I first became interested in confined spaces almost twenty years ago when, over a three-week period in July 1977, six Maryland workers died in three separate confined space accidents. The following year, the Commissioner of Labor, Harvey Epstein, issued a confined space regulation.
Although the state's regulation wasn't perfect, it was better than nothing. And nothing is exactly what OSHA had until January 1993. That's when, after almost twenty years of effort, the federal safety and health agency issued its confined space rule.
The new confined space rule, like many of the standards OSHA has issued over the last decade, is performance-oriented. That means that it sets broad goals which tell you what you have do, but it doesn't tell you how to do it.
Performance standards are a mixed blessing. While they afford lots of flexibility, they offer very little guidance. I believe that my book fills this void by providing you with the guidance you'll need to develop and implement an effective confined space program.
I wanted to reach out beyond the safety and health community and make my book accessible to other people such as plant engineers, line supervisors, and rank-and-file workers. As a result, I opted for a more personal and casual writing style than that found in most textbooks.
I also wanted this book to be as self-contained as possible. I've tried to include virtually all the material you need inside one cover. I tried to be detailed enough to be useful, yet not so detailed as to be cost prohibitive.
Since everybody likes a good story, I've liberally sprinkled the text with case histories. I hope some of you are able to benefit from the mistakes of others. After all, those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Finally, I'd like to know what you think. Even though the ink is barely dry, I already have lots of ideas for the second edition. Please let me know what you liked and didn't like about my book. I'm always looking for more case histories, amusing anecdotes or just interesting observations you may have made.
You can write to me at:
PO Box 158
Riderwood, MD 21139-0158 | call me at:
(410) 583-7954 | FAX me at:
(410)583-7955 |
or for those of you in cyberspace -- E-mail me at: John_Rekus@jfrekus.com
You just received the worst possible news you could get as a safety professional. An employee of your company has just been killed in a confined space accident. It's difficult to express the feelings experienced upon hearing the words "he's dead." It's even more chilling if you helped develop the confined space entry program. I know, because I've been there.
Inevitably you identify the cause of the accident and see in hindsight how simple it would have been to prevent: better metering techniques, a different means of extraction, better communication -- the list goes on. Simple yet complex, these seemingly isolated and unlikely interactions that converge to cause the accident.
Then comes the self-doubt, questioning why you weren't able to identify the cause, or interrupt the sequence of events that led to the accident. After all, in retrospect the cause is so obvious. Unfortunately, the obvious isn't always apparent before it manifests.
What tools has the safety professional had to help understand the complexities of confined spaces? An ANSI standard, an OSHA regulation, some trade and professional journal articles. These tools were often informative, but seldom instructive. They assisted us in identifying the obvious, but not the subtle aspects of entering confined spaces.
John Rekus fills this void by dissecting the essential elements needed to understand the full range of confined space hazards. Both atmospheric and physical hazards are thoroughly discussed. By examining the factors that lead to hazards in confined spaces, John lays the foundation for formulating a comprehensive understanding of confined space risks. This knowledge is vital for anyone charged with the task of developing an entry program.
Each of the program elements needed to identify and prevent confined space accidents is discussed in individual chapters. Lockout/tagout, ventilation, personal protective equipment, respiratory protection, emergency planning, and employee training -- John covers them all. But he not only presents the basic information needed to understand each subject, he also identifies many of the often overlooked nuances of each topic. This definitive text is destined to link John Rekus' name to confined spaces just as Frank Patty's name is linked to industrial toxicology.
John draws on numerous case studies to illustrate both the subtle and the obvious. These case studies will no doubt serve as feed stock for those developing or conducting confined space training programs.
Two chapters that are particularly invaluable regardless of the reader's role in developing a confined space program are "Establishing a Confined Space Program" and "Employee Training and Education." The information in these chapters can be applied to any type of safety and health training or program.
John distills his experience, knowledge, and education into the key points needed to master each discipline. In essence, he uses the same entertaining, thought-provoking, stimulating energy typical of his noteworthy presentations to describe and explain key elements of confined spaces.
His style enables the reader to learn, comprehend, and develop a comprehensive understanding of the subject, while at the same time being entertained and stimulated. This is an enviable accomplishment for anyone, but, when you stop to consider that the subject is confined spaces, it's even more amazing.
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
Applied Occupational Environmental Hygiene
Vol.10, No.5, May 1995
© American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
Review by Joy Erdman, MS, CIH, CSP, Washington, DC
The Complete Confined Spaces Handbook is an appropriate title for this book. The book is double columned and very complete, with references in each chapter. Further, almost every two-page spread has a diagram, list, chart, or photograph to facilitate learning. The book assumes very little background in confined spaces. If chemical reactions are discussed, the reaction is shown. All acronyms and technical terms are defined. Even experts will still learn many new things, however.
Mr.Rekus clearly explains his purpose in writing the book: to "prevent accidents ... from happening by arming you with the information you'll need to effectively manage confined space hazards." You will find basic information to thoroughly understand confined space hazards; you will learn how to establish a program; and you will learn how to implement an effective program. You will also be fascinated by the case studies that are true confined space catastrophes. I say "fascinated" because some of these stories are almost unbelievable -- how so many people can die so quickly when the hazards are preventable.
The book is divided into 14 chapters. The 20-page overview includes definitions and summaries of confined space fatalities and accidents. The next four chapters (Chapters 2 through 5) discuss the nature of atmospheric and physical hazards that may exist in confined spaces (oxygen-deficient and oxygen-enriched atmospheres, flammable atmospheres, toxic atmospheres, and physical hazards).
