713 Confined Space Program

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

To find out information on the hazardous substances used in a confined space, read the product label and/or the SDS. Labels provide general product information, and the SDS gives useful information on proper use and handling, special precautions, and first aid treatment. When a chemical product is purchased, the manufacturer or supplier of the product provides an SDS. The SDS must be readily available to any employee who wishes to learn about a product that he or she comes into contact with. If you have any questions, contact your safety Department, the manufacturer or supplier of the product, the NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, or a consultant.

Monitoring and Testing for Hazardous Atmospheres

Atmospheric testing is required for two distinct purposes:

1. Evaluation of the hazards of the permit space, and
2. Verification that acceptable entry conditions for entry into that space exist.

Continual monitoring in confined spaces is necessary because there are unseen and odorless contaminants (or oxygen-deficient atmospheres) that can kill or incapacitate workers. Monitoring is the only way to detect whether a hazardous atmosphere has developed during entry. If this is the case, employees will be alerted to the change so they can leave the space immediately.

Of those contaminants that have odor, some can be detected by our senses only at low concentration. Hydrogen sulfide, for example, will deaden the sense of smell at high concentrations. Because of this, employees might assume that a confined space is safe when it is not. There is no substitute for testing the air in a confined space prior to entry. A worker can also be exposed to a contaminant through skin contact while working in a confined space.

Atmospheric monitoring is necessary whenever:

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.