Standards

This section highlights OSHA standards, directives (instructions for compliance officers), standard interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the standards), and national consensus standards related to the permit- and non-permit-required confined spaces in the petrochemical industry.

Note: Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

OSHA

Frequently Cited Standards

A listing of the most frequently cited standards by Federal OSHA for Oil And Gas Field Services (SIC code 138) is available.

Other Highlighted Standards

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

• 1910 Subpart D, Walking-working surfaces [related topic page]
  • 1910.24, Fixed industrial stairs
• 1910 Subpart E, Means of Egress [related topic page]
  • 1910.38, Emergency action plans
• 1910 Subpart G, Occupational health and environment control [related topic page]
  • 1910.95, Occupational noise exposure. Note: In 1910.95(o) it states: "Paragraphs (c) through (n) of this section shall not apply to employers engaged in oil and gas well drilling and servicing operations."
• 1910 Subpart H, Hazardous materials [related topic page]
  • 1910.106, Flammable and combustible liquids
  • 1910.119, Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals
• 1910.120, Hazardous waste operations and emergency response
• 1910 Subpart I, Personal protective equipment [related topic page]
  • 1910.134, Respiratory protection [related topic page]
• 1910 Subpart J, General environmental controls
  • 1910.141, Sanitation
  • 1910.146, Permit-required confined spaces [related topic page]
  • 1910.147, The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout) [related topic page]
    • Appendix A, Typical minimal lockout procedures
• 1910 Subpart L, Fire protection [related topic page]
  • 1910.165, Employee alarm systems
• 1910 Subpart Q, Welding, cutting, and brazing [related topic page]
   
• 1910 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances [related topic page]
  • 1910.1025, Lead [related topic page]
  • 1910.1028, Benzene [related topic page]
  • 1910.1200, Hazard communication [related topic page]

Construction Industry (29 CFR 1926)

• 1926 Subpart C, General safety and health provisions
  • 1926.26, Illumination

Directives

• OSHA Technical Manual (OTM). OSHA Directive TED 01-00-015 [TED 1-0.15A], (1999, January 20).
  • Petroleum Refining Processes. OTM Section 4 - Chapter 2.
• Search all available directives.

Standard Interpretations

• Construction of aboveground storage tanks and confined space; 1926.21(b)(6) and 1910.146; General duty clause. (2006, July 10).
• Fall protection requirements when working from ladders in the telecommunications industry including antennas mounted on storage tanks. (2005, May 23).
• Above-ground 500-gallon polyethylene tank is unacceptable for storage of flammable and combustible liquids. (2001, August 30).
• Fiberglass tanks for above and below ground storage of flammable and combustible liquids. (1993, January 13).
• Outside, above ground, tanks used for storage of flammable and combustible liquids. (1992, February 5).
• Lead-based paint removal technology. (1991, June 18).
• Search all available standard interpretations.

National Consensus

Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)

• Z117.1 Safety Requirements for Confined Spaces

American Petroleum Institute (API)

API develops standards that identify and support proven, sound engineering and operating practices, and safe, interchangeable equipment and materials, for use in the petroleum industry. API is an accredited Standards Developing Organization that meets the due process requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

• API 650, Welded Tanks for Oil Storage, 11th Edition, Addendum 2, November, 2009.


• API 653, Tank Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Reconstruction, 4th Edition, Addendum 1, August 2010.


• API 2015, Requirements for Safe Entry and Cleaning of Petroleum Storage Tanks, Sixth Edition, August 2001

National Fire Protection Association

• 326, Standard for the Safeguarding of Tanks and Containers for Entry, Cleaning, or Repair. (2005) Edition.

Steel Tank Institute

• SP001, 4th Edition, July 2006, "Standard for the Inspection of Aboveground Storage Tanks"


• SP031, 4th Edition, November 2008, "Standard for Repair of Shop Fabricated Aboveground Tanks for Storage of Combustible & Flammable Liquids"

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