General Equipment EP8HL, Operator'S Manual

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EP8HL HAZARDOUS BLOWER
FORM GOM7069501, VERSION 1.2
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be absorbed into the walls and give off toxic gases
when removed or when cleaning remaining residue. A
good example is removing various types of sludge from
holding tanks. The decomposed material can give off
deadly hydrogen sulfide gases.
2) While a work process is being performed.
Certain work processes generate toxic gases in the
atmosphere of a confined work space. Everyday
examples include welding, torching, brazing, painting,
sanding, degreasing, etc. Solvents utilized for cleaning
or degreasing can release vapors that can be very
toxic. In properly ventilated work areas, these
processes may pose no significant health hazard.
However, within a confined work space, the by-
products from these processes can be deadly.
3) In areas adjacent to the confined work space.
Remember that toxicants produced by work being
performed in the immediate area of a confined work
space can enter and accumulate at levels that can
provide a significant health hazard. For example: a
portable air ventilation blower can introduce carbon
monoxide from street level into an underground sewer
or utility space at dangerous levels to workers. The
methods used to minimize this possibility include
proper planning and continual testing of the confined
work space.
Conditions with toxic materials can be referred to as
Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH). This
definition would include any condition that poses an
immediate or delayed threat to life or that would cause
irreversible adverse health effects or that would
interfere with an individual's ability to escape unaided
from a work space.
Never take the possibility of toxicants in a confined
work space lightly. Their effects can cause death in just
a matter of seconds or over a long period of time. Take
the time to fully understand what you are dealing with
and possible complications and/or consequences.
What is a permit system?
A permit is actually a written check list utilized by
workers to define the type of work to be accomplished,
the expected hazards, the types of personal safety
equipment required and the types of support
equipment required. A permit will have a section to
document atmospheric gas tests and include the
necessary signed authorizations from supervisory
personnel.
Who issues a permit?
The responsibility of issuing a permit for a confined
work space entry lies with the employer. By regulation,
it is the responsibility of the employer to provide for
worker safety during a confined work space entry.
Government agencies do not normally issue a permit.
Permits are issued by the employer. An employer can
utilize a standard permit entry form or custom design it
to meet specialized requirements. Employers should
think of a written permit as an insurance policy. It
requires workers to first analyze the job. It then makes
them determine specific hazard potentials and
equipment requirements. Finally, it requires them to
document atmospheric testing data before receiving a
signed authorization to enter the space. A permit
requires workers to communicate, think and then
document before making the entry. Without a permit,
there would be no formal system to help safeguard the
health of workers and minimize potential tragedies.
Never attempt a confined work space entry without
first determining what source of applicable
regulations will be consulted, the type of
classification and the possible use of a permit.
Even if not required by the regulation source, a
permit is still the best insurance policy against the
occurrence
of an accident with deadly
consequences.
TYPICAL CONFINED SPACE AIR VENTILATION
PROCEDURES.
1) The EP8HL Blower must never be utilized by itself
for portable, air ventilation purposes. Personnel and
property safety can only be assured after making
thorough gas detection tests combined with Blower
ventilation and continual retesting. Because air may
not flow in and out of a confined work space freely due
to design considerations, the atmosphere inside can
be very different from the outside. Deadly gases may
be trapped inside, particularly if the space is used to
store or process chemical or organic substances that
decompose. There may not be adequate oxygen inside