Chapter 6 then begins to get into the heart of confined spaces -- confined space entry. This chapter covers the OSHA standard, including the ten elements of a comprehensive entry program. In this chapter, I particularly appreciated the extensive photographs of ventilation equipment, real-time sampling equipment, and communication equipment.
After Chapter 6 brings the reader into the confined space, the next seven chapters elaborate on selected program requirements such as control of hazardous energy, ventilation, atmospheric testing, permits, personal protective equipment,. and emergency planning.
Finally, Chapter 14 explains how to implement an effective program through training. This chapter follows the current educational philosophy of teaching and learning to ensure that your training is effective. For example, it describes the how-to's of needs assessments and teaching methods. It also gives practical advice on how to handle difficult questions.
The appendices are very useful. They include the OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.146, sources of further information (professional associations, trade associations, and government agencies), a glossary, a list of technical suppliers, and a 17-page index.
The only minor addition I recommend for this book is an expansion of the table of contents to show the chapter subheadings, tables, and figures. It was impressive to note that the author provides his phone and fax numbers and his computer address, encouraging readers to share comments and ideas.
I predict that the Complete Confined Spaces Handbook will become the reference of choice in the field of confined spaces. While the book uses U.S. standards, the basic principles could easily be applied to other countries.
Whether you are a novice or an expert, you will learn something new from this book and be able to feel competent in working in or around confined spaces. This is an excellent reference book, college textbook, or field companion, and once you start reading, you may find it so interesting that you won't be able to come up for air! Hopefully, you will read this book before you are required to investigate a confined space fatality.
American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
Vol. 58 No. 1, January 1997
© American Industrial Hygiene Association
Reviewed by Michael L Sanders, CIH, Polsbo, WA
I like this book and not just because it was written by an industrial hygienist. For the bibliophile it presents an excellent balance between theory and practice, often missing in professional texts; for the busy program manager, it's loaded with resource listings; for the industrial hygienist/safety specialist, it's crammed with really good case histories; for the trainer, it has an excellent section on what it takes to teach the adult learner.
The author summarizes his intent with respect to the performance-oriented OSHA Confined Space Rule: "Performance standards are a mixed blessing. While they afford lots of flexibility, they offer very little guidance. I believe that my book fills this void by providing you with the guidance you'll need to develop and implement an effective confined space program.' I would agree.
To ensure audience receptivity and thus "fill the void," the author writes in a personal and casual style, which tends to keep the reader absorbed in each subject. Each of the 14 chapters begins with an introduction of concepts, leads into case histories and technical points of fact, and ends with a summary and conclusion. The plentiful combination of case histories presented and dissected to illustrate key issues is a powerful teaching tool. Extensive references at the end of each chapter offer unlimited access to sources of program detail. Finally, there are four appendices, which help the diffusion of knowledge into the final corners of the "void." (a) full texts of the Permit-Required Confined Space Standard, the Lockout/Tagout Standard, and the Respirator Standard; (b) sources of help from government agencies and professional, industrial and trade associations; (c) a glossary of confined space terms; (d) suppliers of confined space related products including phone numbers.
Probably because this is a first edition there are a number of editorial and technical discrepancies. For example, in Chapter 2 the reaction shown for oxygen consumption by rusting is incorrect stoichiometrically. In Chapter 4 a case history of deaths involved in cleaning out a ethylene chloride paint stripping dip tank states that the workers were using "crycilic acid" to loosen the sludge. The nature of injuries/cause of death makes me think the correct term should be cresylic acid-a mixture of the three simple isomeric cresols. Table 4-3 incorrectly shows the same molecular configuration for both toluene and xylene. Figure 6-3 references MIL-STD-8828 rather than the correct MIL-STD-882B. Table 9-13 incorrectly lists the Arsenic Standard as 29 CFR 1920.1018 rather than 29 CFR 1910.1018. On page 226 ("Filter Efficiency") dioctylphthalate is misspelled. In the otherwise out-standing Chapter 13.,
"Entry and Hot Work Permits," the example cited for avoiding ambiguous wording is itself confusing and ambiguous; it looks like something was transposed during the final typesetting/word processing.
These errors are relatively minor and don't make a dent in the thick shell of practical utility this text provides. For example, after learning about the limitations of dilution ventilation and the need for air supplied abrasive blasting helmets, we read in the section on abrasive blasting in Chapter 8, "Ventilating Confined Spaces," that dilution ventilation still has an important production safety role: it can be used to improve visibility. How much dilution ventilation? "Guidelines based on maritime experience suggest that airflow rates of about 15,000 CFM per blast nozzle, or 80 CFM per square foot of floor area, will be required."
This kind of information is usually gained only after hard fought battles in a production environment. The 81/2 x 11 format gives plenty of room for an unusual number of drawings, photos, sketches, and tables. The quality of visual presentation is out-standing. This book is published by the same group that gives us our good old trusty, "Chemical Physics Handbook," and the cost is not unreasonable for a text of this caliber. The fact that it is endorsed by the National Safety Council, whose logo appears conspicuously on the front cover, adds to the book's credibility.
The Complete Confined Spaces Handbook should be near at hand for those with any interest in confined space issues.
HOW TO ORDER
To order your very own personally autographed copy of the Complete Confined Spaces Handbook, please send your check for $95.00 plus $5.00 for postage and handling to:
Mr. John F. Rekus, MS, CIH, CSP
PO Box 158
Riderwood, MD 21139-0158
Orders of five or more copies are only $85.00 each.
A personally autographed copy of the Complete Confined Spaces Handbook is the perfect Christmas, birthday, or anniversary present for hard to shop for industrial hygienists or safety professionals.
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