Order of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation No. 902n of 15 December 2020
Unofficial translation. Only the Russian original published in the official sources of the Russian Federation has legal force. This translation is provided for reference and does not replace the official document.
1. The Labour Protection Rules for Work in Restricted and Confined Spaces (hereinafter - the Rules) establish State regulatory labour protection requirements and govern the procedure of actions of the employer and the worker when organising and carrying out work in restricted and confined spaces (hereinafter - RCS).
2. The requirements of the Rules shall be mandatory for compliance by employers - legal entities regardless of their organisational and legal forms and natural persons (with the exception of employers - natural persons who are not individual entrepreneurs) when they organise and carry out work in RCS.
3. The Rules do not apply to the organisation and performance of work at hazardous production facilities, the requirements for the performance of which are established by federal norms and rules in the field of industrial safety.
4. Work is classified as work in RCS if it is carried out at a spatially enclosed (restricted) facility not intended for the permanent presence of workers in it. The size of this facility shall be sufficient for a worker or workers to be fully accommodated in it to perform work there, but the entrance(s) to the facility or the exit(s) from the facility are such that rapid passage of workers through them is impeded, and the air exchange parameters are insufficient to sustain their breathing.
5. The employer, taking into account the specifics of its activities, shall, before the commencement of work in RCS, approve a list of facilities classified as RCS (hereinafter - List 1). List 1 includes, among others, the following facilities meeting the criteria of paragraph 4 of the Rules: pipelines, tanks, vessels, caisson tanks (soft fuel tanks - identical to caisson tanks), cisterns, road tankers, concrete mixers, freight containers, separators, reactors, cooling chambers with natural and forced draught, drums, filters, silage pits, columns, tunnels, wells (including inspection wells), drains, sewage collectors, settling tanks, granaries, flue ducts, flare stacks, furnaces, compartments and tanks of ships (including spaces and equipment components), empty spaces between modular blocks and inside the supports of onshore structures, as well as the space above the floating roof of a tank, tanks with an open lid, enclosed spaces, spaces under a roof or floor, bored piles, and structures that become confined spaces during the production process. RCS facilities included in List 1 and not being territorially separate (outside the fenced territory of the organisation) shall be marked with an "RCS" sign (a recommended sample is provided for by the appendix to the Rules). Unauthorised access to territorially separate RCS shall be restricted.
6. The employer, before the commencement of work in RCS and proceeding from the specifics of its activities, shall identify the hazards associated with work in RCS, including the following typical hazards inherent to work in RCS: 1) a lack of oxygen and (or) contamination of the air with toxic and explosive gases, which may lead to an explosion, poisoning or burns to the worker; 2) particular temperature conditions and an unsatisfactory temperature regime (including temperature differentials); 3) biological hazard; 4) insufficient illumination of the working area; 5) excessive noise and vibration; 6) the severity and intensity of the labour process; 7) aerosols with a predominantly fibrogenic effect; 8) the speed of air movement; 9) objects falling onto workers; 10) the possibility of injury when opening and closing hatch covers; 11) increased contamination and dustiness of the air of the confined space; 12) increased humidity. Depending on the results of the assessment of risks associated with the identified hazards, the employer determines the need for investigations (tests) and measurements of these hazards before the commencement of work in RCS, as well as the need to monitor them during the performance of work (where it is impossible to rule out changes to the established parameters of the factors and hazards).
7. The employer shall, where possible, eliminate work involving the presence of workers in RCS. Where the elimination of work in RCS is justifiably impossible, the employer shall consider all alternative methods of carrying out the work (excluding the presence of workers in RCS) before starting to plan the entry of workers into RCS. Where it is impossible to eliminate work in RCS, the employer shall take the measures established by the Rules to eliminate or reduce occupational risks in RCS and to maintain them at an acceptable level (the organisation of work under a permit to work, protection by time, the use of specialised machines or mechanisms, and collective and personal protective equipment).
8. The employer, proceeding from the hazards identified in accordance with paragraph 6 of the Rules and taking into account the results of the investigations (tests) and measurements carried out, carries out an assessment of the occupational risks associated with the identified hazards, including: 1) loss of consciousness or asphyxia due to gas, smoke, vapour, a lack of oxygen, or airborne solid particles; 2) the occurrence of an explosion or fire; 3) loss of consciousness from a rise in body temperature; 4) burns or injury from a breakthrough or release of hot liquid or steam; 5) drowning due to a rise in the liquid level (a breakthrough or release of liquid, mechanical damage to the RCS or accidents on operating underground utilities, flooding of the RCS with water during heavy precipitation); 6) poisoning or infection upon contact with sewage; 7) injury or difficulty in orientation in the RCS due to insufficient illumination; 8) workers falling from height when opening and closing hatch covers (entrance (exit) doors), when descending into (ascending from) the RCS and when situated near unfenced entry openings to the RCS (exit from the RCS); 9) the falling of objects and tools from height, the presence of materials prone to crumbling and to engulfing the worker; 10) injury from a cramped and (or) uncomfortable working posture in the RCS; 11) difficulty (impossibility) of evacuation and rescue; 12) the absence of the possibility of communication between workers; 13) the impact of liquid or gas in the event of a breakthrough or release.
9. The measures taken by the employer to eliminate or reduce occupational risks shall be carried out taking into account the specifics of work in RCS under conditions of the presence of gas contamination of the air of the working environment and (or) the oxygen content: 1) work in RCS with a gas-hazardous environment - work during the performance of which there is, or there is a high probability of, the release into the working area of harmful vapours, gases and other substances capable of having a harmful effect on the human body; 2) work in RCS with a non-gas-hazardous environment but with an insufficient oxygen concentration (less than 17 per cent) - work during the performance of which the possibility of the release into the working area of harmful vapours, gases and other substances capable of having a harmful effect on the human body is completely excluded; 3) work in RCS with an explosive and fire-hazardous environment - work during the performance of which there is, or there is a high probability of, the release into the working area of vapours, gases and other substances capable of causing an explosion or ignition, as well as work where the oxygen content is above 23 per cent by volume; 4) work in RCS with an explosion- and fire-safe environment - work during the performance of which the possibility of the release into the working area of vapours, gases and other substances capable of causing an explosion or ignition is completely excluded, where the oxygen content is in the range of 17 to 23 per cent by volume.
10. On the basis of the Rules and the requirements of the technical (operational) documentation of the manufacturer of the RCS facilities and process equipment (hereinafter - the manufacturer), the employer develops labour protection instructions for occupations and (or) types of work performed, which are approved by a local regulatory act of the employer taking into account the opinion of the relevant trade union body or another representative body authorised by the workers carrying out work in RCS (hereinafter - workers) (where such a body exists).
11. The employer shall provide the work team performing work at a territorially separate RCS facility with telephone or radio communication and with stocked first aid kits for providing first aid to those injured at work.
12. In the event of the use of machinery, materials, process tooling and equipment, or the performance of work for which the requirements for safe use, application and performance are not regulated by the Rules, the requirements of the relevant regulatory legal acts containing State regulatory labour protection requirements, and the requirements of the technical (operational) documentation of the manufacturer, shall be followed.
13. The employer, depending on the specifics of its activities and proceeding from the assessment of occupational risk levels, may: 1) establish additional safety requirements that do not contradict the Rules. Labour protection requirements shall be contained in the relevant labour protection instructions and communicated to the worker in the form of orders, instructions and briefings; 2) for the purpose of monitoring the safe performance of work, use instruments, devices and equipment and (or) a complex (system) of instruments, devices and equipment providing remote video, audio or other recording of the work performance processes.
14. The maintenance of labour protection document flow in electronic form using an electronic signature or any other method that allows the identity of the worker to be identified is permitted, in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation.
15. When work is performed by third-party (contractor) organisations, the responsible representatives of the customer and the contractor shall, for the entire period of the performance of work, draw up a work admittance act for the performance of work on the territory of the organisation in accordance with the requirements established at the customer's organisation, and shall develop and implement organisational and technical activities aimed at ensuring the safety of carrying out this work, as well as the safe operation of the operating process equipment. The form of the work admittance act shall be developed and approved as part of the recording documentation (logs, acts, records) of the labour protection management system (hereinafter - LPMS) of the customer organisation.
16. Persons who have reached the age of eighteen years are admitted to work in RCS.
17. When admitted to work in RCS, the worker shall notify their immediate or senior supervisor of their readiness to perform work under conditions of restricted mobility, as well as of any deviations from a normal state, including a tendency to claustrophobia or a fear of height, dizziness, deterioration of physical fitness, or an inability to work with a forced oxygen supply apparatus and personal respiratory protective equipment (hereinafter - RPE) (filtering and isolating).
18. The employer (or a person authorised by it) shall, before the commencement of work in RCS, organise training in the safe methods and techniques for performing work in RCS from List 1 for workers: 1) who are admitted to work in RCS for the first time; 2) who are transferred from other work, if these workers have not previously undergone the relevant training; 3) who have a break in work in RCS of more than one year. Certificates of workers' completion of training in the safe methods and techniques for performing work in RCS from List 1 issued before the entry into force of the Rules are valid until the expiry of their validity period.
19. Workers admitted to work in RCS are divided into 3 groups according to the safety of work in RCS (hereinafter - groups).
20. Group 1 comprises workers admitted to the direct performance of work in RCS as part of a work team or under the direct supervision of a worker appointed by an order of the employer, taking into account the specifics of the particular RCS facilities (hereinafter - group 1 workers): 1) who know the risks, working procedures, the work execution plan and other necessary organisational and technical documents; 2) who are able to carry out self-rescue and, under the guidance of group 2 workers, to carry out work to rescue and evacuate other workers; 3) who are able to use collective and personal protective equipment; 4) who are able to maintain communication with the attendant (a worker located outside the RCS who monitors the workers working in the RCS).
