Throughout 2024, BCS has been involved in three confined space projects, with a fourth scheduled to begin in January 2025. OSHA’s Confined Space Regulations are provided by OSHA’s Code of Federal Regulations for Construction Safety (CFR 1926) in subpart AA. OSHA defines a confined space as meeting all three of the following criteria:
- Is large and so configured that an employee can bodily enter it
- Has limited or restricted means for entry and exit
- Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy
A fourth condition qualifies a confined space as a permitted required confined space, this is the result if the confined space has a potential for toxic atmosphere. In other words, it could have more or less than 20.9% oxygen and this could cause worker health issues, or an explosion based on whether the ambient oxygen is above or below normal.
All BCS employees who are scheduled to work in or around a confined space receive training per the standard. The five training requirements are:
- Be in a language the workers understand (in our case, Spanish).
- Receive training before an employee is assigned duties in or around a Confined Space
- Receive training before their duties change
- Receive additional training when a new hazard is identified that was not part of their previous training
- When inadequacies in employee training are identified.
BCS has been building new confined spaces, for example chemical storage tanks, vaults and working crawl spaces. These being new, normally lack the potential for toxic atmosphere, but can provide logistical challenges in the case of medical emergencies requiring rescue of BCS employees. Workers practice with a rescue tripod and learn how to prepare the jobsite according to OSHA regulations. The three-member team (Superintendent, Attendant and Entrant) prepares a site-specific safety plan and executes the work with additional ventilation and record keeping per the standard.
BCS continues to establish itself as the best in class in commercial concrete subcontractor in Central Texas as it continues to develop its services and value through exceptional jobsite safety.
To see our past concrete work, visit our portfolio and get a quote from us today.