New confined space document to be developed by NFPA

The NFPA Standards Council has approved a new project on Confined Space Entry.  A technical committee has been formed and a first meeting is scheduled for September in Philadelphia. We are very excited about the development of a document that will have a significant positive impact on workplace safety related to confined space entry!    NFPA envisions this NEW document as a "gold standard" for confined space entry procedures. 

NFPA maintains a long history with guiding the safe entry and work practices for the maritime sector. NFPA 306, Standard for the Control of Gas Hazards on Vessels, www.nfpa.org/306  contains requirements that form the basis for the maritime industry’s safe practices for confined space hazard identification, evaluation and control.  It also represents the norm that Marine Chemists must follow when performing their inspections of confined spaces to assess the conditions for entry and hot work on vessels and within the shipyard.

Through the years, NFPA codes and standards have expanded with respect to the types of industrial workplaces that include some aspect of confined space requirements as part of the safeguards for that particular occupancy.  Some of that expansion has borrowed from the model followed in the maritime segment.  Amongst others, the list now includes:

• NFPA 326, Standard for the Safeguarding of Tanks and Containers for Entry, Cleaning, or Repair– www.nfpa.org/326
• NFPA 1670, Operations and Training for Technical Search and Rescue Incidents, www.nfpa.org/1670
• NFPA 1006, Technical Rescuer Professional Qualifications , www.nfpa.org/1006

While there are several existing Confined space entry standards including OSHA's 1910.146, many of these standards are considered to be "minimum" standards and are more performance based in their requirements.   It is expected that the new NFPA Best Practices document will be more "prescriptive" and will provide more detailed information on hazard identification, control, gas monitoring and calibration, ventilation and rescue.  We anticipate including chapters on training and competencies as well as prevention through design (PtD) in the new standard.  

Stay tuned! We will be providing more information as the standard is developed.   

More participation means the creation of better consensus standards.

We welcome input from all of you and I look forward to your ideas!

Comments

[Terry Davies]

Very worthwhile development. The time has finally where safety truly comes first

[plumbing]

That is so good to hear new confined space document to be developed by nfpa is already been processed.

[Nancy Pearce]

Glad you agree! There are a lot of us who are glad to see the development of a document that reflects the best and safest practices in the industry. We would love to hear back from you about what you would like to see in this document. Gas monitoring calibration frequencies? Best locations and practices for ventilation of confined spaces? Think outside the box!

[Nick Markowitz jr.]

OSHA already has a Document and Enforcement on confined space do we really need NFPA doing one also to just get things more confusing

[Nancy Pearce]

Great question Nick. The NFPA document is not intended to replace nor conflict with the OSHA standard. The document is intended to enhance the requirements found in the OSHA standard-to move above and beyond the minimum requirements set by OSHA. For example, OSHA requires gas monitoring but does not provide guidance on calibration or bump testing. We are hoping to build on the almost 20 years of experience with the OSHA standard to provide more prescriptive guidance to assist employers and safety professionals in providing the safest possible environment for confined space entry. Great lead in for my blog post later today that will deal with the existing standards and gaps in current information available for confined space entry.

[Fire Alarm Testing]

Great ideas in a well thought out piece. Love the way you put your point over. I'll be looking for more from you.

[Nancy Pearce]

Thank you! I will be posting a new blog item about once a week and would love to hear more about what you think should be included in a new document.

[dryer vent cleaner]

Will they also be including provisions for cleaning and maintenance? All the exits and vents in the world are useless if they're cluttered and dirty.

[Nancy Pearce]

Interesting thought. Are you talking about industrial dryer vents that may be considered confined spaces?