Welding confined space

Know confined space welding precautions. Confined spaces include manholes, tunnels, trenches, and pits. Monitor for hazardous atmospheres and check interior surfaces for toxic materials. 

The Respiratory Protection Standard (1910.134) is historically one of OSHA s top five most-cited standards ( 4 in 2010) costing employers thousands of dollars in fines but more seriously endangering the lives of the employees the standard is supposed to protect, This webinar will provide guidance on howto establish an OSHA compliant respiratory protection program as well as key considerations for specific applications such as confined space, welding, abrasive blasting, painting, and healthcare. 

Prolonged soldering in confined spaces with restricted air circulation requires ventilation. A small duct fan is recommended for hot-wire stripping. Tefzel articles should not be exposed to welding conditions. 

Included ia the OSHA regulations are standards for safe work practices such as lock-out/tag-out and confined space entry, personal protective equipment, storage of hazardous materials, welding process, forklift operation, and requirements for fire protection. Basically, all activities within a chemical facihty are covered by OSHA standards. 

Most reported cases of severe illness from nitrogen dioxide have been accidental exposures to explosion or combustion of nitroex-plosives, or from the intermittent process of arc or gas welding (especially in a confined space). 

The mechanical integrity procedures must also embody the safe work practices as well as the detailed equipment procedures. Safe work practices include Lock and Tag, Confined Space Entry, Welding, Burning and Open Flame, and similar essential personnel safety procedures. Detailed equipment procedures include generic procedures, equipment specific procedures, and manufacturers procedures. 

The development and implementation of safety procedures for non-routine work are required by OSHA and EPA. These specifically include hot work (such as welding), lockout or tagout, line-breaking, and confined-space entry. Other examples of non-routine work for which procedures should be developed would be excavation, electrical hot work (on energized conductors), hot-tapping (on pressurized piping), and, in some instances, personal protective equipment. 

Hot work (welding, etc.) Lockout/tagout Confined-space entry Hot work (electrical)... 

All welding and cutting operations carried on in confined spaces must take place with adequate ventilation to prevent the accumulation of toxic materials, possible oxygen deficiency, or explosive atmosphere. 

What makes a confined or enclosed space hazardous Many situations and hazards can cause a confined space to become deadly. Materials being used such as cleaning or bonding liquids, work being done such as welding, or the effects of the environment can cause dangerous vapors, gases, and mists to accumulate in these spaces. The result can be fires, explosions, and physical hazards. 

Flammable Air — Fire and explosion are serious dangers in a confined space. Fumes and vapors will ignite more quickly in the trapped air. Flammable and combustible gases or vapors may be present from previous contents, tank coatings and preservatives, and welding gases. 

Toxic Air Contaminants — Toxic air contaminants come from material previously stored in the confined space or as a result of the use of coatings, cleaning solvents, or preservatives. The work being performed in a confined space could also give off" a toxic gas. An example of this would be a welding operation that gives off carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen and ozone. 

Confined space precautions — Assess limited work spaces and slipping hazards, and evaluate hazardous atmospheres and interior surfaces for flammabihty, combustibility, or toxic fumes that could result from welding processes. 

Safe work practices for welding within confined spaces. 

The environments for welding and cutting must be free of flammable gases. In confined spaces there is a need to provide adequate ventilation and breathing air. Welders must wear proper protective clothing. Welders and others involved... 

If there are to be heated processes, such as open flames, welding and cutting, in a confined space, there is a need to take precautions for fire protection and removal of smoke and fumes. If workers are to use solvents for cleaning, they must be aware of the hazards of the solvents. Precautions must be in place. Electrical equipment should use low voltage. 

Never weld in a confined space without supplied breathing air. Be aware that cylinders left open or liquid cylinders releasing pressure through a relief valve can introduce gas into the area that can displace oxygen and cause asphyxiation. Allow for lateral airflow into the welding through open doors and use of fans. 

Finally, the subpart addresses acceptable methods of ventilation. The requirements for mechanical ventilation systems are listed in this subpart and it includes notes on confined spaces and toxic substance welding. 

Plant 5 fractionates natural gas liquids (C2+, C3+) streams into products including ethane, propane, hutane, pentane and natural gasohne. Exposure monitoring efforts focused on turnaround operations on one of the fractionation trains. Similar exposure groups monitored included welding, confined space entry during inspections, and manual removal of scale from process vessel internal walls. All personal exposure and ambient air sample results were below the AL. Results from the analysis of process samples are presented in the following table ... 

Confined spaces—For welding or cutting operations conducted in confined spaces (i.e., in spaces that are relatively small or restricted spaces, such as tanks, boilers, pressure vessels, or small compartments of a ship), personal protective and other safety equipment must be provided. Protection of personnel performing hot work in confined spaces includes adhering to the following ... 

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