"Roger" wrote in message news
Then he committed a sin for which job termination is usually
proscribed at most companies now days. You never, ever enter a vessel
that has been N2 purged unless bringing your own breathing air by
tank or hose. He entered without checking the O2 level and almost
suffocated.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

Roger, did you miss my post and just reply to the response that was snipped by Bryan Martin without him indicating he
did so?

It was I who filled out and signed the safe work and confined space entry permits. One of my direct reports took the
gas samples with a handheld gas meter. The confined space entry was done correctly per OSHA 1910.146 confined space
procedures. At my place of employment we have to make confined space entries on a routine basis.

An attendant was present. An Emergency Response Team was on standby. One thing though, there was no forced air
ventilation. He was using a supplied air respirator (air line mask) with a backup egress system. This was a
professional contract company that does IDLH confined space entries for catalyst work as their sole source of income.
Forced air ventilation will not make a "confined space" a "non-confined space" per OSHA. Ability to egress is a
consideration unto itself. There are permit required and non-permit required confined spaces. (I never liked that
terminology as they both require permits). IDLH atmospheres are permit required.

Roger, I've been reading your posts here for years and you have my respect. It seems as we both have some job
related experience with confined space entries. I've been doing it for 28 years and I sure don't consider myself an
expert on the subject. But please help educate me. Why did the victim go into convulsions instantly if he was
suffocating and why did it take months for him to recover? Like I said, I am not an expert on this, I'm only
relating my experiences. And in my experience nitrogen can be deadly even without being pressurize and without
"suffocating" you. And yes I know that air is 78% nitrogen.

I think this thread has drifted way to far off topic. For anyone else still interested go here Go here if you'd like
to read up on confined space requirements.
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owad...able=STANDARDS

Joe Schneider
8437R



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