According to the MIAMI HERALD, three contracted workers died on January 6, 2017 from inhaling hydrogen sulfide – the smell of rotten eggs – while entering a 15'' deep manhole in a city street.

According to OSHA’s Right-to-Know law, a confined space is an enclosed area where work must be performed but may be hazardous to life and health.  This includes any enclosure, such as a vessel, tank, room, pit, tunnel, crawl space, manhole, trench, or other enclosed space, above or below ground level, which has one or more of the following characteristics:

● Not designed for continuous human occupancy

● Has limited openings for entry and exit

● Has poor natural ventilation

● May contain or produce potential hazards

The purpose of this lesson is to introduce the occupational competency of entering confined spaces.  The goal is to develop an occupational skills set in protecting oneself in confined spaces on the job.  This involves:

● Recognizing common types of confined spaces.

● Defining confined spaces according to federal law.

● Identifying common hazards in confined spaces.

● Using appropriate personal protective equipment and standard operating procedures for protection.

● Understanding the related body of knowledge.

● Using pertinent terms accurately in context.

● Having a positive attitude toward job safety.

This and 30 other Key Questions are answered in the new lesson on Confined-Space Entry.  This is one of the five lessons in the Cluster of Occupational Safety & Health.

The entire lesson is online, including the eText, ePlan, PowerPoint, eQuiz, and eSurvey.  If you are a current subscriber, this lesson is now available to you.  If your subscription has lapsed or you want to start a new one, simply go online to www.Lesson-Up.net, click on ORDER, and follow the prompts.