Source: https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=FEDERAL_REGISTER&p_id=13457
Timestamp: 2017-05-26 01:59:58
Document Index: 105518719

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1915', 'art 1915', 'ART 1915', 'art 1915', 'art 1911', 'art 1915', 'art 1915', 'art 1911']

Confined and Enclosed Spaces and Other Dangerous Atmospheres in Shipyard Employment - 60:14218-14220 | Occupational Safety and Health Administration
60:14218-14220
Confined and Enclosed Spaces and Other Dangerous Atmospheres in Shipyard Employment
[Docket No. S-050]
Confined and Enclosed Spaces and Other Dangerous Atmospheres in Shipyard
SUMMARY: In the July 25, 1994, Federal Register OSHA published
a revised standard for Shipyard Employment, subpart B of 29 CFR part 1915,
extending the previous requirements for work in explosive and other dangerous
atmospheres on ships to cover all work involving confined or enclosed spaces
or other dangerous atmospheres throughout shipyard employment (59 FR 37816).
With the present document, OSHA is making corrections to the rule which
include: clarifying the order of testing before employees may enter a
confined or enclosed space or other dangerous atmosphere; clarifying when
flammable atmospheres must be maintained above the upper explosive limit
during installation of ventilation or rescue; and clarifying the limited
locations and conditions where hot work may be performed without first being
certified by a Marine Chemist. Several typographical errors are also being
EFFECTIVE DATE: The final rule published on July 25, 1994, became
effective on October 24, 1994. These corrections are effective March 16,
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Liblong, Director, Office of
Information and Consumer Affairs, Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, Room N3647, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave.,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210 (202-219-8148).
I. Correction to Sec. 1915.12--Precautions Before Entering Confined and
Enclosed Spaces and Other Dangerous Atmospheres
OSHA is correcting the section heading to Sec. 1915.12 to make clearer the
requirement that atmospheric testing must be done in the order set forth in
the standard (i.e., oxygen content, then flammability, and then toxicity).
In the preamble to the final rule OSHA explained how the section was being
reformatted to address the order of atmospheric testing to be conducted when
determining hazards within confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous
atmospheres prior to entry (59 FR 37830). The Agency stated explicitly in the
preamble to paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of Sec. 1915.12 that atmospheres
must be tested for oxygen content first, flammability second, and toxicity
third (59 FR 37831). However, the section heading did not include the
sequence of testing, and the specific introductory statement requiring
atmospheric testing to be conducted in the proper sequence was inadvertently
omitted from the regulatory text. The insertion of the sequence of testing
into the section heading and the addition of the introductory text to Sec.
1915.12 brings the section into conformance with the rulemaking record, the
preamble explanation, and OSHA's intent.
II. Correction to Sec. 1915.12(b)--Flammable Atmospheres
In the previous standard covering entry into spaces containing flammable
atmospheres, Sec. 1915.12(d), employees were allowed to perform work of brief
duration in atmospheres containing concentrations of flammable contaminants
as long as the concentrations remained above the upper explosive limit (UEL)
and the requirements of Sec. 1915.152(a) and (b), Respiratory protection,
were followed. That allowance was continued in the proposed revision to
subpart B, Sec. 1915.12(d), Work of brief duration (53 FR 48108). In the
final standard, which permits such entry only to set up ventilation or for
rescue, OSHA carried over the condition that the flammable contaminant(s) be
maintained above the UEL (59 FR 37858). Unfortunately, the wording of this
condition could be construed to require that levels of atmospheric
contaminants in a space actually be increased to a level above the UEL prior
to ventilation start-up or rescue so that they may be maintained above the
UEL. OSHA did not intend the rule to require this. When the atmosphere is
below the UEL (but above the lower explosive limit) the addition of flammable
contaminants to a space prior to rescue or ventilation set-up to exceed the
UEL could increase both the atmospheric hazards to employees and the time
needed for rescue. Only atmospheres that are already at or above the UEL are
to be maintained at those levels. To prevent confusion regarding when an
employer must maintain the level of contaminants above the UEL, OSHA is
correcting Sec. 1915.12(b)(3)(iii).
