Permit required
Confined Space Safety Program
Table of Contents
I.
Objective
II.
Background
III.
Assignment of Responsibility
A.
Employer
B.
Program Manager
C.
Entry Supervisors
D.
Attendants
E.
Rescue Team
F.
Entrants/Affected Employees
IV.
Training
A.
Training Frequency
B.
General Training
C.
Specific Training
D.
Verification of Training
V.
Identification of Hazards and Evaluation of Confined Spaces
A.
Survey
B.
Hazard Reevaluation
C.
Pre-Entry Hazard Assessment
D.
Hazard Controls
VI.
Entry Permits
A.
Key Elements of Entry Permits
B.
Permit Scope and Duration
VII.
Entry Procedures
A.
Prior to Entry
B.
Opening a Confined Space
C.
Atmospheric Testing
D.
Isolation and Lockout/Tagout Safeguards
E.
Ingress/Egress Safeguards
F.
Warning Signs and Symbols
VIII.
Emergency Response
A.
Emergency Response Plan
B.
Retrieval Systems and Methods of Non-Entry Rescue
IX.
Attachment, Sample Process Duty Roster
Confined Space Program
For
Company Name
I.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of Company Name’s
Confined Space Program is to set procedures that will ensure workers safe
entry into confined spaces and permit-required confined spaces to perform
routine tasks associated with their employment. This procedure is designed to
provide the minimum safety requirements in accordance with the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Confined Space Standard, 1910.146.
II.
BACKGROUND
A confined space is defined as any location that has
limited openings for entry and egress, is not intended for continuous employee
occupancy, and is so enclosed that natural ventilation may not reduce air
contaminants to levels below the threshold limit value (TLV). Examples of
confined spaces include: manholes, stacks, pipes, storage tanks, trailers,
tank cars, pits, sumps, hoppers, and bins. Entry into confined spaces without
proper precautions could result in injury, impairment, or death due to:
A.
an atmosphere that is flammable or explosive;
B.
lack of sufficient oxygen to support life;
C.
contact with or inhalation of toxic materials; or
D.
general safety or work area hazards such as steam or high pressure
materials.
III.
ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY
A.
Employer
In administering this Confined
Space Program, Company Name will:
1.
Monitor the effectiveness of the program.
2.
Provide atmospheric testing and equipment as needed.
3.
Provide personal protective equipment as needed.
4.
Provide training to affected employees and supervisors.
5.
Provide technical assistance as needed.
6.
Preview and update the program on at least an annual basis or as
needed.
B.
Program Manager
Responsible Person
is responsible for managing the Confined Space Program, and shall:
1.
Ensure that a list of confined spaces at all Company Name
worksites is maintained.
2.
Ensure that canceled permits are reviewed for lessons learned.
3.
Ensure training of personnel is conducted and documented.
4.
Coordinate with outside responders.
5.
Ensure that equipment is in compliance with standards.
6.
Ensure that the Responsible Person in charge of
confined space work shall:
a.
Ensure requirements for entry have been completed before entry is
authorized.
b.
Ensure confined space monitoring is performed by personnel qualified
and trained in confined space entry procedures.
c.
Ensure a list of monitoring equipment and personnel qualified to
operate the equipment is maintained by the Safety and Occupational Health
Office.
d.
Ensure that the rescue team has simulated a rescue in a confined space
within the past twelve (12) months.
e.
Know the hazards that may be faced during entry, including the mode
(how the contaminant gets into the body), signs or symptoms, and consequences
of exposure.
f.
Fill out a permit.
g.
Determine the entry requirements.
h.
Require a permit review and signature from the authorized Entry
Supervisor.
i.
Notify all involved employees of the permit requirements.
j.
Post the permit in a conspicuous location near the job.
k.
Renew the permit or have it reissued as needed (a new permit is
required every shift).
l.
Determine the number of Attendants required to perform the work.
m.
Ensure all Attendant(s) know how to communicate with the entrants and
how to obtain assistance.
n.
Post any required barriers and signs.
o.
Remain alert to changing conditions that might affect the conditions of
the permits (i.e., require additional atmospheric monitoring or changes in
personal protective equipment).
p.
Change and reissue the permit, or issue a new permit as necessary.
q.
Ensure periodic atmospheric monitoring is done according to permit
requirements.
r.
Ensure that personnel doing the work and all support personnel adhere
to permit requirements.
s.
Ensure the permit is canceled with the work is done.
t.
Ensure the confined space is safely closed and all workers are cleared
from the area.
C.
Entry Supervisors
Responsible Person(s)
shall serve as the Entry Supervisor(s), and shall be qualified and authorized
to approved confined space entry permits. The Entry Supervisor(s) shall be
responsible for:
1.
Determining if conditions are acceptable for entry.
2.
Authorizing entry and overseeing entry operations.
3.
Terminating entry procedures as required.
4.
Serving as an Attendant, as long as the person is trained and equipped
appropriately for that role.
5.
Ensuring measures are in place to keep unauthorized personnel clear of
the area.
6.
Checking the work at least twice a shift to verify and document permit
requirements are being observed (more frequent checks shall be made if
operations or conditions are anticipated that could affect permit
requirements).
7.
Ensuring that necessary information on chemical hazards is kept at the
worksite for the employees or rescue team.
8.
Ensuring a rescue team is available and instructed in their rescue
duties (i.e., an onsite team or a prearranged outside rescue service).
