RES 88-014 RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CONFINED SPACE ENTRY POLICY FOR THE CITY OF ST. ANTHONY

Home Browse Search

POLICY & PROCEDURE FOR CONFINED SPACE ENTRY PAGE TWO 4. Carbon dioxide (CO2) will not support life at high concentrations over a long exposure. CO2 is approximately 1 .5 times heavier than air. 5. Carbon monoxide (CO) is very toxic and is odorless. CO is .97 times as heavy as air. C. Explosive Gasses 1 . Hydrocarbons - lighter hydrocarbons (methane is approximately .55 times as heavy as air) are explosive at lower concentrations than heavier hydrocarbons (fuel oil) . Heavy hydrocarbons can be broken down to light hydrocarbons by chemical and biological processes (gasoline is approximately 3 to 4 times heavier than air) . 2. Hydrogen sulfide - H2S is explosive at high concentrations. • IV. CONFINED SPACE CLASSIF!CATIONS Precautions in a confined space shall be taken in accordance with the following classification system: 1 . Class III - Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) , presents a situation that is immediately dangerous to life and health, including but not limited to the presence of oxygen deficiency, explosive or flammable atmosphere, and/or concentrations of toxic substances. Parameters include: Oxygen content - less than 16% or greater than 25%; Combustible gas content - 20% or greater of lower explosive limit (LEL); Toxicity - Immediately dangerous to life and health concentration of toxic or combustible substances. - 2. Class II - May be dangerous, but is not immediately life threatening; presents a potential for causing injury and illness if preventive measures are not used. Parameters include: Oxygen content: 16.1% - 19.4% or 21 .5% - 25%; Combustible gas content: 10% - 19% of lower explosive limit (LEL); Toxicity - less than IDLH, but greater than the contamination level references in 29 CFR Part 1910, subpart Z (O.S.H.A. General Industry Standards).