The enforcement climate around 29 CFR 1910.146 remains intensely focused on fundamental programmatic failures rather than isolated technical errors. When companies fail at confined space entry, it is rarely due to a nuance in the standard—it is almost always a total breakdown of core safety controls. Top 5 Citation Areas for 1910.146… Membership Required You...
This is a follow-up to my guest appearance on Dr. David Ayer’s podcast, where we discussed “ventilating confined spaces,” and, as usual, we didn’t have enough time to go as deep as we wanted. So here is my detailed explanation as to why OSHA SPECIFICALLY calls out “Forced-Air” ventilation 7 times:… Membership Required You must...
A friend and I were just discussing this topic, and it reminded me that I never got around to sharing this most recent fatality involving a dock leveler plate. It surprises me that even after the agency issued its LOI in 2002 explaining how the space below these plates could be a Permit-Required Confined Space,…...
This construction safety toolbox talk explains common confined-space hazards, such as manholes, crawl spaces, and tunnels. It includes a real incident involving methane gas exposure, steps workers should take to stay safe, and reminders about training, communication, monitoring, and emergency planning. The back side of the talk includes an illustration of the hazard and solution,…...
The AT&T Standard Section 620-140-501 (often referred to as Bell System Practice, or BSP, 620-140-501), published in June 1976, is a foundational safety document for the telecommunications industry. It outlines the strict procedures for testing, purging, and ventilating manholes and other confined spaces before and during employee entry. Because telecommunications workers frequently operate in underground…...
I have a 10,000-gallon storage tank that I need to ventilate with forced-air ventilation. My program states I need to achieve at least 7 air changes per hour. What CFM blower do I need to achieve this? This is the question I asked Google Gemini 3.1 Pro, and I’ll be damned, it was SPOT ON!…...
On February 4, 2004, a 23-year-old tank mechanic died from lack of oxygen after entering a chemical transport tank prior to a scheduled inspection. The employer was a longtime Oregon company, based in Portland, specializing in the manufacture and maintenance of transportation tanks. At the time, the firm had 5 factories and 11 sales branches…...
In September 2010, a 48-year-old male worker (Victim I) employed by a village Department of Public Works (DPW) and a 51-year-old male volunteer firefighter (Victim II) of the village Fire Department (FD) died after entering a sewer manhole. The manhole was located behind the firehouse. The Fire Chief and a firefighter were called in by…...
The following are highlights from the 2025 summary of injuries and fatalities associated with agricultural confined spaces: CLICK HERE for the full 2025 report… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a member? Log in here...
Choosing between methane and pentane for calibrating a direct-reading combustible gas indicator (CGI) depends primarily on your specific application, the target hazards in your environment, and sensor technology constraints. But there are BOTH a “Pentane Advantage” and a “Methane Advantage” Match the Target Gas (Best Practice for Specific Hazards)… Membership Required You must be a...
When you pump reactive, highly polar, or oxidizing gases like chlorine (Cl2), chlorine dioxide (ClO2), or ammonia (NH3) through standard silicone, polyurethane, or Tygon tubing, the tubing acts like a chemical absorber/scrubber. The gas is actively consumed or trapped by the hose before it ever reaches the instrument’s sensors. This creates severe process safety and…...
NOTE: Be sure to check your BRAND and MODEL for specifics. I have used MSA devices in this article because they are the brand I have used for 30+ years, and I am a huge fan of their products. ALL brands will have similar restrictions. ATTENTION TO these details matters! Yes, MSA enforces strict maximum…...