21. Group 2 comprises workers (hereinafter - group 2 workers): 1) responsible performers (performing authorities) of work in RCS; 2) attendants; 3) workers whose functions include the assessment of the parameters of the RCS environment, including gas contamination; 4) workers who direct rescue and evacuation and who also competently perform evacuation and rescue themselves (hereinafter - workers whose functions include rescue); 5) foremen and team leaders who inspect the work site, ensure preparation for work and are able to identify hazards before the start of work; workers who ensure the safety of work in RCS during its performance.
22. Group 3 comprises workers (hereinafter - group 3 workers): 1) workers appointed by the employer as responsible for the organisation and safe conduct of work in RCS; 2) officials entitled to issue a permit to work; 3) responsible persons in charge of the work; 4) members of the examination commission for checking the knowledge, abilities and skills of the safe methods and techniques for performing work in RCS.
23. Workers of the gas rescue service and (or) non-standard emergency rescue units are also admitted to work in RCS.
24. Periodic training in the safe methods and techniques for performing work in RCS for group 1 and group 2 workers, with the exception of workers whose functions include the assessment of the parameters of the RCS environment and workers whose functions include rescue, is carried out at least once every three years. Periodic training for workers whose functions include the assessment of the parameters of the RCS environment and workers whose functions include rescue is carried out annually.
25. Periodic training for group 3 workers in the safe methods and techniques for performing work in RCS is carried out at least once every five years.
26. Periodic training shall ensure the following knowledge, skills and abilities: 1) group 1 workers shall be trained in the use of collective and personal protective equipment, the use of equipment for the continuous monitoring of the parameters of the working environment in RCS, self-rescue techniques, and the use of equipment for communication between members of the work team and with the attendant; 2) group 2 workers, in addition to those specified in sub-clause "a", shall be trained in methods for recognising hazards; in safe methods and techniques for performing work to assess the parameters of RCS, including gas contamination; in methods for inspecting RCS and procedures for installing interlocks on hatches, on entrance-exit doors, on valves and other mechanisms; in the cleaning and (or) ventilation of RCS and the analysis of the gas contamination assessment; and in methods and techniques of evacuation and rescue; 3) attendants, in addition to those specified in sub-clause "b", shall be trained in methods and means of monitoring the operability of the equipment and communication means used; 4) workers whose functions include rescue and who are not workers of the gas rescue service and (or) non-standard emergency rescue units shall, in addition to those specified in sub-clauses "b" and "c", be trained in methods of evacuation and rescue in RCS, the use of personal respiratory protective equipment, including breathing apparatus, the use of equipment for the continuous monitoring of the working environment, rescue and evacuation scenarios, and skills for directing evacuation and rescue. In addition to training in rescue operations, each worker whose functions include rescue shall complete a special practical course for persons obliged to provide first aid.
27. Training in the safe methods and techniques for performing work in RCS concludes with a theoretical examination and the performance of practical (situational) tasks with an assessment of the presence of the relevant skills and abilities. The examination is conducted in examination commissions established by an order of the head of the organisation conducting the training in the safe methods and techniques for performing work in RCS.
28. A certificate of admission to work in RCS is issued to workers who have mastered the safety requirements for performing work in RCS, have successfully passed the theoretical examination and have successfully passed the assessment of the presence of the relevant skills and abilities. The form of the certificate of admission to work in RCS, as well as the forms of the record of the examination results and of the record of the check of knowledge of the safe methods and techniques for performing work in RCS, is developed and approved as part of the establishing (local regulatory acts of the employer) and recording (logs, acts, records) documentation of the employer's LPMS, including in electronic form. If the programmes for training and checking knowledge, practical skills and abilities of the safe methods and techniques for performing work in RCS provided for the study of safe methods and techniques for performing work at height, then the results of the assessment of the presence of the relevant skills and abilities may be entered both into single documents and into separate ones for each type of training and check of knowledge, practical skills and abilities.
29. For group 1 and group 2 workers, upon completion of training in the safe methods and techniques for performing work in RCS and receipt of the certificate, the employer, before they commence work, ensures that on-the-job training of the workers is conducted. The purpose of the on-the-job training is to consolidate the theoretical knowledge and practical abilities obtained during training that are necessary for the safe performance of work, as well as the acquisition and development of practical skills in the safe methods and techniques for performing work directly at the workplace. The duration of the on-the-job training is established by the employer (a person authorised by it), proceeding from its content, and is at least two working days (shifts). The worker's completion of the on-the-job training is reflected by the employer in the local documents defined by the LPMS. The on-the-job training supervisor for group 1 and group 2 workers is appointed by the employer from among team leaders, foremen, instructors and qualified workers who have practical work experience in RCS of at least one year. No more than two workers may be assigned to one on-the-job training supervisor at the same time.
30. The need for on-the-job training for certain categories of group 3 workers, as well as its duration, content and the appointment of the on-the-job training supervisor, is determined by the employer within the framework of the relevant procedure for the labour protection preparation of workers under the LPMS.
31. A check of the knowledge, practical skills and abilities of the safe methods and techniques for performing work in RCS is carried out at least once a year. This check of knowledge of the safe methods and techniques for performing work in RCS may be carried out by a commission established by the employer. The conduct of the annual check of the knowledge, practical skills and abilities of the safe methods and techniques for performing work in RCS may, by decision of the employer, be combined with the conduct of the corresponding examination upon completion of periodic training. The results of the check of knowledge of the safe methods and techniques for performing work in RCS are documented in a record indicating: 1) the number of the record; 2) the date of the knowledge check; 3) the positions, surnames and initials of the commission members; 4) the surname, first name and patronymic (where available) of the person who has passed the knowledge check; 5) the acts and documents on which the worker underwent the knowledge check; 6) the results of the knowledge check; 7) information on the entry of a record of the knowledge check in the knowledge check certificate. The record is signed by the commission members.
32. Workers working in unheated RCS during the cold season shall be provided with special breaks for warming and rest, which are included in working time. The duration and procedure for granting such breaks are established by the internal labour regulations.
33. Work performed in RCS using a hose-type breathing apparatus as personal respiratory protective equipment shall not exceed 30 minutes, followed by rest of at least 15 minutes with the worker leaving the RCS. Where it is necessary to establish a shorter single period of the worker's stay in RPE, the person responsible for carrying out the high-hazard work indicates this period in the permit to work.
34. When performing work inside RCS at an air temperature in the RCS of 40 to 50 °C, breaks are provided every 20 minutes with the worker leaving the RCS. The duration of the break, but not less than 20 minutes, is established by the person in charge of the work depending on the working conditions and is indicated in the permit to work.
35. In the dome space of a digester, or inside the boiler of a cistern, it is permitted to work for no more than 15 minutes, after which a break of at least 30 minutes shall be taken.
36. The time a worker spends in a sewer well shall not exceed 15 minutes. A repeated descent into the well is permitted only after a 15-minute rest.
37. The employer shall, before the commencement of work in RCS, organise the conduct of organisational and technical-technological activities: 1) organisational activities, including the appointment of persons responsible for the organisation and safe conduct of work in RCS; of persons responsible for the issuance of the permit to work; of persons carrying out the maintenance and periodic inspection of collective and personal protective equipment; the development of a work execution plan for RCS (hereinafter - the WEP for RCS) or the development and approval of process charts for the performance of work; the drawing up of an action plan for an emergency situation and for carrying out rescue work, evacuation and rescue from RCS, in accordance with List 1 (the employer, in the establishing documentation of the LPMS, determines that separate action plans for an emergency situation and for carrying out rescue work, evacuation and rescue from each RCS in List 1 may be combined into a single document); 2) technical-technological activities, including: the identification of hazards and the assessment of risks, the interlocking of equipment and devices in RCS, the analysis of the environment parameters before the commencement of work in RCS and the continuous or periodic monitoring, during the performance of work in RCS, of the parameters of the working environment inside the RCS, the fencing-off of the work performance site, the posting of warning and mandatory posters (signs), the use of collective (including ventilation of the RCS) and personal protective equipment; the monitoring of the serviceability of measuring instruments (alarms) and communication means, including: (a) the justified selection, issuance (provision) and use of measuring instruments and alarms for a lack of oxygen and (or) gas contamination of the air, communication means, collective and personal protective equipment, interlocking and fencing means, and warning and mandatory posters (signs); (b) compliance with the instructions of the marking and operational documentation of the measuring instruments (alarms), communication, collective and personal protective equipment; (c) the maintenance and periodic checks of the measuring instruments (alarms), communication, collective and personal protective equipment, in accordance with the instructions in the manufacturer's operational documentation.
38. Action plans for an emergency situation and for carrying out rescue work, evacuation and rescue from each RCS in List 1 that were developed before the date of entry into force of the Rules shall be updated within the time limits established by the employer in the establishing documentation of the LPMS. The activities from the Plan may be included in the permit to work.
39. The official responsible for the organisation and safe conduct of work in RCS participates in: 1) the organisation of the development of documented procedures and arrangements for the functioning of the LPMS as regards the planning and implementation of activities to improve working conditions and the organisation of labour protection work during work in RCS, including the identification of hazards and the assessment of risks; the development and putting into effect of the establishing (local regulatory acts of the employer) and recording (logs, acts, records) documentation for ensuring the safety of carrying out work in RCS, the development and putting into effect of the WEP or process charts for the performance of work in RCS, of the action plan for an emergency situation and for carrying out rescue work, evacuation and rescue from RCS, and the drawing up of permits to work; 2) the organisation of: (a) the checking of collective protection systems (where available, including the provision of ventilation during work) and of the communication system between workers; (b) the determination of the dimensions and configuration of the RCS; (c) the measurement of the environment parameters; (d) the determination of the need for additional lighting to carry out the work; (e) the carrying out (where a need is established) of the cleaning of the RCS from harmful substances before the entry of workers into the RCS; 3) the organisation of the issuance of serviceable measuring instruments (alarms), communication means and personal protective equipment in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer's operational documentation, as well as ensuring the timeliness of their maintenance, periodic checking and rejection; 4) the organisation of the initial and periodic training of workers in the safe methods and techniques for performing work, the conduct of the relevant on-the-job training, briefings and labour protection knowledge checks.
