Section 408.16333. Vessels, bin, and cooker entry.

(1) A lifeline and safety harness or safety belt shall be provided and used by an employee entering a vessel, tank, digester, bin, or cooker without an access door at ground or floor level, as prescribed in General Industry Safety Standard Part 33 “Personal Protective Equipment,” as referenced in R 408.16302. An employee shall be stationed outside with a self-contained respirator in a position to handle the lifeline and summon assistance.

(2)   The air inside the vessel, tank, or bin shall be tested prior to entry. Atmospheres containing toxic gas or vapor, or which are deficient in oxygen shall be purged and fresh air forced inside while the tank or vessel is occupied, or a self-contained or a constant- flow type supplied air respirator shall be worn. An employee shall not enter a vessel or tank containing an explosive atmosphere

(3)   Controls to equipment supplying or operating a closed vessel, tank, digester, bin, or cooker shall be locked out or blanked before entry by an employee.

(4)   Valves to supply pipes for a closed vessel, tank, digester, bin, or cooker shall be closed and locked out or blanked before entry by an employee.

(5)  Tanks shall be free of acid and shall be washed out with water, and fresh air shall be blown into them, before allowing an employee to enter. An employee entering the tanks shall be provided with a supplied air respirator, lifebelt, and attached lifeline by the employer, at no expense to the employee.

(6)      Any lines or sewers shall be blanked off to protect workers from air contaminants.

(7)   When cleaning, inspection, or other work requires that employees must enter the cooker, 1 employee shall be stationed outside in a position to observe and assist in case of emergency.

(8)   All intake valves to a tank shall be blanked off or disconnected.

History: 1979 AC; 1983 AACS; 2014 AACS.