Permit Required Confined Spaces

Did OSHA mean to define a non-PRCS differently in the Construction Standard?

Several years ago I wrote an article about how a space goes through its transitions to become a non-permit required confined space.  A space is not identified as a non-permit required confined space during its first evaluation; it becomes one after it has been “reclassified” using either (c)(7) or 1926.1203(g).  That article caused quite a…...

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Did OSHA mean to define a non-PRCS differently in the Construction Standard? Read More »

Company Fined $220,000 for PRCS Accident that Left 3 Workers with Burns

A company was fined $220,000 by the State Courts today under section 12(1) of the Workplace Safety and Health Act (“WSHA”) for failing to take adequate safety measures for its work in an underground storage tank.  On 25 July 2016, four workers were instructed by their supervisor to clean an underground storage tank, a permit-required confined space 3.2m…...

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Toluene applied in a 10′ X 8′ X 5.5′ pit using an APR as protection (PRCS Fatality – O2 Deficiency)

Another example of not understanding the chemical hazards in your CS/PRCS… This OSHA case shows us that “pits”, even those that would are not identified as a PRCS in a site evaluation can be deadly from the work we do inside them! When using a chemical that has a Vapor Density 3X’s that of air (1)…...

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Toluene applied in a 10′ X 8′ X 5.5′ pit using an APR as protection (PRCS Fatality – O2 Deficiency) Read More »

Dispelling the myth… entry into a PRCS requires ventilation

I am guessing that maybe we should have had the “Top 11 Myths” rather than the “Top 10 Myths” in our presentation at Safety2019!  I continue to get emails from folks who want to convince me that “ventilation is required for all entries into PRCSs”.  I have even had a face-to-face discussion with an OSHA…...

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When the Condenser manufacturer is telling you their equipment is a Permit-Required Confined Space

This week I was at one of my food clients who use anhydrous ammonia as their refrigerant.  This client replaced two old condensers with one bigger condenser. This new condenser came with some interesting labels, which to safety professionals, made our “assessment” of this piece of equipment relatively easy… it is a Permit-Required Confined Space. …...

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Confined Spaces and Limited or restricted means for entry or exit

Since our presentation at ASSP Safety2019! I have been getting the strangest request for clarification on how OSHA views “limited means of egress” and for the life of me, I just can’t understand why.  Yes, the GI standard for PRCS’s (1910.146) does not define the phrase; however, since 2015 OSHA’s Construction Standard for PRCS has…...

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Confined Spaces and Limited or restricted means for entry or exit Read More »

Confined Spaces and Limited or restricted means for entry or exit

Since our presentation at ASSP Safety2019! I have been getting the strangest request for clarification on how OSHA views “limited means of egress” and for the life of me, I just can’t understand why.  Yes, the GI standard for PRCS’s (1910.146) does not define the phrase; however, since 2015 OSHA’s Construction Standard for PRCS has…...

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Line Break involving Chlorine within a crawl space goes bad when workers have FACIAL HAIR

At 10 p.m. on 3/19/18, an employee and coworker were performing preventative maintenance on a chlorine gas system used in a water filtration process. The employee and coworker were removing and reinstalling, a flange with a black Teflon rubber gasket. They were working in a 48-foot long, 24-foot wide, and 6-foot tall crawl space under…...

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Line Break involving Chlorine within a crawl space goes bad when workers have FACIAL HAIR Read More »

Line Break involving Chlorine within a crawl space goes bad when workers have FACIAL HAIR

At 10 p.m. on 3/19/18, an employee and coworker were performing preventative maintenance on a chlorine gas system used in a water filtration process. The employee and coworker were removing and reinstalling, a flange with a black Teflon rubber gasket. They were working in a 48-foot long, 24-foot wide, and 6-foot tall crawl space under…...

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Line Break involving Chlorine within a crawl space goes bad when workers have FACIAL HAIR Read More »

PRCS Fatality – Engulfment inside wood dust silo

A 47-year-old male employee was fatally injured when he became engulfed by sawdust after entering a dust collection silo.  The company is a hardwood flooring manufacturer.  On the day of the incident, the victim was cleaning the inside of a dust collection silo containing wood dust. The fire department had been called on to extinguish…...

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PRCS Fatality – Engulfment inside wood dust silo

A 47-year-old male employee was fatally injured when he became engulfed by sawdust after entering a dust collection silo.  The company is a hardwood flooring manufacturer.  On the day of the incident, the victim was cleaning the inside of a dust collection silo containing wood dust. The fire department had been called on to extinguish…...

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Don’t confuse continuous employee occupancy with maintenance access

I have an on going debate with a new food client on their “spiral freezers” being a Permit-Required Confined Space(s).  In my professional opinion, a spiral freezer, at least all the ones I have been around, are without a doubt a PRCS.  This company, including their brand manufacturer, are claiming they are not – based…...

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