40. The identification of hazards posing a threat to the life and health of workers, and the drawing up of a list of them, are carried out by the employer (or by the official responsible for the organisation and safe conduct of work in RCS). For the identification of hazards, the employer (or a person authorised by it) shall take into account not only the standard conditions of activity but also cases of deviations in work, including those associated with possible accidents and incidents.
41. Before entering RCS, a check of the presence of hazards shall be carried out and the risks assessed, taking into account additional types of hazards in accordance with the organisation's LPMS.
42. In the event of identified existing hazards and (or) hazards that may arise during work, the employer shall carry out a risk assessment to establish whether, subject to the performance of organisational and technical-technological activities before the start of work and of the corresponding risk management procedures during work, it is possible to safely perform the planned work in RCS. The activities shall include: 1) the necessary interlocking (thermal, electrical, mechanical) of equipment and processes (including interlocking to ensure protection against the ingress of process and domestic liquids, effluents and gases into the working area) in the relevant RCS; 2) the sequence of the work carried out in RCS and the need to draw up a permit to work; 3) the control measures that shall be performed for the purpose of preventing the materialisation of risks and maintaining them at an acceptable level.
43. The risk assessment methods are determined by the employer taking into account the nature of the organisation's production activity, the complexity of the work performed, and the number of workers simultaneously present in RCS. The documented use of different methods for assessing the level of occupational risks for different processes and operations is permitted.
44. The measures to eliminate or reduce the levels of occupational risks in RCS include, in descending order of priority: 1) the elimination of hazardous work (a procedure) in RCS and (or) the reduction of the time of its performance; 2) the replacement of hazardous work (a procedure) with a less hazardous one (with a lower level of risk); 3) the application of technical and (or) technological methods for limiting the risk of the impact of hazards on workers; 4) the application of administrative methods for limiting the time of the impact of hazards on workers; 5) the duplication of means for measuring the parameters of the working environment or of indicators (alarm means); 6) the duplication of communication means; 7) the use of collective protective equipment; 8) the use of personal protective equipment.
45. The employer shall, before the commencement of work in RCS from List 1, approve a list of work performed in RCS under a permit to work (hereinafter - List 2). List 2 includes work to assess the environment parameters at all RCS from List 1, if this requires the direct presence of a worker in the RCS.
46. Work carried out in RCS on a permanent basis and performed under similar conditions by a permanent complement of workers may be performed without drawing up a permit to work, in accordance with the labour protection instructions approved for each type of work in RCS. The list of work in RCS that may be performed without drawing up a permit to work is approved by the employer.
47. In operating organisations, local documents (standards, instructions, the form of the permit to work) shall be developed and approved within the framework of the LPMS, clarifying and specifying the requirements for carrying out work under permits to work, including in RCS, taking into account the explosion and fire hazard indicators and physico-chemical properties of the hazardous substances circulating in the process, and proceeding from the operating conditions of these facilities.
48. A permit to work for work to assess the parameters of the working environment of RCS does not authorise the entry of workers into RCS for any purposes other than carrying out the assessment of the environment. A form of the permit to work approved by the employer, consisting of two sections - for carrying out the assessment of the environment in RCS and for carrying out work in RCS from List 2 - is permitted.
49. Taking into account the specifics of the production process and the confined space facility, the permit to work for work on assessment of the confined space working environment parameters specifies the parameters subject to measurement from the following list: 1) air temperature; 2) relative air humidity; 3) aerosols of predominantly fibrogenic action; 4) noise; 5) infrasound; 6) airborne ultrasound; 7) whole-body vibration; 8) local vibration; 9) illuminance of the working surface; 10) alternating electromagnetic field (power frequency 50 Hz); 11) alternating electromagnetic field in the radio-frequency range; 12) electrostatic field; 13) constant magnetic field; 14) ultraviolet radiation; 15) X-ray radiation; 16) gamma radiation; 17) neutron radiation; 18) radioactive contamination of elements of production equipment; 19) chemical substances and mixtures measured in the air of the working area, including certain substances of biological origin (antibiotics, vitamins, hormones, enzymes, protein preparations) that are obtained by chemical synthesis and (or) whose content is monitored using methods of chemical analysis; 20) producer microorganisms; 21) live cells and spores contained in bacterial preparations; 22) pathogenic microorganisms - agents of especially dangerous infectious diseases; 23) pathogenic microorganisms - agents of highly contagious human epidemic diseases; 24) pathogenic microorganisms - agents of infectious diseases classified into independent nosological groups, and opportunistic pathogenic microorganisms (agents of opportunistic infections).
50. Taking into account the specifics of the production process and the confined space facility, the environment parameters subject to assessment shall be taken into account and specified in the permit to work in accordance with the work execution plan, including: 1) possible changes in the environment parameters due to the use in the confined space of welding and gas-flame equipment, cutting tools or other tools; 2) possible changes in the environment parameters due to the use of chemical substances (including varnishes and paints) in the confined space; 3) the characteristics and configuration of the confined space affecting the presence of hard-to-reach areas and possible rescue and evacuation routes; 4) the characteristics and configuration of the confined space affecting the presence of poorly ventilated areas; 5) possible collapse of structural elements of the confined space; 6) the presence of liquids and possible flooding of the confined space; 7) features of the confined space affecting communication between the work team members and with the observer.
51. After completion of the work on measuring the environment parameters in the confined space, the person responsible for issuing the permit to work for work in the confined space shall analyse the measurement results and decide whether it is necessary to issue a permit to work for work, including work not included in List 2. In doing so, that person takes into account, among other things, the characteristics of the space, possible contaminants, the type of isolation and the type of planned work. If, based on the results of the analysis, it is decided that there is no need to issue a permit to work for performing work in the confined space, the person responsible for organising and safely carrying out work in the confined space determines and documents the periods during which workers may safely enter that confined space.
52. In exceptional cases (preventing an accident, eliminating a threat to workers' lives, responding to the consequences of accidents and natural disasters), work in the confined space may be commenced by written decision of the employer or of the person responsible for organising and safely carrying out work in the confined space without a permit to work being issued. If such work continues for more than 24 hours, a permit to work shall be issued without fail.
53. The permit to work defines the place of the confined space work, its content, the conditions for carrying out the work, the start and finish times of the work, the composition of the work team performing the work, and the persons responsible during the performance of that work. If work in the confined space is carried out simultaneously with other types of work requiring a permit to work, a single permit to work may be issued, incorporating information on the performance of work in the confined space and appointing the persons responsible for the safe performance of the work.
54. The permit to work shall be presented in the working area or in the entry-exit area of the confined space.
55. For the organisation of safe performance of work in confined spaces carried out under a permit to work, the following are appointed: 1) officials entitled to issue the permit to work, from among managers and specialists; 2) a responsible person in charge of the work, from among managers and specialists; 3) a responsible executor (performing authority) of the work, from among workers (team leaders, section leaders and highly qualified workers). The responsible person in charge of the work may combine the functions of the responsible executor.
56. Workers performing the duties of the observer are designated within the work team.
57. For the organisation and performance of evacuation from the confined space and rescue, the permit to work appoints workers whose functions include rescue, from among the work team members or from additional personnel located in the immediate vicinity of the confined space in which the work is carried out. The permit to work specifies the workers whose functions include rescue, appointed from among the work team members, who shall remain outside the confined space. Workers whose functions include rescue, appointed from among the additional personnel, shall be notified of the start of work in the confined space, with a record in the permit to work, and constant communication between the observer and them shall be established.
58. Officials issuing the permit to work shall: 1) define in the permit to work, in accordance with the occupational risk management procedure, the technical and technological actions to ensure worker safety; 2) appoint the responsible person in charge of the work; 3) determine the number of permits to work issued per responsible person in charge of the work for simultaneous performance of work; 4) appoint the responsible executor (performing authority) of the work; 5) determine the place and scope of the work, and specify in the permit to work the equipment and mechanisation means used; 6) issue two copies of the permit to work to the responsible person in charge of the work, making an entry to that effect in the log of work under permits to work; 7) familiarise the responsible person in charge of the work with the design and process documentation appended to the permit to work, the barrier layout diagram, and the layout diagram of permissive, prohibitory and warning signs; 8) monitor fulfilment of the actions to ensure safety during the performance of work provided for by the permit to work; 9) receive from the responsible person in charge of the work, upon completion of the work, the closed permit to work, with an entry in the permit-to-work registration log.
59. Officials issuing the permit to work are responsible for: 1) the timely and correct preparation and issue of the permit to work; 2) the actions specified in the permit to work that ensure worker safety during the performance of work in the confined space; 3) the composition of the work team and the appointment of workers; 4) the storage and recording of permits to work.