III. Correction to Sec. 1915.14--Hot Work
In paragraph (a)(1)(iv) of Sec. 1915.14, OSHA has provided an exception to
the general rule that certain atmospheres in spaces must be tested and
certified by a Marine Chemist before hot work may be done. The exception
provides that some atmospheres where hot work is to be performed may,
instead, be tested by a Competent Person. OSHA is correcting the exception to
specify the spaces to which the exception applies and adding a note for
It was OSHA's intent to extend the requirements of existing subpart B to all
shipyard employment, making changes only where necessary to clarify the
language and correct requirements that were inappropriate. In bringing
forward the requirements on hot work, however, OSHA incorrectly omitted the
reference to the scope of the existing exception which included dry cargo,
miscellaneous and passenger vessels. The exception did not apply to tank
vessels because of the seriousness of the hazards associated with the
flammability or combustibility of tanker vessel cargo. However, OSHA intended
the dry cargo, miscellaneous and passenger vessels exception to apply to all
landside spaces as well, because their configuration and the conditions found
within these spaces are similar to those on the dry cargo, miscellaneous and
passenger vessels. Therefore, OSHA is correcting the paragraph to make it
clear that the exception does not apply to hot work performed on tank
vessels. This is consistent with the previous standard and OSHA's intent.
OSHA has also added a note to make it clear that hot work which does not
need to be certified by a Marine Chemist (i.e., work in spaces adjacent to
spaces that contain liquids with a flash point above 150 deg. F (65.6 deg.
C)) still needs to be inspected and tested by a competent person prior to
beginning the hot work.
IV. Correction to Sec. 1915.15(e)
In Sec. 1915.15(e), OSHA requires testing to maintain a competent person's
findings. In order to make it clear that a visual inspection is part of the
testing, OSHA is correcting paragraph (e). This is consistent with the
testing requirements throughout the standard, the rulemaking record, the
V. Typographical Corrections
Two provisions in subpart B of part 1915 contained minor typographical
errors. They are Sec. 1915.12 (d)(3)(ii) and (e)(1)(iii).
PART 1915--[CORRECTED]
1. The authority citation for part 1915 continues to read as follows:
Authority: Sec. 41, Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act
(33 U.S.C. 941); secs. 4,6,8, Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29
U.S.C. 653, 655, 657); Sec. 4 of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C.
553); Secretary of Labor's Order No. 12-71 (36 FR 8754), 8-76 (41 FR 25059),
9-83 (48 FR 35736), or 1-90 (55 FR 9033) as applicable; 29 CFR Part 1911.
2. The text of 29 CFR part 1915, beginning at Sec. 1915.12, 59 FR 37858 is
corrected as follows:
Page, column
Sec. 1915.12
59 FR 37858, 1st
The section heading is corrected to read as follows: "Precautions and the order of testing before entering confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres."
Add the following new introductory text after the section heading: "The employer shall ensure that atmospheric testing is performed in the following sequence: oxygen content, flammability, toxicity."
Paragraph (b)(3)(iii)
59 FR 37858, 3rd
This paragraph is corrected to read as follows: "(iii) Atmospheres at or above the upper explosive limit are maintained; and"
Paragraph (d)(3)(ii)
59 FR 37859, 1st
The word "a" that appears at the end of the first line is corrected to read "an"
Note to (e)(1)(iii)
59 FR 37859, 2nd (sixth paragraph)
The word "preforms" that appears
at the beginning of the paragraph second line)second line is corrected to read "performs"
Sec. 1915.14
Paragraph (a)(1)(iv)
59 FR 37860, 2nd
This paragraph is corrected to read as follows: "Exception: On dry cargo, miscellaneous and passenger vessels and in the landside operations within spaces which meet the standards for oxygen, flammability and toxicity in Sec. 1915.12, but are adjacent to spaces containing flammable gases or liquids, as long as the gases or liquids have a flash point below 150 deg. F (65.6 deg. C) and the distance between such spaces and the work is 25 feet (7.5m) or greater."Note: For flammable liquids with flash points above 150 deg. F (65.6 deg. C), see paragraph (b) of this section
Sec. 1915.15
59 FR 37861, 1st
Correct the paragraph to read as follows: "(e) Tests to maintain a competent person's findings. After a competent person has conducted a visual inspection and tests required in Secs. 1915.12, 1915.13, and 1915.14 of this part and determined a space to be safe for an employee to enter, he or she shall continue to test and visually inspect spaces as often as necessary to ensure that the required atmospheric conditions within the tested space are maintained."
This document was prepared under the direction of Joseph A. Dear, Assistant
Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.
List of Subjects in 29 CFR Part 1915
Confined spaces, Emergency medical services, Hazardous substances, Marine
safety, Occupational Safety and Health, Signs and symbols, Vessels, Welding.
The actions in this document are taken pursuant to sections 4, 6, and 8 of
the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (29 U.S.C. 653, 655, 657),
Secretary of Labor's Order No. 1-90 (55 FR 9033), and 29 CFR Part 1911.
[FR Doc. 95-6526 Filed 3-15-95; 8:45 am]