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Pre-Entry Requirements • Lines which may convey flammable, injurious or incapacitating substance into the confined space shall be disconnected, blinded or blocked off by other positive means to prevent the development of dangerous air contamination and/or oxygen deficiency within the confined space. • The space shall be emptied, flushed or otherwise purged of flammable, injurious or incapacitating substances. • The air shall be tested to determine whether dangerous air contamination and/or oxygen deficiency exists. A written record of the air testing results is required and must be kept on site for the duration of the work within the confined space. Employees involved shall be provided an opportunity to review and record the testing results. • Where interconnected spaces are blinded off as a unit, each space shall be tested and the results recorded. The most hazardous condition found shall govern the procedures to be followed for all the interconnected spaces. • If dangerous air contamination and/or oxygen deficiency does not exist within the space, as demonstrated by air testing, then entry into and work within the space may proceed subject to the following: • Periodic testing shall be conducted with sufficient frequency to ensure that the development of dangerous air contamination and/or oxygen deficiency does not occur during the performance of any operation. • If the development of dangerous air contamination and/or an oxygen deficiency is imminent then the confined space operations requirements prescribed in this section will apply. • When the existence of dangerous air contamination and/or an oxygen deficiency is determined by air testing then the existing ventilation shall be augmented to remove the dangerous air contamination concentration and/or oxygen deficiency. • When the additional ventilation provided has removed the dangerous air contamination and/or oxygen deficiency as demonstrated by air testing (and results recorded) entry into and work within the space may proceed according to the provisions for periodic testing. • No source of ignition shall be introduced into a confined space until the air testing results indicate that explosive or flammable substances are not detected. • Ready entry and exit access must be made available whenever possible. Spaces equipped with automatic fire suppression systems, which employ harmful concentrations of toxic or oxygen-displacing gases or total foam flooding, then such systems must be deactivated. Safety Entry Requirements • Confined spaces with side and top openings must be entered from the side openings when practicable. • Appropriate, approved respiratory protective equipment shall be provided and must be worn. • An approved safety belt with an attached safety line must be used. The free end of the safety line must be secured outside the entry opening. The safety line must be at least 1/2-inch diameter and 2,000 pound test. Exception: Where it can demonstrated that a safety belt and line would further endanger the life of an employee • At least one additional employee (who may have other duties) who is within sight or call of the standby employee(s) is required. The standby employee shall have appropriate, approved, respiratory protective equipment, including an independent source of breathing air available for immediate use, and fall protection equipment. Adequately outfitted standby employee(s) may enter the confined space only in the case of an emergency and only after informing at least one additional employee (outside of the confined space) of the existing emergency and the standby employee's intent to enter the confined space. When an entry must be made through a top opening the following equipment is required. • A safety harness that suspends a person in an upright position (e.g. parachute harness). • A hoisting device for lifting employees out of the space shall be immediately available.