60. The responsible person in charge of the work shall: 1) obtain the permit to work for the performance of work from the official issuing the permit to work, an entry to that effect being made in the log of work under permits to work; 2) study the documented description of the occupational risk management procedure, the design and process documentation, the plan of actions for an emergency and for rescue operations, evacuation and rescue from the confined space, and the logs required for the work, and ensure that this documentation is available during the performance of the work; 3) check that the work team members specified in the permit to work are fully provided with tools, materials, protective equipment, measuring (alarm) and communication equipment, and also check the presence and validity periods of the work team members' certificates of admission to work in confined spaces; 4) instruct the responsible executor (performing authority) of the work to prepare and put into good order the tools, materials, protective equipment, signs and barriers specified in the permit to work; 5) upon arrival at the place of work, organise, ensure and check by personal inspection the completion of the technical actions to prepare the workplace for the start of work, the availability and completeness, in accordance with the permit to work, of collective and personal protective equipment, including the emergency set of rescue and evacuation equipment, the completeness of first aid equipment, and the correct placement of safety signs, protective barriers and barriers around the places of work; 6) verify that the composition of the work team matches the composition specified in the permit to work; 7) inform the work team members of the actions for the safe performance of work in the confined space, and conduct a targeted briefing of the work team members against their signatures in the permit to work; 8) during the targeted briefing, explain to the work team members the procedure for performing the work and the procedure for acting in emergencies and extraordinary situations, and inform them of their rights and duties; 9) after the targeted briefing, check how fully the work team members have understood the actions for the safe performance of work in the confined space; 10) organise and ensure fulfilment of the actions specified in the permit to work for the safety of work in the confined space: when preparing the workplace for the start of work, during the performance of the work and at its completion, including the need to switch the mechanised ventilation equipment on again (or keep it in continuous operation) based on the results of continuous monitoring of the air parameters of the confined space; 11) admit the work team to work under the permit to work directly at the place where the work is performed; 12) stop the work if additional hazardous production factors not provided for by the issued permit to work are identified, and also if the composition of the work team changes by more than half, and also if the responsible executor of the work is replaced, until a new permit to work is issued; 13) organise regulated breaks during the performance of the work and the admission of workers to work after the end of breaks; 14) at the end of the work, organise the removal of materials, tools, fixtures, barriers, debris and other items, and the withdrawal of the work team members from the place of work.
61. During the targeted briefing, Group 1 workers gaining access to the confined space shall be informed of the hazards of the forthcoming work and the risks associated with them, the signs and consequences of those risks materialising, and also of the warning signs displayed and the signals given by the observer, including where evacuation and rescue become necessary.
62. The responsible person in charge of the work is responsible for: 1) fulfilment of all the safety actions specified in the permit to work and their sufficiency; 2) the additional safety measures taken by that person as required by the conditions of the work; 3) the completeness and quality of the targeted briefing of the work team members; 4) the organisation of the safe conduct of work in the confined space.
63. The responsible executor (performing authority) of the work is a member of the work team. He carries out the orders of the responsible person in charge of the work. From the moment the work team is admitted to work, the responsible executor (performing authority) of the work shall remain at the workplace at all times and continuously supervise the work of the work team members, their fulfilment of safety measures and their compliance with the work process. The responsible executor (performing authority) of the work may not leave the place of work.
64. The responsible executor (performing authority) of the work shall: 1) check, in the presence of the responsible person in charge of the work, the preparation of the workplaces, the fulfilment of the safety measures provided for by the permit to work, and that the work team members have the protective equipment, rigging and tools, and consumables required during the work and specified in the permit to work; 2) indicate to each work team member his workplace; 3) prohibit work team members from leaving the place of work without the permission of the responsible executor (performing authority) of the work, and from performing work not provided for by the permit to work; 4) withdraw the work team members from the place of work for the duration of breaks during the work shift; 5) resume the work of the team after a break only after personally inspecting the workplace; 6) at the end of the work, ensure the removal of materials, tools, fixtures, barriers, debris and other items; 7) withdraw the work team members from the place of work at the end of the work shift.
65. A worker commencing work under a permit to work shall: 1) know his job description and the labour protection instructions for his occupation, the type of work performed, and the local regulations on labour protection to the extent relevant to the work performed; 2) know the existing and possible risks of harm to health, and the methods and techniques for performing the work safely; 3) know the measures for protection against harmful and hazardous production factors and the methods of rescue and evacuation, and be able to leave the area affected by harmful and (or) hazardous factors when danger to life and health arises; 4) know what collective protective equipment is available and be able to use personal protective equipment competently; 5) know the working regime of the forthcoming work; 6) know first aid techniques for accidents and be able to provide first aid until medical assistance arrives; 7) know the procedure for alerting the observer (standby person, supervisor, dispatcher) about a dangerous situation, and be able to use sign signalling. A worker performing work under a permit to work shall: (a) perform only the work assigned to him; (b) maintain the continuous communication specified in the permit to work (visual, voice or radio communication) with the other work team members and the observer (standby person); (c) be able to make professional use of the equipment, tools and technical means ensuring worker safety; (d) personally inspect the issued measuring (alarm) devices, communication equipment and personal protective equipment before and after each use; (e) be able to provide first aid to persons injured at work.
66. It shall not be permitted to change the set of actions provided for by the permit to work that ensure the safety of work in the confined space.
67. A permit to work for the performance of work in a confined space may be issued for the duration of one work shift. The permit to work may be issued for a period of not more than 15 calendar days from the date work begins, if the nature of the isolations ensures that the environment parameters in the working area remain constant, as confirmed by periodic monitoring of the environment during that period. The permit to work may be extended 1 time, for a period of not more than 15 calendar days from the date of its extension, under the same conditions. If, during the period provided for work in the confined space, no workers are present and the environment is not being monitored, the assessment of the environment parameters (including gas contamination) shall be carried out anew (repeatedly) before re-entry into the confined space, for which purpose a corresponding permit to work shall be issued. Based on the results of the repeated assessment of the environment parameters, the worker entitled to issue permits to work decides whether a new permit to work needs to be issued. The permit to work that was in effect before the break is cancelled.
68. If equipment for monitoring air parameters (with indicator panels located outside the confined space) is in constant use in the confined space (including during a break), a repeated assessment of the working area environment parameters of the confined space is not required. In that case, the permit to work that was in effect before the break remains valid.
69. If, in the course of the work, hazardous production factors and harmful working conditions not provided for by the permit to work arise, or if their parameters change, the work is stopped by decision of the responsible person in charge of the work, the permit to work is cancelled, and the work is resumed after a new permit to work has been issued.
70. The permit to work may be extended by the worker who issued it or by another worker entitled to issue permits to work.
71. Permits to work under which the work has been fully completed shall be kept for 1 year, after which they may be destroyed. If occupational accidents occurred during work under permits to work, those permits to work shall be kept in the organisation's archive together with the materials of the occupational accident investigation.
72. Work under permits to work is recorded in the log of work under permits to work.
73. If violations of the actions ensuring the safety of work in the confined space provided for by the permit to work are discovered, or if other circumstances threatening the safety of those working are identified, the work team members shall be removed from the place of work by the responsible executor (performing authority) of the work. Only after the discovered violations have been rectified may the work team members be admitted to work again.
74. The composition of the work team may be changed by the worker who issued the permit to work or by another worker entitled to issue permits to work for performing work in confined spaces. Instructions on changes to the composition of the work team may be conveyed by telephone, electronically (where the permit to work is prepared in electronic form), by radio or by courier to the responsible person in charge or the responsible executor (performing authority) of the work, who records in the permit to work, over his signature, the surname and initials of the worker who gave the instruction to change the composition of the work team. The responsible person in charge of the work or the responsible executor (performing authority) of the work shall, on the order (including an oral order) of the person who issued the permit to work or of the responsible person in charge of the work, conduct a targeted briefing of the workers added to the work team against their signatures in the permit to work, where the responsible person in charge has not conducted a targeted briefing with those workers. If the responsible person in charge or the responsible executor (performing authority) of the work is replaced, if the composition of the work team changes by more than half, or if the working conditions change, the permit to work is cancelled, and the work is resumed after a new permit to work has been issued.
75. Transfer of the work team to another workplace is carried out by the responsible person in charge or the responsible executor (performing authority) of the work, if the issuing authority has so instructed them, with an entry in the permit to work.
76. During a break in the work due to the end of the work shift, the work team shall be removed from the workplace (from the confined space). The entry points shall be closed off when no people are in the confined space. The responsible executor (performing authority) of the work shall hand over the permit to work to the responsible person in charge of the work or to the issuing authority, or, in his absence, leave the permit to work in the place designated for this purpose. The responsible executor (performing authority) of the work records the end of the work by signing his copy of the permit to work.
77. After completion of the work, the responsible executor (performing authority) of the work shall remove the work team from the workplace, take down the temporary barriers installed by the work team, restore the permanent barriers, take down the portable safety posters and signs, check that the production area of the confined space is clean and that no tools remain, block the entrance to the confined space, record the full completion of the work in the permit to work with his signature, and inform the worker who issued the permit to work that the work has been completed.
78. Completion of the work under the permit to work shall, after inspection of the place of work, be recorded in the corresponding column of the log of work under permits to work.
79. After checking the workplaces, the responsible person in charge of the work shall record the full completion of the work in the permit to work and hand the permit to work over to the worker who issued it.
80. On the production site, in the immediate vicinity of confined space areas with possible exposure to hazardous and harmful production factors, warning barriers, warning markings and safety signs shall be installed, and on the boundaries of areas where hazardous production factors are constantly present, protective or warning barriers shall be installed.
81. Confined space facilities are fitted with one or more entrances - a hatch, manhole, cut-out or other opening through which a worker can get inside the confined space.
82. A special system of warning signs at the entrance shall be used to control entry into the confined space. The warning signs shall be placed before the entry-exit point of the confined space and shall bear either an absolute prohibition on entry or the conditions for entry and exit.
83. Requirements concerning the need for, and the duration (modes) of operation of, collective protection means (systems) (ventilation, purification and air conditioning systems, systems for containing harmful production emissions, and others) are established by the employer's production or process documentation.
84. The decision on the need for additional natural or forced ventilation of the confined space is taken by the responsible person in charge of the work based on the results of the assessment of the air composition of the confined space.
85. Forced ventilation shall also be provided when the air temperature in the confined space is above 30 °C. Where thermal radiation exceeds 2800 W/m2 and (or) the air temperature in the confined space is above 50 °C, performing work in the confined space without special suits and personal protective equipment providing effective thermal protection for those working shall not be permitted.
86. Natural ventilation of the confined space shall be created by opening at least two hatches.
87. Ventilation of the confined space by the direct method of mechanised ventilation shall ensure that enough fresh air is introduced to remove contaminants from all areas, including sags or corners of the confined space, and shall prevent recirculation of contaminated air.
