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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219- 8151.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
has corrected several parts of its standards for confined/enclosed spaces in
shipyards. These standards were originally published in the July 25, 1994
Federal Register and took effect on Oct. 25, 1994.
In the corrections, OSHA specifies the order of tests that
must be done before workers can enter a confined or enclosed space with a
potentially dangerous atmosphere. The agency also clarifies when flammable
atmospheres must be kept at or above the upper explosive limit (UEL) and where
"hot work" (such as welding) can be done without being certified by a marine
chemist.
The changes are as follows:
- Before shipyard workers can enter a confined/enclosed space or other
dangerous area, atmospheric tests must be done in the following order: first
oxygen content, then flammability, then toxicity.
- Only flammable atmospheres that are at or exceed the UEL need to be
kept at those levels. As originally published, the standard implied that
employers had to raise levels of air contaminants above the UEL before workers
could enter. (Employees may only enter flammable atmospheres when it is
necessary to set up ventilation or rescue people in emergencies. In these
cases, the employer must follow other OSHA requirements for working in
dangerous atmospheres.)
- A marine chemist must test and certify the atmosphere before workers
can do hot work on tank vessels. Moreover, even for other hot work spaces that
do not need to be certified by a marine chemist, a competent person must still
visually inspect the space and test the atmosphere.
The shipyard standard corrections appeared in the March
16, 1995 Federal Register.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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