9.
Ensuring the rescue team members have current certification in first
aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
D.
Attendants
Responsible Person(s)
shall function as an Attendant(s) and shall be stationed outside of the
confined workspace. The Attendant(s) shall:
1.
Be knowledgeable of, and be able to recognize potential confined space
hazards.
2.
Maintain a sign-in/sign-out log with a count of all persons in the
confined space, and ensure all entrants sign in and out.
3.
Monitor surrounding activities to ensure the safety of personnel.
4.
Maintain effective and continuous communication with personnel during
confined space entry, work, and exit.
5.
Order personnel to evacuate the confined space if he/she:
a.
observes a condition which is not allowed on the entry permit;
b.
notices the entrants acting strangely, possibly as a result of exposure
to hazardous substances;
c.
notices a situation outside the confined space which could endanger
personnel;
d.
notices a hazard within the confined space that has not been previously
recognized or taken into consideration;
e.
must leave his/her work station; or
f.
must focus attention on the rescue of personnel in some other confined
space that he/she is monitoring.
6.
Immediately summon the Rescue Team if crew rescue becomes necessary.
7.
Keep unauthorized persons out of the confined space, order them out, or
notify authorized personnel of an unauthorized entry.
E.
Rescue Team
The Rescue Team members shall:
1.
Complete a training drill using mannequins or personnel in a simulation
of the confined space prior to the issuance of an entry permit for any
confined space and at least annually thereafter.
2.
Respond immediately to rescue calls from the Attendant or any other
person recognizing a need for rescue from the confined space.
3.
In addition to emergency response training, receive the same training
as that required of the authorized entrants.
4.
Have current certification in first aid and CPR.
F.
Entrants/Affected Employees
Employees who are granted
permission to enter a confined space shall:
1.
Read and observe the entry permit requirements.
2.
Remain alert to the hazards that could be encountered while in the
confined space.
3.
Properly use the personal protective equipment that is required by the
permit.
4.
Immediately exit the confined space when:
a.
they are ordered to do so by an authorized person;
b.
they notice or recognize signs or symptoms of exposure;
c.
a prohibited condition exists; or
d.
the automatic alarm system sounds.
5.
Alert Attendant(s) when a prohibited condition exists and/or when
warning signs or symptoms of exposure exist.
IV.
TRAINING
Company Name shall provide training
so that all employees whose work is regulated by this Confined Space Program
acquire the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe
performance of their duties in confined spaces.
A.
Training Frequency
Responsible Person shall provide
training to each affected employee:
1.
before the employee is first assigned duties within a confined space;
2.
before there is a change in assigned duties;
3.
when there is a change in permit space operations that presents a
hazard for which an employee has not been trained; and
4.
when Company Name has reason to believe that there
are deviations from the confined space entry procedures required in this
program, or that there are inadequacies in the employee’s knowledge or use of
these procedures.
The training shall establish
employee proficiency in the duties required in this program, and shall
introduce new or revised procedures, as necessary, for compliance with this
program.
B.
General Training
All employees who will enter
confined spaces shall be trained in entry procedures. Personnel responsible
for supervising, planning, entering, or participating in confined space entry
and rescue shall be adequately trained in their functional duties prior to any
confined space entry. Training shall include:
1.
Explanation of the general hazards associated with confined spaces.
2.
Discussion of specific confined space hazards associated with the
facility, location, or operation.
3.
Reason for, proper use, and limitations of personal protective
equipment and other safety equipment required for entry into confined spaces.
4.
Explanation of permits and other procedural requirements for conducting
a confined space entry.
5.
A clear understanding of what conditions would prohibit entry.
6.
Procedures for responding to emergencies.
7.
Duties and responsibilities of the confined space entry team.
8.
Description of how to recognize symptoms of overexposure to probable
air contaminants in themselves and co-workers, and method(s) for alerting the
Attendant(s).
Refresher training shall be
conducted as needed to maintain employee competence in entry procedures and
precautions.
C.
Specific Training
1.
Training for atmospheric monitoring personnel shall include proper use
of monitoring instruments, including instruction on the following:
a.
proper use of the equipment;
b.
calibration of equipment;
c.
sampling strategies and techniques; and
d.
exposure limits (PELs, TLVs, LELs, UELs, etc.).
2.
Training for Attendants shall include the following:
a.
procedures for summoning rescue or other emergency services; and
b.
proper utilization of equipment used for communicating with entry and
emergency/rescue personnel.
3.
Training for Emergency Response Personnel shall include:
a.
rescue plan and procedures developed for each type of confined space
that is anticipated to be encountered;
b.
use of emergency rescue equipment;
c.
first aid and CPR techniques; and
d.
work location and confined space configuration to minimize response
time.
D.
Verification of Training
Periodic assessment of the
effectiveness of employee training shall be conducted by Responsible
Person. Training sessions shall be repeated as often as necessary
to maintain an acceptable level of personnel competence.
V.
IDENTIFICATION OF HAZARDS AND EVALUATION OF CONFINED SPACES
A.
Survey
Responsible Person
shall ensure a survey of the worksite is conducted to identify confined
spaces. This survey can be partially completed from initial and continuing
site characterizations, as well as other available data (i.e., blueprints and
job safety analyses). The purpose of the survey is to develop an inventory of
those locations and/or equipment at Company Name that
meet the definition of a
