Shipboard Confined Space Safety: Ventilation & OSHA Standards

Because of issues surrounding shipboard ventilation safety, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has produced a set of standards governing these confined work spaces to protect employees from potential harm.

General Safety Requirements

• Ventilation in confined spaces on a ship requires an oxygen content of between 19.5 and 22 percent. Furthermore, potentially toxic materials must be below OSHA's Permissible Exposure Limits and Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health levels.

Hot Work

• Hot work, which involves working with potentially hazardous fumes or gases, requires additional specialized ventilation requirements. Specifically, hot workers must use a mechanical ventilation system or an airline respirator for work in confined spaces. If ventilation equipment blocks access to the confined space, an employee must stand by to assist in the case of an emergency.

Dilution Ventilation

• For situations in which toxic or flammable fumes present a health and safety issue, employ one of the common dilution ventilation methods. These include compressed air movers, electric fans and natural ventilation.