Purpose
The Confined Space Entry Program is provided to protect
authorized employees that will enter confined spaces and may
be exposed to hazardous atmospheres, engulfment in
materials, conditions which may trap or asphyxiate due to
converging or sloping walls, or contains any other safety or
health hazards. Reference: OSHA-Permit-Required
Confined Spaces (29 CFR 1910.146).
Responsibilities
Management
- Ensure proper training for entry & rescue teams
- Provide proper equipment for entry & rescue teams
- Ensure confined space assessments have been conducted
- Ensure all permit required confined spaces are posted
- Annually review this program and all Entry Permits
- Evaluate Rescue Teams/Service to ensure they are
adequately trained and prepared
- Ensure rescue team at access during entry into spaces
with IDLH atmospheres
Employees
- Follow program requirements
- Report any previously un-identified hazards associated
with confined spaces
Entry Supervisor
Entry supervisors are responsible for the overall permit
space entry and must coordinate all entry procedures, tests,
permits, equipment and other relevant activities. The
following entry supervisor duties are required:
- Know the hazards that may be faced during entry,
including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and
consequences of the exposure
- Verifies, by checking that the appropriate entries have
been made on the permit, all test specified by the permit
have been conducted and that all procedures and equipment
specified by the permit are in place before endorsing the
permit and allowing entry to begin
- Terminate the entry and cancel the permit when the entry
is complete and there is a need for terminating the permit
- Verify that rescue services are available and that the
means for summoning them are operable
- Remove unauthorized persons who enter or attempt to
enter the space during entry operations
- Determine whenever responsibility for a permit space
entry operation is transferred and at intervals dictated by
the hazards and operations performed within the space that
entry operations remain consistent with the permit terms and
that acceptable entry conditions are maintained.
Entry Attendants
At least one attendant is required outside the permit
space into which entry is authorized for the duration of the
entry operation. Responsibilities include:
- To know the hazards that may be faced during entry,
including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and
consequences of the exposure
- To be aware of possible behavioral effects of hazard
exposure on entrants
- To continuously maintain an accurate count of entrants
in the permit space and ensures a means to accurately
identify authorized entrants
- To remain outside the permit space during entry
operations until relieved by another attendant (once
properly relieved, they may participate in other permit
space activities, including rescue if they are properly
trained and equipped).
- To communicate with entrants as necessary to monitor
entrant status and alert entrants of the need to evacuate.
- To monitor activities inside and outside the space to
determine if it is safe for entrants to remain in the space
and orders the entrants to immediately evacuate if: the
attendant detects a prohibited condition, detects entrant
behavioral effects of hazard exposure, detects a situation
outside the space that could endanger the entrants; or if
the attendant cannot effectively and safely perform all the
attendant duties.
- To summon rescue and other emergency services as soon as
the attendant determines the entrants need assistance to
escape the permit space hazards.
- To perform non-entry rescues as specified by that rescue
procedure and entry supervisor
- Not to perform duties that might interfere with the
attendants' primary duty to monitor and protect the
entrants.
- To take the following action when unauthorized persons
approach or enter a permit space while entry is under way:
- Warn the unauthorized persons that they must stay away
from the permit space,
- Advise unauthorized persons that they must exit
immediately if they have entered the space, and
- Inform the authorized entrants and the entry supervisor
if unauthorized persons have entered the permit space.
Entrants
All entrants must be authorized by the entry supervisor
to enter permit spaces, have received the required training,
used the proper equipment, and observes the entry procedures
and permit. The following entrant duties are required:
- Know the hazards that may be faced during entry,
including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and
consequences of the exposure;
- Properly use the equipment required for safe entry;
- Communicate with the attendant as necessary to enable
the attendant to monitor the status of the entrants and to
enable the attendant to alert the entrants of the need to
evacuate the space if necessary;
- Alert the attendant whenever; the entrant recognizes any
warning signs or symptoms of exposure to a dangerous
situation, or any prohibited condition is detected; and
- Exit the permit space as quickly as possible whenever;
the attendant or entry supervisor gives an order to evacuate
the permit space, the entrant recognized any warning signs
or symptoms of exposure to a dangerous situation, the
entrant detects a prohibited condition, or an evacuation
alarm activated.
Hazards
- Explosive / Flammable Atmospheres
- Toxic Atmospheres
- Engulfment
- Asphyxiation
- Entrapment
- Slips & falls
- Chemical Exposure
- Electric Shock
- Thermal / Chemical
Burns
- Noise &
Vibration
Hazard Control
Engineering
Controls
- Locked entry
points
- Temporary
ventilation
- Temporary Lighting
Administrative
Controls
- Signs
- Employee training
- Entry procedures
- Atmospheric
Monitoring
- Rescue procedures
- Use of prescribed
PPE
Definitions
Confined space:
Is large enough or so configured that an employee can
bodily enter and perform work.
Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit (i.e.
tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, and
pits are spaces that may have limited means of entry).
Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.
Permit required confined space (permit space), is
a confined space that has one or more of the following
characteristics:
- Contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous
atmosphere.
- Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing
an entrant.
- Has an internal configuration such that an entrant could
be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly covering walls or by a
floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller
cross-section.
- Contains any other recognized serious safety or health
hazard.
Each Permit-Required Confined Space will be marked
"Confined Space - Entry Permit Required".
Entry Standard
Operating Procedures
A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been developed
for each space to standardize the entry procedure. The SOP
outlines:
- Hazards
- Hazard Control
& Abatement
- Acceptable Entry
Conditions
- Means of Entry
- Entry Equipment
Required
- Emergency
Procedures
Permit Required
Confined Space Entry General Rules
During all Confined Space Entries, the following Safety
Rules must be strictly enforced:
3. During Confined Space Entries, a Watchmen must be
present at all times.
4. Constant visual or voice communication will be
maintained between the Safety Watchmen and Employees
entering a Confined Space.
5. No bottom or side entry will be made or work conducted
below the level any hanging material or material which could
cause engulfment.
6. Air and Oxygen Monitoring is required before entering
any Permit-Required Confined Space. Oxygen levels in a
Confined Space must be between 19.5 and 23.5 percent. Levels
above or below will require the use of an SCBA or other
approved air supplied respirator. Additional ventilation and
