YOU'VE SEEN THEM IN ACTION on the sidelines, sometimes during hot, humid days in the early part of the football season. They are those large silver and blue fans that blow a cool mist over the players, providing a “line of defense” against heat exhaustion.

Did you know that these same portable ventilators can provide a comparable line of defense against potential hazards often found in confined work spaces?

Workers in confined spaces are often subjected to conditions that can potentially be hazardous to their health. Among the examples are tunnels susceptible to toxic gases and refineries or oil storage facilities in which it is often necessary to de-gas tanks and vessels prior to entering them for routine inspection, cleaning or painting. Natural air currents typically are not sufficient to maintain proper air quality in these spaces. Safety procedures and legislation demand that such work areas be made safe and are properly ventilated. If not, serious injury or death can occur and the potential for explosion and fire can have dramatic impact on employees, project execution and operations.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), “permit-required confined space” (or permit space) describes a confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics: the area contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere; ...
download complete story PDF→