88. The decision on the need to switch the mechanised ventilation equipment on or off, or to keep it in continuous operation, is taken by the responsible person in charge of the work based on the results of continuous monitoring of the air in the confined space. After the purging and airing procedure of the confined space has been completed, the mechanised ventilation equipment shall be ready to continue operating so that it can be switched on again for purging and airing the confined space.
89. Air for ventilation using an electric or pneumatic fan shall come from an area where contaminants have no access to the air flow, and outside the area where air extracted from the confined space is discharged, to prevent its return in a "short cycle" back to the worker.
90. The use of compressed oxygen for ventilating the confined space shall be prohibited.
91. For disposal of the air and vapours from the confined space, the outlets of the ventilation system shall be directed to a safe place, away from possible ignition sources.
92. Forced ventilation may be provided by a mobile fan or compressor with a complete change of air in the volume of the confined space within 10-15 minutes. Where the access point is at the top, the lowered fan hose shall be at a height of 20-25 cm above floor level.
93. The design and aerodynamics of the ventilation, aspiration and dust and gas cleaning systems, and the selected flow velocity of the medium, shall ensure removal of harmful, flammable and explosive gases, vapours, dust, aerosols and other hazardous substances from the places where they form in the confined space so as to prevent fire-hazardous and explosive substances from settling or accumulating in those systems. Pipelines transporting materials hazardous in this respect shall have devices for periodic cleaning (hatches, detachable joints and others). At points where air ingress into the pipelines may create an explosive atmosphere, gas-tight gate valves shall be fitted immediately downstream of the extraction rings to prevent air from intermittently operated facilities entering the extraction systems. Ingress of outside air shall not exceed 20 per cent.
94. The overall effectiveness of the aspiration and dust and gas cleaning systems is assessed by analysing the air at designated points of the confined space for dust and gas content and is deemed satisfactory if the established limits are not exceeded.
95. If the assessment is unsatisfactory, the overall effectiveness of these systems shall be raised to a satisfactory level by re-checking the quality of the isolations, increasing capacity, adding further dust and gas cleaning facilities, or by restricting the operating mode or completely suspending the operation of the equipment that is the source of dust and gas emissions.
96. If natural and forced ventilation does not ensure complete removal of harmful substances from the confined space, such work shall be classified as work in a confined space with a gas-hazardous environment and shall be carried out in compliance with the corresponding safety measures.
97. Normalisation of lighting in the working areas of the confined space is ensured by using natural lighting and light sources, lighting fixtures, light filters, glare protection devices and the optimal arrangement of light openings (including additional ones for the duration of work in the confined space).
98. In confined spaces that may contain residual combustible particles, additional portable lighting equipment with a voltage of not more than 12 V may be used.
99. For work in a confined space with a fire- and explosion-safe environment, which has never allowed the possibility of combustible residual particles or a combustible environment existing in it, ordinary low-voltage industrial lighting equipment may be used.
100. Emergency and evacuation lighting fixtures shall be connected to a network (power sources) independent of the network (power sources) of the working lighting.
101. Emergency lighting shall be switched on for the entire time the working lighting is in use, or shall switch on automatically if the working lighting suddenly goes off.
102. Transformers for additional low-voltage portable lighting shall always be installed outside the confined space.
103. Electric cables passing through the entry points of the confined space shall be protected, or other openings of the confined space shall be used.
104. Working areas identified through assessment of the confined space working environment parameters as having a sound level or equivalent sound level above 85 dBA shall be marked with safety signs.
105. Even short-term presence of workers in working areas of the confined space with octave sound pressure levels above 135 dB in any octave band shall be prohibited.
106. Protection against noise in the working area of the confined space is ensured by using barrier, sound-insulating and sound-absorbing devices and noise silencers, by using personal hearing protection equipment and by other measures, including technical measures to suppress noise at the source itself.
107. Protection against vibration in the working area of the confined space is ensured by using vibration-safe equipment and barrier, vibration-isolating, vibration-damping and vibration-absorbing devices, by using personal protective equipment, and by introducing rational organisation of work and rest for workers in vibration-hazardous occupations.
108. Measurement and assessment of the confined space working environment parameters may be carried out by workers whose functions include assessment of the confined space environment parameters (including gas contamination).
109. Measurement of the confined space working environment parameters may be carried out either with workers entering the confined space or using remote (distance) measurement methods. When measurements are taken with entry into the confined space, entry of other workers into the confined space shall be strictly prohibited. Where it is impossible to measure the confined space working environment parameters while the equipment is in its operating mode, the employer shall assess the corresponding parameters using approved and (or) agreed methods. The assessment of the corresponding parameters may be either quantitative or qualitative, for the purpose of determining the need for risk management measures against exposure to the corresponding environmental factors, including determining the need for additional lighting for the work. Where there is no method for assessing the corresponding parameters, the employer shall ensure instrumental monitoring of the corresponding confined space working environment parameters during the work and, where permissible levels are found to be exceeded, the necessary actions to reduce them.
110. Work involving entry into the confined space to assess the confined space working environment parameters before the start of work is carried out under a permit to work. A worker whose functions include assessment of the confined space environment parameters shall obtain permission to enter the confined space from the responsible person in charge of the work after the corresponding isolations in the confined space have been confirmed.
111. Before workers whose functions include assessment of the confined space environment parameters enter, the serviceability and condition shall be checked of the isolations, hatches, manholes, dampers, valves, throttles and shut-off valves, changeover devices, the cover lifting mechanism, actuators and instrumentation, including personal gas analysis devices for monitoring the condition of the air in the working area (where available).
112. Carrying out isolation using levers that extend the arm of a handle or handwheel and are not provided for by the operating instructions for the devices shall be prohibited.
113. The observer shall be at the place near the confined space specified in the permit to work so as to exercise effective control over the actions of the workers whose functions include assessment of the confined space environment parameters, and shall have the necessary means of communication to inform the workers whose functions include rescue in the event that the workers whose functions include assessment of the confined space environment parameters, and also to warn the workers whose functions include assessment of the confined space environment parameters of the danger threatening them.
114. The permit to work for assessment (measurement) of the working environment parameters specifies the necessary personal protective equipment, including respiratory protective equipment (filtering or isolating), self-rescuers (where necessary) and evacuation and rescue systems. Where there are no fixed or built-in ladders, platforms or other devices ensuring safe entry into (exit from) the confined space, the permit to work for assessment (measurement) of the working environment parameters specifies the necessary means, and the method of securing them, for equipping hatches, manholes and temporary entry (exit) openings with mobile anchor devices, rigid and (or) flexible anchor lines, ladders, trestles and scaffolding.
115. When taking measurements that involve entry into a confined space, the worker whose functions include assessment of the confined space environment parameters shall be equipped with self-contained isolating respiratory protective equipment with or without an external supply of breathing air (hereinafter - IRPE). He may enter the confined space without IRPE only where this is prescribed in the permit to work. The safety of the atmosphere in the work area (absence of toxic and flammable gases, sufficiency of oxygen) shall be confirmed by documentation.
116. If the permit to work prescribes that resuscitation equipment and the presence of qualified medical personnel are required for work in a confined space, the permit to work shall specify the particular location of the equipment and personnel in the immediate vicinity of the confined space. Before workers enter the confined space, the resuscitation equipment shall be inspected and ready for immediate use. The observer shall be provided with communication with such medical personnel.
117. When assessing the confined space environment parameters, only those measuring instruments shall be used whose serviceability and measurement accuracy are confirmed by documentation. All measuring instruments and (or) alarm devices used, including gas analysers, gas alarms and other gas monitoring devices, shall be entered in the Federal Information Fund for Ensuring the Uniformity of Measurements and shall have an up-to-date verification at the time of the work. Measuring instruments shall be unambiguously identified. If battery power is used, the battery charge capacity shall allow a full measurement cycle.
118. When assessing the confined space environment parameters, the confined space shall be inspected and the presence of any sludge or solid sediment, as well as of liquids, in the confined space work area shall be recorded, and a corresponding entry shall be made in the permit to work.
119. The results of the assessment of the confined space working environment parameters are entered in the permit to work.
120. If the confined space working environment parameters meet the requirements established in the permit to work, the responsible person in charge of the work gives permission to enter the confined space.
121. If the confined space working environment parameters fall outside the limits established in the permit to work, the responsible person in charge of the work informs the issuing authority that the technical and technological actions to ensure safety during work in the confined space are insufficient. An additional risk assessment is carried out and a decision is taken on additional actions to ensure the safety of work in the confined space, on additional isolations or their replacement, on cleaning of the confined space, on additional ventilation, on pumping out of liquid, and on replacement of collective or individual protective equipment.
122. Gas analysers and gas alarms shall undergo periodic calibration using test gas mixtures in accordance with the manufacturer's operating documentation.
123. Before sampling from the confined space for analysis, the user shall calibrate the gas analyser against clean air in accordance with the instrument manufacturer's instructions.
124. The air sampling point for clean-air calibration shall be located in an area where the background content of harmful substances and oxygen in the air is as close as possible to the natural level characteristic of that area.
125. The presence of the most likely harmful, explosive and explosion and fire hazardous substances and of oxygen in the confined space air shall be determined with a gas analyser using forced sampling.
126. Laboratory analysis of samples may be carried out to assess the content of harmful substances in the air. In such a case, the time interval between the taking of samples for analysis and the start of work in the confined space shall be as short as possible, and the invariability of the environment parameters for the duration of the analysis shall be confirmed by documentation.
127. Linear colorimetric indicator tubes may be used to determine the content of harmful substances in the confined space air. In such a case, the air intake device used for the analysis shall be capable of remote sampling.
128. Forced sampling is carried out with a manual or automatic pump connected to the gas analyser and to the sampling devices.
