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Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM

Safety is an essential element for operating any tank cleaning facility in Canada, especially during confined space entry, said Jim Knudsen of Oxford Milkway Transport Co-Op in Ontario, Canada.

Knudsen recommended that keys to the vehicle should be kept in a locked container with a lockout/tagout sign on it before an employee, in harness, enters a tank. Rescue equipment should be near the tank entry point and retrieval equipment in place. A team member in harness also must be at the tank entry.

A rescue plan should be in effect with all employees trained in its activation. “Spell out the plan because there may be panic immediately,” he noted, adding that when the victim is retrieved, he should be lowered to the floor to prevent any falls from the top of the tank.