Minnesota Administrative Rules

5207.0301 DEFINITIONS.

Subpart 1.

Scope.

The terms used in parts 5207.0300 to 5207.0304 have the meanings given them in this part.

Subp. 2.

Confined space.

"Confined space" is defined as a space that is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work and has limited or restricted means for entry or exit and that could result in one or more of the following characteristics:

A.

contains or has a potential to contain a dangerous air contamination, an oxygen deficiency, or an oxygen enrichment;

B.

contains a material that has the potential for engulfing or asphyxiating any entrant; or

C.

contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.

Subp. 3.

Confined space entry.

"Confined space entry" means any action resulting in any part of the worker's face breaking the plane of any opening of the confined space, and includes any ensuing work activities inside the confined space.

Subp. 4.

Dangerous air contamination.

"Dangerous air contamination" is an atmosphere presenting a threat of death, acute injury, illness, or disablement due to the presence of flammable, explosive, toxic, or otherwise injurious or incapacitating substances.

A.

Dangerous air contamination due to the flammability of a gas or vapor is defined as an atmosphere containing the gas or vapor at a concentration greater than ten percent of its lower explosive (lower flammable) limit.

B.

Dangerous air contamination due to a combustible particulate is defined as a concentration greater than ten percent of the minimum explosive concentration of the particulate.

C.

Dangerous air contamination due to a toxic, corrosive, or asphyxiant substance listed in Code of Federal Regulations, title 29, part 1910, subpart Z, is defined as a concentration above the listed numerical value of the permissible exposure limit (PEL). In addition, an atmospheric concentration above the numerical limit listed on the Material Safety Data Sheet prepared for a hazardous substance in conformance with Code of Federal Regulations, title 29, section 1910.1200(g)(2)(vi) or the Minnesota Employee Right-to-Know Standards, chapter 5206.

D.

Dangerous air contamination that presents an acute illness hazard represents an atmospheric concentration immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH); for example, above a maximum concentration from which one could escape within 30 minutes or the length of time a worker will be exposed, whichever is longer, without any escape impairing symptoms or any immediate severe health effects. "Immediate severe health effect" means that an acute clinical sign of a serious, exposure-related reaction is manifested within 72 hours after exposure.

Subp. 5.

Engulfment.

"Engulfment" means the surrounding and effective capture of a person by finely divided particulate matter or a liquid.

Subp. 6.

Oxygen deficiency.

"Oxygen deficiency" is defined as an atmosphere containing oxygen at a concentration of less than 19.5 percent by volume.

Subp. 7.

Oxygen enrichment.

"Oxygen enrichment" is defined as an atmosphere containing oxygen at a concentration greater than 23 percent by volume.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 182.655

History:

23 SR 2132; 28 SR 1512

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008