129. Where the entry point into the confined space is at the top, air samples shall be taken using a sampling hose lowered into the confined space. Where the entry point into the confined space is at the side, air samples shall be taken using a sampling probe. Sampling shall take into account the established presence of poorly ventilated zones of the confined space.
130. Gas analysers and pumps shall be used in accordance with the equipment manufacturer's technical documentation and the technical documentation for the confined space.
131. The use of gas alarms (gas analysers not equipped with devices displaying the measured concentration) shall not be permitted for determining the content of harmful substances in the confined space air.
132. Air samples shall be taken, as far as possible, from the most poorly ventilated places of the upper and lower zones of the working space. When taking a sample from the upper zone to detect harmful substances with a density lower than air, the end of the sampling hose (sampling probe) shall be 20 - 30 cm below the upper boundary of the work area. To detect harmful substances heavier than air, the sample shall be taken from the lower part of the work area, and the end of the hose (probe) shall be located at a distance of not more than 1 metre from the floor (ground).
133. Measuring harmful substances by placing the gas analyser directly into the environment being analysed, by means of hoses or ropes, shall not be permitted.
134. The assessment (measurement) of the parameters before the start of work shall be carried out in accordance with the following requirements: (a) the ventilation equipment shall be switched off before the start of the assessment; (b) the state of the atmosphere shall be assessed in the upper, lower and middle parts of the confined space; (c) the state of the environment inside the confined space shall be continuously monitored throughout the assessment of the environment parameters, recording any possible dynamics of change in the measurements.
135. The instruments shall undergo control tests after use in accordance with the manufacturer's technical documentation.
136. The confined space work area may be characterised as safe for presence in it without IRPE only if the concentration of hazardous substances (vapours, gases) does not exceed the maximum permissible concentrations (hereinafter - MPC) in the work area air, the oxygen content is not less than 20 per cent by volume (inside vessels (apparatus)) and the possibility of hazardous substances (vapours, gases) entering from outside is excluded, with an entry in the permit to work for gas-hazardous work. In addition, the workers whose functions include assessment of the confined space environment parameters shall confirm that there are no materials inside the confined space which, in their opinion, could release a significant quantity of vapours and gases if displaced or if their integrity is breached, as a result of which the state of the atmosphere would cease to be characterised as safe for presence in it without IRPE. The gas contamination assessment required for hot work shall be carried out separately (the assessment carried out to authorise entry is not sufficient to grant authorisation for hot work).
137. If the confined space work area environment does not conform, the worker whose functions include assessment of the confined space environment parameters shall make an entry in the permit to work on the need to use IRPE or appropriate respiratory protective equipment.
138. The permissible limits for entry into and work in a confined space shall conform to those established in the organisation's labour protection management system.
139. Work in a confined space is carried out under a permit to work in which the results of the assessment of the working environment parameters have been entered. The results of the assessment of the confined space work area environment parameters are entered in (appended in the form of a signed report to) the permit to work for work in the confined space.
140. Work in a confined space under a permit to work may be carried out after the absolute isolation procedure has been completed. Absolute isolation shall be applied to all process and utility pipelines, as well as to electrical (control) equipment, whenever any work assignment requiring entry into a confined space is issued. During isolation, the flange joint shall be disconnected and a disc blind installed, or a section of the pipeline removed. If the process equipment does not allow this requirement to be met when entering drilling mud storage tanks, pump pits, ballast tanks or other process support systems, a risk assessment shall be carried out and admission to the confined space obtained from the person responsible for work safety.
141. In the absence of stationary or built-in ladders, platforms and other devices ensuring safe entry into (exit from) the confined space, the permit to work specifies the necessary equipment and the method of its installation, fastening and dismantling (after completion of the work) for fitting hatches, manholes and temporary entry (exit) openings with mobile anchor devices, rigid and (or) flexible anchor lines, ladders, staging and scaffolding. In such a case, an additional permit to work for work at height is not required.
142. Valves, air feeders and tunnel fans of the confined space shall remain open to ensure free ventilation and (or) the supply of a flow of clean air into the confined space. If there is a likelihood of gases, liquid or other contaminants penetrating into the confined space from any external sources other than the isolated pipeline while workers are inside the confined space, all valves through which such substances penetrate shall be shut off. For isolations used for these purposes, pressure measurement is not obligatory. However, isolations (shut-offs) whose pressure has not been measured shall have a special tag, closed-loop colour marking or other clear marking. In the case of tanks with an S-shaped restriction, mechanical stops used to shut off the access of smoke may serve as an option. Doors (hatches) at the confined space entry shall be removed last and reinstalled first so as to reduce the risk of unauthorised entry into the confined space working area.
143. Continuous monitoring of the work area air shall be carried out with individual devices (individual gas analysers and gas alarms) or collective gas analysis devices (stationary and mobile gas monitoring systems) in confined spaces with a high likelihood of change in the composition of the work area air, which may be caused by the causes indicated below: 1) ingress of harmful substances from adjacent process systems where their isolation from the work area is insufficient; 2) reduced effectiveness of forced or natural ventilation; 3) accumulation of harmful substances associated with the oxidation of chemical substances by atmospheric oxygen; 4) an increase in the concentration of harmful substances in the work area air associated with a change in environmental conditions, for example an increase in the concentration of vapours as a consequence of an increase in ambient temperature; 5) accumulation of gaseous harmful substances and vapours in the enclosed volume caused by their natural emission into the environment, for example from the soil; 6) a reduction in the oxygen concentration and an increase in the concentration of combustion products during hot work in enclosed premises.
144. Individual and collective gas monitoring devices intended for continuous monitoring of the state of the work area air shall have not less than 2 alarm levels triggered on reaching the critical concentration of harmful and explosive substances and of oxygen in the confined space air.
145. It is recommended that the preliminary alarm be set at 50 per cent of the main signal level (except for oxygen). It is recommended that the main signal level be set in accordance with the following requirements: 1) the main alarm level on reaching the critical concentration of toxic substances - not higher than 100 per cent of the maximum permissible concentration of substances in the work area air (work area MPC); 2) the main alarm level on reaching the critical concentration of explosive substances - not higher than 50 per cent of the lower explosive limit (hereinafter - LEL) of the relevant substance. Where a mixture of explosive substances with different LEL levels is present, the substance taken as the reference is the one presenting the greatest danger of forming an explosive mixture with air owing to its probably higher concentration or high volatility; 3) the main signal level on reaching the critical oxygen concentration - an upper limit not higher than 23 per cent by volume and a lower limit not lower than 19 per cent by volume.
146. Before the start of work, gas analysers and gas alarms shall have a power source charge level of not less than 75 per cent of nominal capacity and shall ensure operability for the entire period of work in the confined space, taking account of entry and exit. Work in a confined space with continuous monitoring of the state of the work area air using gas analysers and gas alarms with a power source charge level of less than 25 per cent of nominal capacity shall be prohibited. Gas analysers and gas alarms shall have an alarm indicating that the battery charge has fallen to a critical level. Once the signal that the battery charge has been reached is received, work in the confined space shall be stopped. Replacement of the power source inside the confined space shall be prohibited.
147. Individual gas analysers and gas alarms shall be placed on the worker in accordance with the instructions of the manufacturer's operating documentation.
148. The access of the analysed air to the instrument sensors shall be unobstructed; the placing of individual instruments in pockets or other places blocking the access of air to the instrument sensors shall be prohibited.
149. Stationary and mobile gas monitoring systems shall be in good working order and installed (mounted) or positioned (placed) in accordance with the manufacturers' technical documentation. Stationary and mobile gas monitoring systems shall be entered in the Federal Information Fund for Ensuring the Uniformity of Measurements, shall have a verification valid at the time of the work and shall undergo periodic calibration using test gas mixtures within the calibration (inter-calibration) interval established by the instrument manufacturer.
150. The information transmission channel between the measuring units, controllers and actuating devices, arranged by wired or wireless means for stationary and mobile collective gas monitoring systems, shall provide simultaneous notification of the reaching of critical concentration levels of harmful gases, vapours and oxygen both directly to the personnel performing work in the confined space and to the personnel outside the confined space supporting the work.
151. In confined spaces where exhaust ventilation is used, when it is impossible to provide sufficient supply ventilation, IRPE shall be used as prescribed in the permit to work.
152. Workers performing work in a confined space with a non-gas-hazardous atmosphere shall be provided with isolating or filtering self-rescuers with an operating time sufficient for evacuation and rescue from the confined space.
153. During work in a confined space with a non-gas-hazardous atmosphere, the state of the air in the work area shall be continuously monitored with individual gas analysis devices.
154. Activation of the preliminary alarm of a worker's individual gas analyser or gas alarm indicates an unfavourable change in the composition of the air relative to the readings recorded at the time of the preliminary assessment of the composition of the confined space work area air. On receiving the preliminary alarm signal, the worker performing work inside the confined space shall bring the respiratory protective equipment (isolating self-rescuer) to a state of readiness and notify the responsible executor (performing authority) of the work, the observer and the other members of the work team. He shall obtain from the responsible executor (performing authority) of the work and the observer confirmation that the information on the unfavourable change in the composition of the air has been received, and await their instructions. The observer shall immediately notify the responsible person in charge of the work of the critical change in the composition of the air.
155. Stationary and (or) mobile gas monitoring systems shall be used to monitor the zones adjacent to the confined space work area. Activation of the preliminary alarm indicates a critical change in the composition of the air.
156. When the alarm signal of a gas analyser or gas alarm is activated, work in the confined space is stopped; and when the alarm signal of gas analysers and gas alarms for harmful substances is activated, or when they are triggered at the lower concentration limit of oxygen content, work shall be stopped, personal protective equipment (an isolating or filtering self-rescuer) shall be donned and evacuation from the confined space work area shall be carried out.
157. Work shall be stopped immediately if, in the course of the work, the appearance of harmful and explosive gases and vapours is detected near the work zone, or under other conditions creating a fire hazard, and the workers shall be withdrawn from the danger zone.
