Confined Spaces in the Workplace

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Confined SpacesIn the Workplace

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Confined Spaces in the Workplaceiii

TABLE OF CONTENTSConfined Spaces in the Workplace..................................................................................................1

General hazards o a conined space ............................................................................................1

OSHA requirements or conined space worker protection.......................................................2

Best practice: Read the permit..........................................................................................................7


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Confined Spaces in the Workplace1

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Confined spaces can be awkward and uncomfortablework areas. Not only that, many workplace hazards

are generally even more hazardous when theyre inconfined spaces. Thats why OSHA requires specialprecautions and written permits for most confinedspace tasks.

OSHA defines a confined space as one whose sizeand shape allows an employee to enter and performassigned work, is not designed to be occupiedcontinuously, and has limited or restricted means for

getting in and out. Confined spaces can be tanks,storage bins, vessels, silos, hoppers, vaults, and pits.

There are more than 4.8 million permit-requiredconfined spaces throughout U.S. workplaces. Accordingto OSHA, 20 workers die each year in confined spacesand many, many more are injured. No one enjoysworking in these areas, but its sometimes necessaryto perform repairs, maintenance, and other tasks.

General hazards of aconfined spaceA confined space will have one or more of the followingcharacteristics:

Contains or has a potential to contain a hazardousatmosphere;

Contains a material that has the potential forengulfing an entrant;

Has an internal configuration in which an entrant

could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardlyconverging walls or by a floor that slopesdownward and tapers to a smaller cross section;and

Contains any other recognized serious safety orhealth hazard.

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OSHA requirementsfor confined spaceworker protection

The confined space rule for general industry work-places is in Title 29, Section 1910.146 of the Code ofFederal Regulations and is administered and enforcedby the federal Occupational Safety and Health Admin-istration (OSHA). It describes minimum safety andhealth program management practices for a permit-required confined space (permit space), and outlinesthe employers general obligations to identify permitspaces and nonpermit spaces in the workplace and totake action to protect workers from confined spacehazards.

Applicability to employers andcontractors

The OSHA confined space rule applies to employersand contractors with employees working in any areathat:

Is large enough and configured so that anemployee can enter and perform assigned work;

Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit;

Is not designed for continuous employee occu-pancy;

Has poor ventilation;

Could contain or retain a hazardous atmosphere,or

Could pose an engulfment or entrapmenthazard.

Common examples of confined spaces include sewermanholes, inlets, and outfalls; some culverts; electricaland other vaults; tanks; trenches; pits; pipe assemblies;ducts; silos; storage bins; and hoppers.

Definition of entry. Entry into a confined spaceis defined as placing any part of the face or body thatbreaks the plan of the opening into the space.

The permit space rule covers facilities that have bothpermit-required confined spaces and confined spaces


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that do not require a permit. Inherent in the rule is therequirement for employers to be ever mindful thatchanges in nonpermit confined spaces may create orintroduce a hazard that would necessitate reevaluationand, in some cases, reclassification of spaces.

Permit-required confined space

OSHA identifies several confined space hazards con-sidered so serious, they actually make up the definitionof a permit-required confined space. To enter thesespaces, you need a proper permit and specific precau-tions. A permit-required confined space is one thathasor has the potential forone or more of thesehazards:

1. A hazardous atmosphere that could cause a

person inside to become ill, incapacitated, unableto escape without aid, or even to die. The atmos-phere may be hazardous due to:

Flammable gas, vapor, or mist levels more than10 percent above the substances lower flam-mable limit.

Airborne combustible dust at or above the sub-stances lower flammable limit, making it hardto see things less than 5 feet away.

Atmospheric oxygen concentration below19.5 percent or above 23.5 percent. Just 16 per-cent oxygen can make you drowsy, nauseated,and speed up breathing and heartbeat. At12 percent, youll lose consciousness; a6 percent oxygen level will kill you.

Any other atmospheric condition immediatelydangerous to life or health (IDLH), a conditionthat threatens life, could cause irreversiblehealth problems, or limit your ability to escapethe space without help.

2. Engulfment potential applies to a space that con-tains a liquid or a flowing solid (such as sand orgrain) that could immerse and bury or smotheryou.

3. Entrapping design refers to walls that convergeinward or a floor that slopes and tapers down. Ina space like that, you could slip or fall into an


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area too small to escape from or get pushed intomachinery.

4. Any other recognized serious health or safetyhazard. They could include:

Combustibility. If something can burn orexplode, it is more likely to do so, and do itinstantly, in a confined space.

Falls. If you fall in a confined space, you couldget trapped or asphyxiated, especially if thespace has too little oxygen or contains toxicgases.

Heat. Heat can build up quickly in a confinedspace, making you tired, dizzy, and ill.

Noise. Sounds reverberate in a confined space,

and you could fail to hear important instruc-tions or warnings.

Nonpermit confined space

Employees entering a nonpermit confined space neednot comply with the permit requirements for confinedspaces or duties of authorized personnel provided that:

It has been demonstrated and documented thatthe only hazard is actual or potentially haz-ardous atmosphere.

It has been determined that the forced air ventila-tion alone is sufficient to maintain safe entry.

The monitoring and inspection data required bythe plan are being used.

Test data collection that requires an initial entrymust be performed in compliance with thepermit-required confined space and entrysupervisor requirements.

The determinations and data required are

documented and available to employees whoenter the space.

Confined space program

The confined space rule requires employers to imple-ment a comprehensive space-entry program, which isthe employers overall program for controlling andprotecting employees from permit space hazards and


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for regulating employee entry into permit spaces. Apermit system must be in place before employees enterconfined spaces.

