work saftey???thread or no

[Hemi417]

quick question? what does osha require for going into a confined space ,to wash cattle blood out. specifically a tanker truck , and what are my health risks anybody know?

[R/T93]

Working on submarines, any termed "confined space" needs to be gas free certified with an air sniffer periodically and we require a tank watch, someone standing outside the hole or tank you are in making sure you are OK at all times.

I have no clue what the requirements are for the outside world, the stuff we put up with in the NavSea and OSHA are horribly inneficient regarding safety vs time ratio.

[Hemi417]

yeah its starting to get a little scary ,, i cant lift myself out after i get through scrubbing it out ? only like 20 minutes of work. and i should have no problems in my opinion ,i run, bench my body weight and so forth. i'm not the only one ethier ,our concerns have been met with the quote."there are other jobs" but no safety equipment not even goggles? using a 180 degree hose to wash it out ? will blood put off a gas when it dry's or is heated like that ?

[ferriolom]

Chemically no.

There will be dormant, and not so dormant bacteria present, and it will reek.

[EZnTn]

I'm surprised you didn't have a ladder first off.
Always for a confined space you should also have a watcher who will not, under any circumstances, come into the area
Space should be vented with an exhaust air system.
I'd recommend PPO including goggles, gloves, tyvek suit.
Unless the odors are such that they oxygen levels are not sufficient, you wouldn't need a SCBA

Plenty of definitions and information on confined space out there, google it.

[BadHabit]

All the necessary equipment(motors,electrical,hydraulic is to be locked out and tagged.You are not supposed to go in there until the air is tested and then you are "supposed" to be lowered by a winch.There is to be some type of emergency air nearby.You are to have someone sit at the entrance(trained confined space attendant) and test the air every so often.Last but not least you do not even enter until you have a signed Confined Space Permit.
**Note
the reason for the winch is in case you are rendered unconscious,they can pull you out without getting a hernia.
You did say OSHA requirements right?

[Hemi417]

yeah OSHA thanks guys , i always wondered about it? i know you have to be careful or you'll face will begin to burn just from being in there.and your sinuses get all messed up for a couple days . but i didn't want to start too much of a fuss before i knew whether it was a legitimate concern. could cost me the job ? right now there are a total of 3 people who wash it out so it wouldn't take long for them to eliminate and find the person who turned them in . i wish the plant saftey manager would jump them ,but we are subcontracted to them?? I think I'll make a call to osha though .

they said there is no bacteria active because it was refrigerated most of the way.I called BS and got shot down.

will osha shut the company down or just tell then to get there crap together?

[EZnTn]

If OSHA comes in to follow up on a complaint, worksite is required by law to accommodate them.
I've had OSHA visit a manufacturing facility I ran.
I was glad they showed up, I got the dust abatement system I'd been requesting for several years.
At the end of it all, our levels were within guidelines, after OSHA & our corporate contracted firm determined dust levels (fiberglass).

Would they shut your place down? Have to be some rather serious infractions for that to happen.
Not knowing specifics of your situation, be difficult to determine.

As BadHabit alluded, to do it properly, a "Confined Space Permit" needs to be issued.
It sounds like the place where you're cleaning out these tank trucks doesn't really have their act together at all.

Here's a good link to get you up to par on what OSHA requires.
I'm sure there are specifics for your situation, but this is a start.

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/confinedspaces/index.html

[TwIzTeD_3kGt]

They cannot fire you in retaliation to an OSHA complaint.

[Alex3000gt]

I'm surprised you didn't have a ladder first off.
Always for a confined space you should also have a watcher who will not, under any circumstances, come into the area
Space should be vented with an exhaust air system.
I'd recommend PPO including goggles, gloves, tyvek suit.
Unless the odors are such that they oxygen levels are not sufficient, you wouldn't need a SCBA

Plenty of definitions and information on confined space out there, google it.

Correct! And also a co or co2 monitoring system and a proper training program.