158. Appropriate safety signs shall be installed at the entry to (exit from) a confined space with a gas-hazardous atmosphere.
159. During work in a confined space with a gas-hazardous atmosphere, continuous monitoring of the work area air shall be carried out at all times with individual and collective gas analysis devices.
160. Workers carry out work in a confined space with a gas-hazardous atmosphere using isolating suits and (or) isolating breathing apparatus with an appropriate level of protection.
161. During work performed in emergency conditions in a confined space with a gas-hazardous atmosphere, and also in conditions where there is a high likelihood, irrespective of the worker's actions, of the release into the work area of harmful vapours, gases and other substances capable of having a harmful effect on the human body, isolating respiratory protective equipment with an external supply of breathing air shall be used as the primary means of protection, and there shall also be a reserve air source with automatic switchover systems, with a self-contained operating time sufficient for evacuation from the confined space in accordance with the emergency action plan and during rescue operations, evacuation and rescue from the confined space.
162. During work performed in a confined space with a gas-hazardous atmosphere in conditions of possible limited exposure of the worker, irrespective of his actions, to harmful vapours, gases and other substances (within permissible limits), which may become dangerous only if the requirements for continuous monitoring of the work area environment parameters are not observed (including failure of alarm devices), isolating respiratory protective equipment with an external supply of breathing air shall be used as the primary means of protection.
163. In a confined space with a gas-hazardous atmosphere of a low degree of risk, self-contained isolating personal protective equipment or isolating respiratory protective equipment with an external supply of breathing air shall be used.
164. Appropriate safety signs shall be installed at the entry to (exit from) a confined space with an explosion and fire hazardous atmosphere.
165. During work in a confined space with an explosion and fire hazardous atmosphere, continuous monitoring shall be carried out of the concentration in the work area air of vapours, gases and other substances (identified during the assessment of the confined space working environment parameters) capable of causing an explosion and (or) ignition. Work capable of causing an explosion and (or) ignition shall not be permitted where explosion and fire hazardous substances are present at more than 20 per cent by volume of the lower flammability limit in the zone where such work is carried out.
166. During work in a confined space with an explosion and fire hazardous atmosphere, continuous monitoring of the work area air shall be carried out at all times with individual and (or) collective gas analysis devices for pre-explosive concentrations of vapours, gases and other substances capable of causing an explosion and (or) ignition, having a toxic effect on workers and (or) displacing oxygen from the confined space work area, reducing its concentration to critical values.
167. Electrical equipment in a confined space with an explosion and fire hazardous atmosphere shall be of explosion-proof design.
168. During work in a confined space with an explosion and fire hazardous atmosphere, non-sparking protective equipment, tools and devices (made of non-ferrous metals), antistatic special clothing and special footwear made of non-sparking materials shall be used. Carrying out work in a confined space with an explosion and fire hazardous atmosphere in dirty or oil-soaked special clothing, or in clothing made of synthetic fibres, shall be prohibited.
169. During work in a confined space with an explosion and fire hazardous atmosphere, lighting lamps shall be switched on and off only outside the confined space.
170. After opening and isolating a specialised confined space (tank or vessel), as much oil, oil sludge and solid sediment as possible shall be removed by emptying, steaming, mechanical removal using bailers and scrapers made of non-sparking material, or by taking measures precluding spark formation, and using earthed water hoses.
171. Where it is impossible to perform the work from outside the confined space through the open hatch door, ventilation and analysis of the air for the content of harmful substances shall be carried out, and the indicator of exceedance of the lower explosive limit shall be established. Work to remove dirt and solid sediment is carried out inside the confined space.
172. Settling tanks or suitable containers shall be used to receive oil or oil sludge. This material shall be stored and then disposed of in an environmentally safe manner.
173. Pyrophoric solid sediment is removed from the facilities into tightly closed metal drums, and the sediment shall be diluted with water. For the entire time that the pyrophoric solid sediment is exposed to the air after the cleaning process, it shall be kept in a wet state.
174. Where hard deposits are present that require the use of special tools to cut them out, the permit to work shall contain a clear indication that the surface to be cleaned with such tools shall remain wet throughout the work.
175. Only specially trained workers shall be engaged for work in which high-pressure water jets are used to remove oil sludge and solid sediment. Where a standard water hose and injectors are used to wash the space, the injectors shall be earthed.
176. If the use of chemical cleaning agents is envisaged, hazard identification shall be carried out to determine the safety of substances for the chemical substance concerned, as well as a risk assessment, before their use begins. Based on the results of the assessment, the need for additional ventilation or respiratory protection shall be determined. When introducing a chemical substance into the confined space, the compatibility of that substance with the contents of the confined space shall be checked.
177. Oil sludge and used cleaning liquid shall be collected and disposed of in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner.
178. Where toxic gases, including H2S, are formed during chemical cleaning, a closed drainage system outside the confined space shall be used for the disposal of liquid waste. The personnel involved in these operations shall be dressed in filtering protective clothing providing protection against gases, vapours and aerosols of chemical substances, shall have protective equipment, and shall also have instruments for monitoring the toxic gas content and alarm devices.
179. Explosion-proof luminaires with a voltage not exceeding 12 V shall be used for lighting inside specialised confined spaces, and they shall be switched on (off) from outside the confined space.
180. When carrying out repair work in specialised confined spaces (a tank or vessel), it shall be verified that no trapped oil remains in the internal elements of the confined space. Hollow supports or reinforcing steel structures in direct contact with hydrocarbons shall be checked at the bottom and top for the presence of oil. If oil is found, the hollow structure concerned shall be cleaned using one of the methods indicated above before work in the tank or vessel is continued. During the assessment of the confined space working environment parameters, the shells of the tank or vessel, their internal lining or replaceable wear-resistant pads, which may accumulate hydrocarbons on their reverse side, shall be examined, as well as places where liquids and gas may seep through the smallest cracks.
181. The territory of the treatment facilities shall be kept clean at all times and, in winter, shall be cleared of snow and ice and sprinkled with sand.
182. Waste water, as well as oil sludge washed out in petroleum product storage tanks, shall be drained through pipelines with detachable joints to oil sludge dewatering units or to sludge collectors. The treated water in the dewatering units or sludge collectors shall be drained through the industrial storm-water or industrial sewerage network to the treatment facilities of the site. Discharging waste water into open water bodies and the sewerage network after cleaning petroleum product tanks shall be prohibited.
183. Portable tripods shall be installed at the places where repair work is carried out: by day - with signs painted in white and red; by night - with a battery-powered signal lamp or automatic alarm.
184. Repair teams shall be provided with tools, materials and devices for opening and closing well covers and gate valves.
185. Gas analysers shall be installed in the premises of ozoniser boilers. Work in the premises of ozoniser boilers with an ozone concentration above 0.1 mg/m3 shall be prohibited.
186. Elimination of ozone leaks shall be carried out in a filtering breathing apparatus, after which the premises are ventilated for not less than 15 minutes.
187. In the event of ozone poisoning, the injured person shall be carried out into the fresh air and provided with rest and warmth, the giving of first aid shall be arranged and, if necessary, the person shall be taken to a medical organisation.
188. Welding work inside a confined space shall be performed in compliance with the requirements of the labour protection rules for electric welding and gas welding work approved by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation in accordance with sub-clause 5.2.28 of the Regulation on the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation, approved by Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 610 of 19 June 2012 (Collected Legislation of the Russian Federation, 2012, No. 26, Article 3528).
189. It shall not be permitted to perform welding work in confined spaces that are under pressure or contain flammable or combustible liquids, or in confined spaces that have been emptied but have not undergone appropriate treatment to bring the air environment in them to parameters permissible for welding work.
190. Welding work at height in a confined space shall be performed from special scaffolding equipment (staging, scaffolds) of mobile or stationary type. The scaffolding equipment shall be non-combustible and stable, shall have a ladder for ascending to and descending from the working platform, and shall have protective guarding on the working platform. The use, without systems for protection against falls from height, of leaning ladders as scaffolding equipment, as well as stepladders with boards fixed on them serving as a deck, shall not be permitted. Systems for protection against falls from height shall be non-combustible.
191. Welding work is accompanied by a number of harmful production factors (dust, gas, light radiation, high temperature, thermal and ultraviolet radiation, open gas flame and arc, plasma jet, splashes of liquid metal and slag during welding and cutting) and creates a danger of burns additional to those indicated in paragraph 8 of the Rules, and also increases the danger of fires and explosions. Some types of welding in a confined space are accompanied by increased noise reaching 120 - 130 dB. In a confined space, multiple reflection is possible, and glare may arise from the electric arc with a brightness more than 1000 times higher than the permissible standard for the eye. During argon-arc welding, the partial pressure of oxygen in the inhaled air shall be continuously monitored, since argon is a gas without colour or odour and of low chemical activity.
192. Welding work (especially arc welding with a metal (tungsten) electrode in an inert gas atmosphere) is performed in a confined space where supply and exhaust ventilation is available, ensuring a sufficient flow of fresh air and removal of welding gases. In such a case, the fresh air intake shall be located outside the welder's breathing zone, and the contaminated air shall not return by a "short cycle" without cleaning back to the worker.
193. Before welding, cutting or grinding work is performed, the assessment of the confined space working environment parameters shall confirm that the space is completely free of gas and residual combustible particles.
194. Lighting a gas welding torch inside a confined space shall be prohibited. The torch shall be lit outside the confined space and handed to the welder by a worker positioned at the entry to (exit from) the confined space.
195. When performing work at water supply and sewerage confined space facilities (including wells, walk-through sewer collectors, vessels, chambers, methane digesters), the requirements of the labour protection rules for housing and utility services and of the labour protection rules for work at height, approved by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation in accordance with sub-clause 5.2.28 of the Regulation on the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation, approved by Government Resolution No. 610 of 19 June 2012 (Collection of Legislation of the Russian Federation, 2012, No. 26, Art. 3528), shall be followed to the extent that they do not contradict or reduce the requirements of the Rules.
