Training Program

This program trains employees on how to recognize confined spaces and necessary actions to protect themselves when working in confined spaces.  This program applies to all work operations in APS where employees must enter a confined space as part of their job duties.  All training related materials and confined space documentation are kept in the Environmental Compliance Branch office.

Training consists of classroom instruction, audiovisual training tools, and testing to insure student understanding of duties and responsibilities.  New employees are trained before their initial assignment of duties. Confined space training shall include, but not necessarily be limited to:

  • Hazard Identification
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Communications
  • Emergency Response Procedures
  • Annual Review
  • Lockout/Tagout

Upon successful completion of the APS Confined Space Training Program, each participant receives a certificate which he/she signs, verifying an understanding of the material presented, and that all policies and procedures regarding confined space entry will be followed.  Those employees who have completed training and are able to recognize the hazards that may be faced during entry, including information on the route of entry, signs or symptoms, and consequences of the exposure are authorized to enter confined spaces. Authorized personnel must:

  1. Utilize the required equipment properly, including communication systems
  2. Alert each other whenever an entrant recognizes any warning sign or symptom of exposure to a dangerous situation, or an entrant detects a prohibited condition; and 
  3. Exit from the permit space as quickly as possible whenever:
  • An order to evacuate is given by any entrant,
  • An entrant recognizes any warning sign or symptom of exposure to a dangerous situation,
  • An entrant detects a prohibited condition, or
  • An evacuation is ordered by outside personnel.

Procedures

APS Facilities personnel will use the following procedures for entry into a confined space:

Pre-entry

Workers entering confined spaces must have successfully completed APS confined space training.

  • A minimum of two workers is required for confined space entry. One worker must remain outside of the confined space during the work. The outside worker must maintain constant radio contact with the worker(s) inside the confined space.
  • If the confined space also contains asbestos, the asbestos utility tunnel entry standard operating procedures must be followed as well.

 

Communications

  •  Prior to physical entry into the confined space, perform a radio check to insure handheld radios are functioning properly. Contact Facilities Dispatch (call sign is Facilities Base) or when working after hours, contact the District Security Dispatch (call sign is Control Two), to notify them of location and entry of personnel into the confined space.
  • Facilities Dispatch (Facilities Base) is responsible for documenting the date, building, location of entry, entry time, entry personnel and exit time from the confined space in the Dispatch Log, from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday. The District Security Dispatch (Control Two) is responsible for documenting this information when Facilities Dispatch is closed, such as after hours, weekends and holidays.
  •  Facilities Dispatch will notify District Security Dispatch when APS employees are performing work in a confined space that will continue after Facilities Dispatch is closed for that workday. They must relay the following information; date, time of entry, location, and entry personnel. District Security Dispatch is responsible for documenting exit time from the confined space. 
  • The outside person's job is to maintain effective and continuous communication with the worker(s) inside the confined space and to monitor their work in progress to insure safe work conditions and practices are being maintained and followed. The outside person must make radio contact with the appropriate Dispatch, at two-hour intervals, when the work within the confined space exceeds two hours.

Emergency Situations and Rescue

  • If conditions within the confined space adversely change, or if a worker recognizes a dangerous situation, all entrants must exit the confined space immediately.
  • In the event a worker is injured or becomes unconscious while in the confined space, the other worker(s) must contact the outside person immediately and request Aurora Fire Department (AFD) be dispatched for emergency rescue services. If a worker is unconscious due to atmospheric changes within the confined space, the other worker(s) must evacuate the confined space immediately and wait for AFD assistance.
  • If a worker is injured or ill for other health reasons such as a heart attack, the other worker(s) must use their best judgment to determine if the worker should be moved as a life saving measure. It must be determined if the worker can be safely moved and/or if the other worker(s) are able to remove him/her from the confined space without injuring themselves. If the injured worker cannot be moved, the other entrants must wait for assistance from AFD.
  • If the outside person is unable to make contact with the confined space worker(s) and/or has reason to believe the worker(s) is injured or unconscious, immediately contact District Security Dispatch and request AFD be dispatched for emergency rescue services. Do not attempt rescue by yourself. Wait for AFD.

Post-entry

  • When the worker(s) have completed work in the confined space, contact Facilities Dispatch (call sign is Facilities Base) or District Security Dispatch (call sign is Control Two) when working after hours) to notify them of location and that the worker(s) is exiting the confined space.
  • Any problems encountered during the confined space entry operation must be noted on the work order. This information will be used to make appropriate revisions to the confined space program.