Workplace evaluations

29 CFR 1910.146(c)

The employer must evaluate the workplace to identifyspaces that meet the definition of a permit spacebecause of existing or potential hazards.

When the workplace contains no permit spaces.If the workplace contains no confined spaces of anykind, the confined space rules do not apply to thatworkplace. If the workplace contains no permit spacesbut it does contain other confined spaces, there arealternatives to full permit entry, as described in thissection.

When the workplace contains permit spaces. Ifthe workplace contains permit spaces, employees mustbe informed via signs or other means where the spacesare located and of the hazards they pose.

When workers are not allowed to enter permitspaces. If the employer decides that its employees willnot enter permit spaces, the employer must take meas-ures to prevent its employees from entering the permitspaces, including the posting of signs or other means.A sign reading DANGERPERMIT-REQUIRED CON-FINED SPACE. DO NOT ENTER or using other simi-lar language would satisfy the requirement for a sign.

When workers are allowed to enter permitspaces. The employer must develop and implement awritten permit space program before any workersenter a permit space.

Roles of entrant, attendant, entry

supervisor, and rescue personnelAll employees involved in confined space entry opera-tions must be thoroughly trained and authorized bythe employer to perform their duties.

Entrants. Authorized entrants do not go into a permitspace until its air is tested and found safe. But once in,the entrant has to stay alert for any change in conditions.


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Authorized entrants also must know what equipmentto useand how to use it. That includes personal pro-tective equipment, tools needed for the task, equip-ment to communicate with the attendant, and somekind of personal retrieval system.

OSHA says each authorized entrant must use a chestor full body harness attached to a retrieval line. Awristlet system may be used only if the employer candemonstrate that the other systems are impractical ordangerous. Even with all the protections, you shouldtry to complete work inside a permit space as quicklyand efficiently as possible. Notify the attendant imme-diately of any condition thats not permitted in thespace, or if you have symptoms like dizziness, weak-ness, etc.

If the entrant thinks theres troubleor if the attendantgives an order or alarmhe or she must leave thespace immediately.

Attendants. Attendants must be on duty outside anyoccupied permit space. An attendant must study thepermit to understand the spaces potential hazards andthe signs and symptoms of trouble. The attendantmust:

Monitor and count whos in and outside thespace.

Stay in contact with authorized entrants in thespace.

Keep unauthorized people away from anoccupied space.

Order immediate evacuation of the permitspace if:

The authorized entrant shows signs ofhazardous exposure.

You cant perform the attendant duties safely.

A situation outside the space could endangerworkers in it.

Summon authorized rescue and emergencyservices when needed to evacuate workers fromthe space.


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Entry supervisor. The entry supervisor oversees thepermit-required space operation. This person makessure testing and other permit requirements are met,then signs the permit so workers can enter. The entrysupervisors other responsibilities are to:

Be familiar with the hazards in the space.

Make sure the rescue and emergency service isavailable.

End work in the space and cancel the permitwhen the task is completed or when conditionsdevelop that make the work unsafe.

Rescue personnel. The rescue and emergency servicepeople are also key players, though everyone hopestheyre not needed. They may work for the employer

or an outside service. But its up to the employer withthe permit-required confined space to be sure the res-cuers are ready, willing, and able to handle their vitalresponsibilities.

Best practice: Read the permit

The best protection against confined space hazards isto understand and follow the procedures in the permit

and the information it contains.

A completed, signed, and posted or easily availablepermit is required before anyone can enter a permit-required confined space. Every authorized entrant,attendant, or entry supervisor should read the permitcarefully before starting any task related to the space.

The written permit identifies:

The specific space

Date, purpose, and authorized length of entry

Authorized entrants, attendant, and entrysupervisor

The spaces hazards, including test resultsand measures used to control or eliminatethe hazards

Acceptable conditions for entering the space


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Equipment to be used in the space (e.g., PPE,ladders to get in and out, lighting, ventilating,testing and monitoring, rescue or retrievalequipment)

Rescue services and their phone number(s)

Other special information or additional permits(e.g., hot work)

Atmospheric testing. As outlined in the permit, theatmosphere in the space is not only tested beforeentrants enter but also tested periodically while theyreworking in the space and when any authorized entrantor his or her authorized representative expresses con-cern that a prior evaluation may have been inadequate.

Testing is done first for oxygen content, then for flam-

mable gases and vapors, and last for potential toxic aircontaminants. Affected employees have access to allthese test results.

In addition to these protections identified in thepermit, OSHA requires employers to:

Have at least one trained attendant outside anoccupied permit space.

Develop and implement a system for handlingrescues or other emergencies in the space.

Coordinate procedures with any contractors orother employers involved in the confined spacetask.

Review the confined space program at leastannually and after any injury, near miss, unau-thorized entry, or other problem.

Permit duration. The duration of the permit must notexceed the time required to complete the assigned taskor job identified on the permit.

Terminated or canceled permit. The employer must

develop and implement a procedure for closing off andcanceling a permit. The entry supervisor must cancelentry permits when work in the confined space is com-pleted or when a condition exists in or near the spacethat is not allowed by the permit. New conditions mustbe noted on the canceled permit and used in revisingthe permit space program.


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Recordkeeping. The entry supervisor must retaineach entry permit for at least 1 year to facilitate thereview of the permit space program. Any problemsencountered during an entry operation must be notedon the permit so that appropriate revisions to the

permit space program can be made. The employermust keep all canceled entry permits for at least 1 year

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CONFINED SPACE PROTECTION, SIMPLIFIED.

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IN A CONFINED SPACE,THERES NEVER ROOM FOR ERROR

LETS WORK.

Confined Spaces in the Workplace

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