ASTM D4276-02

Standard Practice for Confined Area Entry

SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers recognized procedures necessary to protect the health and safety of workers required to enter confined spaces. These procedures are particularly applicable to entry into the confined areas associated with the use of halogenated organic solvents.
1.2 Confined areas addressed in this practice include, but are not limited to: vapor degreasers, cold cleaning tanks, storage vessels, tank cars and trucks, van trailers, ships or barges, pits or sumps, and unventilated rooms.
1.3 This practice does not necessarily address entry into all confined spaces nor does it address the decision strategy involved in requiring such entry.
1.4 Although this practice describes specific safety steps to be taken for entry into confined spaces, it is not intended to preclude the use of any additional measures that may be deemed necessary for a particular situation.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Jan-2002
• ICS: 13.100 - Occupational safety. Industrial hygiene
• Technical Committee: D26 - Halogenated Organic Solvents and Fire Extinguishing Agents

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4276-95 - Standard Practice for Confined Area Entry
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Replaced By: ASTM D4276-02(2007) - Standard Practice for Confined Area Entry
• Effective Date: 01-Feb-2007
• Referred By: ASTM D4579-00(2023) - Standard Practice for Handling an Acid Degreaser or Still
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM F3523-21 - Standard Test Method for Exoskeleton Use: Confined Space: Horizontal Movement
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D4080-15(2020) - Standard Specification for Trichloroethylene, Technical and Vapor-Degreasing Grade
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D4376-15(2020) - Standard Specification for Vapor-Degreasing Grade Perchloroethylene
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D4701-00(2020) - Standard Specification for Technical Grade Methylene Chloride
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D6368-06(2023) - Standard Specification for Vapor-Degreasing Solvents Based on <emph type="bdit">normal</emph >-Propyl Bromide and Technical Grade <emph type="bdit">normal</emph >-Propyl Bromide
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D4079-00(2022) - Standard Specification for Vapor-Degreasing Grade Methylene Chloride
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002
• Referred By: ASTM D3698-04(2020) - Standard Practice for Solvent Vapor Degreasing Operations
• Effective Date: 10-Jan-2002

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation: D 4276 – 02
Standard Practice for
1
Confined Area Entry
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4276; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope exposure to these solvent vapors occurs where the employee is
exposed to the high concentrations of vapor that may be found
1.1 This practice covers recognized procedures necessary to
in confined areas. The seriousness of this hazard is often
protect the health and safety of workers required to enter
underestimated by those performing this type of work.
confined spaces. These procedures are particularly applicable
4.2 This practice is designed for use by employers in
to entry into the confined areas associated with the use of
developing their own specific standards for vessel or confined
halogenated organic solvents.
area entry.
1.2 Confinedareasaddressedinthispracticeinclude,butare
4.3 Many of these areas are considered as permit-required
not limited to: vapor degreasers, cold cleaning tanks, storage
confined spaces as defined by OSHA(29 CFR 1910.146). The
vessels, tank cars and trucks, van trailers, ships or barges, pits
determination of the applicability of these requirements is the
or sumps, and unventilated rooms.
responsibility of the user.
1.3 This practice does not necessarily address entry into all
4.4 This practice represents the minimum requirements for
confined spaces nor does it address the decision strategy
entry into any confined area containing halogenated solvents.
involved in requiring such entry.
4.5 This practice does not address all of the requirements
1.4 Although this practice describes specific safety steps to
containedintheOSHAconfinedspacesstandard.Development
be taken for entry into confined spaces, it is not intended to
and implementation of training programs, recordkeeping, and
preclude the use of any additional measures that may be
other additional requirements of the OSHA standard are the
deemed necessary for a particular situation.
responsibility of the user.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
5. Procedure
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
5.1 All personnel working in confined areas must be prop-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
erly trained in safe entry and rescue procedures. They must
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
have a working knowledge and understanding of the hazards
2. Referenced Documents that may exist.
5.2 Entry Permit—Entry into confined areas must be by
2.1 ASTM Standards:
written entry permit, issued by the responsible supervisor or
CFR 1910.146 U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational
other qualified person. The purpose of the entry permit is to
Safety and Health Standards, Permit-Required Confined
ensure that a checklist of precautions has been reviewed prior
Spaces
to entry. This permit is an authorization, and approval in
3. Summary of Practice writing certifying that all existing hazards have been evaluated
and necessary protective measures have been taken to ensure
3.1 Confined area entry refers to the entering of any tank,
the safety of the worker. The permit should be valid for a
vessel, sump, pit, duct, tank car, tank truck, van trailer, or
limited time only, (usually an 8 or 10-h shift) and issuance of
enclosed space in which there has been, or may have been
a new permit required in the event of any job interruption or
chemicals, chemical vapors, or a lack of ventilation.
any indication of changes in job conditions. Issuance of the
4. Significance and Use
entry permit must address all of the following considerations.
5.3 Area Preparation:
4.1 Vapor inhalation is the primary hazard encountered in
5.3.1 Isolation—All process lines exiting or entering the
the use of chlorinated solvents. The greatest potential for over
confined area must be disconnected, capped off, and blinded.
Closing of valves alone is not adequate protection.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D26 on Haloge-
5.3.2 Lockout—Pumps or any other mechanical or electrical
nated Organic Solvents and Fire Extinguishing Agents and is the direct responsi-
equipment (particularly conveyors), connected to the confined
bility of Subcommittee D26.05 on Industrial Hygiene.
area, are to be locked out by locking the main electrical switch
Current edition approved Jan. 10, 2002. Published March 2002. Originally
published as D 4276 – 84. Last previous edition D 4276 – 95 . in the “OFF” position.
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