing and monitoring equipment, ventilating equipment, communications equipment, personal protective equipment, lighting, barriers and shields, ladders, rescue and emergency equipment, and any other equipment needed for safe entry and rescue;

b. Communicate with the attendant as necessary to enable the attendant to monitor entrant’s status and to enable the attendant to alert entrants of need to evacuate the space;

(1) Alert the attendant whenever:

(2) The Entrant recognizes any warning sign symptom of exposure to a dangerous situation, or

(3) The Entrant detects a prohibited condition.

c. Exit for the permit space as quickly as possible whenever:

(1) An order to evacuate is given by the attendant or the Entry Supervisor,

(2) The Entrant recognizes any warning sign symptoms of exposure to a dangerous situation;

(3) The Entrant detects a prohibited condition, or

(4) An evacuation alarm is activated.