196. In addition to those specified in the Rules, when performing work at water supply and sewerage confined space facilities whose manholes are located directly on or near the carriageway, the employer shall take into account the additional specific hazard of being struck by vehicles.
197. Workers of a work team (crew) performing inspection or work from the ground surface at an open well not enclosed by protective or safety guarding shall use appropriate restraint or fall arrest systems for protection against falls from height.
198. Work in the confined space of a walk-through sewer collector is carried out by a work team sized on the basis that the observer and at least two workers whose functions include rescue shall remain on the surface.
199. Work inside the confined spaces of vessel-type structures is carried out by a work team of at least 3 workers, two of whom (the observer and the worker whose functions include rescue) shall be outside the vessel-type structure. The functions of the observer and of the workers whose functions include rescue may be combined.
200. When working inside the confined spaces of vessel-type structures that require descent (ascent) for entry (exit), fall arrest systems for ensuring the safety of work at height shall be used, comprising an anchor device, a safety harness and a connecting and shock-absorbing subsystem. It shall be prohibited to use safety belts as part of these safety systems. It shall be prohibited to use a fall arrest safety system without an anchor device (with the end of the safety rope or of the lanyard from the safety harness of the worker working inside the vessel-type structure held in the hands of the observer or of the person providing backup). If the permit to work prescribes the use of a fall arrest safety system for rescue and evacuation, the safety harness shall provide for elements that ensure the worker's body is kept in a position facilitating rescue and evacuation from the confined space.
201. Where there is liquid inside a vessel-type structure with a temperature above 50 °C and a level exceeding 200 mm, it shall be prohibited to perform work in the vessel-type structure without special personal protective equipment ensuring effective thermal protection of the workers.
202. Where it is necessary to perform work in a confined space filled with liquid (a well, a walk-through sewer collector, a chamber, water intake confined spaces) with immersion into that liquid, the requirements of the relevant regulatory legal acts shall be followed.
203. Painting and sealing work inside confined spaces shall be performed in compliance with the requirements of the labour protection rules for painting work, approved by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation in accordance with sub-clause 5.2.28 of the Regulation on the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Russian Federation, and shall be safe at all stages of the technological process.
204. Surface preparation operations and painting work shall be performed using respiratory protective equipment and personal protective equipment for the eyes and hands, with supply and exhaust ventilation in place ensuring permissible concentrations of suspended particles, solvent vapours and paint dust in the air at the workplaces.
205. For cleaning, washing and painting at height in confined spaces, special scaffolding equipment (platforms, scaffolds) of mobile or stationary type shall be used. Scaffolding equipment shall be stable and shall have a ladder for ascending to and descending from the working platform, protective guarding on the working platform and a device for suspending (placing) containers with paint. The use, as scaffolding equipment, of leaning ladders, as well as stepladders with boards fixed on them serving as decking, without systems ensuring protection against falls from height shall not be permitted.
206. Operations involving the preparation of solvent mixtures, the making of varnish and paint compositions and their dilution with solvents shall be performed according to the process chart in a special room outside the confined space with the supply and exhaust ventilation operating. Pouring, transferring, crushing and sieving of dry paints shall be carried out in a special place outside the confined space, equipped with an exhaust hood in such a way that the dust and harmful vapours generated during these operations can be removed directly from the place where they are generated.
207. When preparing the entry to and exit from a confined space, the possibility of urgent evacuation of an injured person in the event of an accident or occupational injury shall be taken into account.
208. To ensure and maintain safe working conditions and to prevent cases of occupational injuries and occupational disease, the employer, proceeding from the specifics of its activities, establishes the procedure for identifying potentially possible accidents and approves the plan of actions in the event of an emergency situation and during rescue operations, evacuation and rescue from confined spaces.
209. In the plan of actions in the event of an emergency situation and during rescue operations, evacuation and rescue from confined spaces, the employer takes into account the existing plans for responding to accidents and eliminating their consequences. In the event of an accident, the employer ensures the protection of workers present in the working area of the confined space by: 1) informing (rescue call) the workers present in the working area of the confined space, workers outside the confined space, workers whose functions include rescue, and responsible workers; 2) coordinating the actions to eliminate the accident and its consequences; 3) immediately stopping the work and evacuating (rescuing) workers from the confined space to a safe place; 4) not resuming work under emergency conditions; 5) providing information about the accident to the relevant competent authorities, services and subdivisions for the elimination of emergency and extraordinary situations, and reliable communication of the employer with them; 6) carrying out fire prevention actions.
210. Actions to prevent and eliminate accidents in confined spaces shall be considered during risk assessment and shall include evacuation and rescue (provision of an appropriate exit from the confined space) and the provision of first aid to injured persons.
211. An observer who has detected a hazard or the onset and development of an emergency situation, or who has received an alarm signal from the workers inside the confined space, shall raise the alarm and take measures to rescue and evacuate those working in the confined space in accordance with the plan of actions in the event of an emergency situation and during rescue operations, evacuation and rescue from confined spaces, while ensuring his own safety. The observer shall notify the relevant services of the employer.
212. Workers whose functions include rescue shall respond immediately to a rescue call received from the observer or from another person who has noticed the need to rescue workers in a confined space. A worker who has stopped breathing requires forced ventilation of the lungs immediately (within 3 - 4 minutes) after breathing has ceased. Workers whose functions include rescue shall be specially trained to perform evacuation and rescue in confined spaces and, among other things, shall be able to use respiratory protective equipment, including an air breathing apparatus, and rescue equipment.
213. Workers whose functions include rescue shall undergo training in providing first aid inside confined spaces.
214. The developed and approved plan of actions in the event of an emergency situation and during rescue operations, evacuation and rescue from confined spaces (hereinafter the Action Plan) shall include: 1) an assessment of the hazards associated with the confined space; 2) the precautionary measures that shall be observed while workers are in the confined space (including the availability of self-rescuers where necessary); 3) a list of the signalling (measuring) equipment required for timely detection of the onset of an emergency situation in the confined space; 4) a list of communication means, a documented system of signals, and the method of raising the alarm by the observer or by another person who has noticed the existence of an emergency situation; 5) a quantitative assessment of the workers whose functions include rescue and, where necessary, of other personnel needed to carry out the relevant actions and directly the evacuation and rescue operation; 6) a list of the necessary protective equipment and special clothing for the workers whose functions include rescue and, where necessary, for other personnel; 7) a list of the necessary rescue and other special equipment; 8) means of providing first aid.
215. When carrying out actions in the event of an emergency situation and during rescue operations, evacuation and rescue, an observer shall be present outside at the entry (exit) of the confined space. In accordance with the Action Plan, one or more assistants to the observer, with a clear distribution of duties, may be required. Where a confined space has several entries (exits), observers shall be stationed at each entry (exit).
216. Workers whose functions include rescue shall, when entering a confined space, first make sure that the situation inside the confined space does not threaten their life and health.
217. While entering a confined space, workers whose functions include rescue shall be prohibited from holding any objects in their hands. The equipment, additional protective equipment for the injured person, tools, lighting devices and materials needed for carrying out actions inside the confined space shall be lowered or passed into the confined space in advance in the manner documented in the Action Plan, preferably in a container or other packaging made of non-sparking material.
218. Entering a confined space on held breath for a quick dash to rescue people shall not be permitted.
219. Holding one's breath to make a final effort when the air supply is running out shall not be permitted. The necessary air supply shall be left (taking into account that exiting may require a greater expenditure of air than entering) to get outside and replenish the supply.
220. When entering a confined space, an additional breathing apparatus for the injured person shall be prepared. It shall not be permitted for a worker to remove the mask of the breathing apparatus in the hazardous atmosphere of a confined space to provide air to an injured person.
1. Based on the results of the assessment of the parameters of the working environment of the confined space, the appropriate prohibition, warning and mandatory signs are posted directly at the entry (exit) of the confined space.
2. Facilities included in List 1 that are not territorially separate facilities shall be marked with the "Confined Space" sign (recommended text).
3. On interlock valves, signs shall be posted: "Do not open! People at work"; "Do not close! People at work"; on the control keys of the electric drives of isolating valves: "Do not switch on! People at work"; at the place of work: "Work here".
4. The danger zone of a confined space shall be fenced off, and signs shall be posted: "Caution! Danger zone".
5. After degassing and checking of the gas-air environment for explosion safety of such confined spaces as tank car shells, and after drawing up a report on the degassing and checking performed, an indelible inscription "Degassed" and the information adopted in the organisation about those who performed the degassing shall be applied to the confined space. If the confined space is sent for repair, an indelible inscription "For repair" shall be applied to the confined space on a separate line. The inscriptions are removed by the workers who repaired the confined space, after completion of the repair.
6. The place where the observer(s) shall be safely located shall be marked with the "Observer" sign.
7. For communication between the observer and the workers inside the confined space by means of the signal (safety) rope, the following signals are established: 1) one pull from the confined space - "pull up the hose and rope", and the hose and rope shall be pulled up after the signal is repeated by the worker (observer) located at the entry (exit) of the confined space and the same response signal is received from the confined space; 2) two pulls in succession - "release the hose and rope". This signal is given by the person working in the confined space to allow movement within the confined space; 3) two pulls with pauses between them - "lower the container" or "raise the container" (depending on where it is at the given moment); 4) repeated pulls of the signal (safety) rope given by the observer located outside the confined space mean, for the worker in the confined space, that he shall approach the manhole or climb up; the same signal given by the worker working in the confined space means a demand for immediate measures to be taken to raise him from the confined space (help signal!). If no response follows to the pulls of the signal (safety) rope given by the observer located outside at the entry (exit) of the confined space, he shall raise the alarm by sound or light signalling or by radio communication to call the responsible executor (performing authority) of the work and to inform the workers whose functions include rescue ("help signal!").