Many organizations use blinding/blanking as their main means for isolating a Permit-Required Confined Space. But a number of years ago, an unqualified operator mistook a “Paddle Spacer” for a “Paddle Blind,” thus leaving the flammable gas pipe to the PRCS improperly isolated. There is a very distinct way to tell these two in-line devices apart from one another – do you know how?
Here are the definitions and images of these devices: