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Confined spaces present hazard: NIOSH recommends safety signs.

Braddee-RW; Pettit-TA

Occupational Health and Safety - News Digest 1986 Nov; 2(11):9

00177985

Safety signs as a means of alerting employees to the dangers of entering confined spaces were discussed. A NIOSH investigation of 14 confined space accidents in which 24 fatalities occurred has shown that none of the confined spaces were posted with proper warning signs. The NIOSH definition of confined spaces was reviewed. It has been difficult to estimate the number of workers exposed to confined space hazards because confined spaces are widespread and can be found in a variety of industrial settings such as in water purification facilities, utility facilities, petrochemical complexes, paper mills, and shipyards. NIOSH recommendations for reducing the risk of confined space accidents were discussed. These include posting safety warning signs to alert employees that a specific area is considered a confined space, and that entry and work within the space is dangerous and should be initiated only upon receipt of a permit. Specific steps for posting safety warning signs were described.

Confined-spaces; Warning-signs; Industrial-safety; Occupational-hazards; Safety-measures; Accident-prevention; Occupational-accidents

19861101

Journal Article

1987

11

Occupational Health and Safety - News Digest