Catch Basins and the OSHA Confined Spaces Rule

Power sweeping companies which do catch basin work should be familiar with the new Confined Spaces Rule 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA which went into effect less than 12 months ago. Are you aware of your responsibilities under this rule?

The new Confined Spaces standard requires

1. Employers to ensure that their workers know about the existence, location, and dangers posed by a permit-required confined space, and ensure that workers do not enter such spaces without authorization.
2. Employers to train workers involved in permit-required confined spaces (at no cost to them) so that they can perform their duties safely and understand the hazards methods used to isolate, control or protect workers.
3. Employers to provide pre-entry planning for any worker entering a confined space. This includes:

• Having a competent person evaluate the work site.
• Identifying the means of entry and exit, proper ventilation methods, and elimination or control of all potential hazards in any space classified as a permit-required confined space.
• Ensuring that the air in the confined space is tested, before workers enter, for oxygen levels, flammable and toxic substances, and stratified atmospheres.
• Removing or controlling hazards in the space and determining rescue procedures and necessary equipment for any space classified as a permit-required confined space.
• Ventilating or using whatever controls or protections are necessary so that employees can safely work in any space where air is not safe for workers

 Employer to ensure that the space is monitored for hazards after pre-entry planning has taken place.

Take a moment to ensure you are in compliance with this new regulation. For more information contact OSHA at www.osha.gov.