I was having your run-of-the-day safety conversation with one of my favorite former OSHA safety engineers and he was quick to point out that one of my articles was not technically “compliant” with OSHA’s 1910.146 requirements when it came to the means we can use to isolate a Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS). The means he took issue with was my reference to what is called a Double Block and Bleed (DB&B) VALVE, which is NOT the same as a Double Block and Bleed (DB&B) ARRANGEMENT. Was this just a play on words, or is there a significant difference in the level of safety provided by these different isolation methods?
The quick and easy answer… they are NOT the same and ONLY one of them may be used to “isolate” a PRCS.