Permit-Required Confined Space Entry ProceduresThe Environmental Compliance Branch, or their designees, are responsible for coordinating entry for work involving permit-required confined spaces.  The procedures to be followed include the following elements:

 

Pre-entry

  • Workers entering permit-required confined spaces must successfully complete APS confined space training.
  • A minimum of two workers is required for confined space entry. One worker must remain outside of the confined space during the work. The outside worker must maintain constant radio contact with the worker(s) inside the confined space.
  • If the confined space also contains asbestos, the asbestos utility tunnel entry standard operating procedure must be followed as well. See Attachment 3.

Communications

  • Prior to physical entry into the permit-required confined space, perform a radio check to insure handheld radios are functioning properly. Contact Facilities Dispatch (call sign is Facilities Base) or when working after hours, contact the District Security Dispatch (call sign is Control Two), to notify them of location and entry of personnel into the confined space. 
  • Facilities Dispatch (Facilities Base) is responsible for documenting the date, building, location of entry, entry time, entry personnel and exit time from the confined space in the Dispatch Log, from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday. The District Security Dispatch (Control Two) is responsible for documenting this information when Facilities Dispatch is closed, such as after hours, weekends and holidays.
  • Facilities Dispatch will notify District Security Dispatch when APS employees are performing work in a confined space that will continue after Facilities Dispatch is closed for that workday. They must relay the following information; date, time of entry, location, and entry personnel. District Security Dispatch is responsible for documenting exit time from the confined space. 
  • The outside person's job is to maintain effective and continuous communication with personnel inside the confined space and to monitor their work in progress to insure safe work conditions and practices are being maintained and followed. The outside person must make radio contact with the appropriate Dispatch at two-hour intervals, when the work within the confined space exceeds two hours.

Air Monitoring

  • The Environmental Compliance Branch or their designee must perform initial air monitoring of the permit-required confined space using the Impact Air Monitor to determine if an atmospheric hazard exists. 
  • When the initial air monitoring determines there are no atmospheric hazards, the worker(s) may enter the confined space and must take the air monitor into the confined space to continuously monitor the conditions of the confined space.
  • When initial air monitoring determines an atmospheric hazard exists in the permit-required confined space, ventilation must be used.

Ventilation

  • Ventilation can be accomplished with the use of a portable blower/exhauster. Ventilators should be run before entry to accomplish approximately 20 air exchanges per hour. As an example: A pit that encompasses a measured volume of area of 10' X 10' X 10' is approximately 1000 cubic feet. A Blower kit with 8" duct at 25' in length with one 90-degree elbow that moves 1000 cubic feet per minute would meet this requirement.
  • Air monitoring must be performed in the confined space after the ventilation process is complete to verify that the hazardous condition was removed. Once the air monitoring determines there are no atmospheric hazards, the worker(s) may enter the confined space and must take the air monitor with him/her to continuously monitor the conditions of the confined space.

Emergency Situations and Rescue

  • If conditions within the confined space adversely change, the air monitor goes into alarm or if a worker recognizes a dangerous situation, all entrants must exit the confined space immediately. 
  • In the event a worker is injured or becomes unconscious while in the confined space, the other worker(s) must contact the outside person immediately and request Aurora Fire Department (AFD) be dispatched for emergency rescue services. If a worker is unconscious due to atmospheric changes within the confined space, the other worker(s) must evacuate the confined space immediately and wait for AFD assistance.
  • If a worker is injured or ill for other health reasons such as a heart attack, the other worker(s) must use their best judgment to determine if the worker should be moved as a life saving measure. It must be determined if the worker can be safely moved and/or if the other worker(s) are able to remove him/her from the confined space without injuring themselves. If the injured worker cannot be moved, the other entrants must wait for assistance from AFD. 
  • If the outside person is unable to make contact with the confined space worker(s) and/or has reason to believe the worker(s) is injured or unconscious, immediately contact District Security Dispatch (Control 2) and request AFD be dispatched for emergency rescue services. Do not attempt rescue by yourself. Wait for AFD.

 Post-entry

  • When the worker(s) have completed work in the confined space, contact Facilities Dispatch (call sign is Facilities Base) or District Security Dispatch (call sign is Control Two) when working after hours to notify them of location and that the worker(s) are exiting the confined space.
  • Any problems encountered during the confined space entry operations must be noted on the work order.  This information will be used to make appropriate revisions to the confined space program.