Large enough, and so configured that, an employee can enter bodily and perform work
Has limited or restricted means of entry or exit, and
Is not designed for continuous human occupancy

Remember:  If you break the plane of a confined space, you have entered the confined space!

A Permit-Required Confined Space is a confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics:

• Contains or has the 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 become trapped or asphyxiated, or
• Contains any other serious safety or health hazard.

Examples of Permit-Required Confined Spaces:

• Mud Tanks
• Frac Tanks
• Silos
• Liquid Storage Tanks
• Vessels
• Manholes
• Boilers
• Furnaces
• Sewers
• Hoppers
• Vaults
• Pipes
• Trenches
• Tunnels
• Ducts
• Bins
• Pits

A non-permit confined space is:

A confined space that does not contain or have the potential to contain any hazard capable of causing death or serious physical harm.

Examples of a Non-Permit Required Confined Space:

• Crawl space under a building
• Drop ceiling
• Control cabinets

Asphyxiating - Oxygen Deficiency
Less than 19.5%, or greater than 23.5% oxygen concentration

CO2
CO2 is toxic in higher concentrations:

• 1% (10,000 ppm) will make some people feel drowsy.
• Concentrations of 7% to 10% cause dizziness, headache, visual and hearing dysfunction, and unconsciousness within a few minutes to an hour.

Toxic Materials

• Carbon Monoxide
• Hydrogen Sulphide
• Welding fumes
• Corrosives

Mechanical Hazards

• Mixers
• Crushers

Engulfment

• Soil around an excavation
• Liquid in a tank
• Powdered material in a bin

Flammable -Combustibles

• Methane
• Hydrogen
• Acetylene
• Propane
• Gasoline fumes

Oxygen Deficiency

Oxygen could be removed from the air in a confined space by:

• Material in the space could displace the oxygen
• Rusting could create a chemical reaction that uses up the oxygen
• The space could be purged with a gas to prevent explosions.

Entry into a Confined space:

• The act by which a person intentionally passes through an opening into a confined space.
• Any part of the body passing through the opening is considered entry.

IMMEDIATELY DANGEROUS TO LIFE OR HEALTH

• Any condition which poses an immediate threat to the health of life on an entrant, or
• 
  Would cause irreversible adverse health effects, or
• 
  Would interfere with an individual’s ability to escape unaided from a permit space.

• The employee who will physically enter the confined space to perform the work.

The employee who remains outside the confined space and;

• monitors the entrant(s)
• guards the space against unauthorized entry
• warns the entrants of any unusual conditions, and
• summons the rescue personnel if needed.

• The employee responsible for coordinating the entry into the confined space.
• The “Supervisor” does not necessarily mean “management”. The supervisor can refer to anyone acting as the supervisor for the entry, whether Hourly or Management depending on company specific terminology.

Permit-required confined space entry

• For hazardous or potentially hazardous confined space work

Non-permit confined space entry

• For non-hazardous confined space work

• An entry permit form must be filled out before entry into a permit-required confined space is allowed.
• Only authorized entrants are allowed to complete the entry permit.
• The entry permit must be posted on or near the confined space for which the entry is being performed.
• The authorized entrants within the permit space
  • According to 1910.146(f)(4): “The authorized entrants within the permit space, by name or by such other means (for example, through the use of rosters or tracking systems) as will enable the attendant to determine quickly and accurately, for the duration of the permit, which authorized entrants are inside the permit space; NOTE: This requirement may be met by inserting a reference on the entry permit as to the means used, such as a roster or tracking system, to keep track of the authorized entrants within the permit space.”
• The personnel, by name, currently serving as attendants
• The individual, by name, currently serving as entry supervisor, with a space for the signature or initials of the entry supervisor who originally authorized the entry;
• The hazards of the permit space to be entered;
• The measures used to isolate the permit space and to eliminate or control permit space hazards before entry;
• The acceptable entry conditions;
• The results of initial periodic tests performed;
• The rescue & emergency services that can be summoned and the means for summoning those services;
• The communication procedures used by authorized entrants & attendants to maintain contact during the entry;
• Equipment, such as personal protective equipment, testing equipment, communications equipment, alarm systems, and rescue equipment to be provided;
• Any other information whose inclusion is necessary, given the circumstances of the particular confined space, in order to ensure employee safety; and any additional permits, such as, for hot work, that have been issued to authorize work in the permit space.
• When work is completed, the permit form should be returned to the safety department or department responsible for maintaining the completed and closed permits.
• Canceled permits must be kept on file for at least one year.

• Emergency rescue teams must be available while authorized entrants are in the confined space.
• Deaths often occur during rescue. Employees attempt to rescue an entrant without the proper training and then get caught themselves in the confined space.
• Only trained employees or designated resources such as Fire Departments are authorized to conduct confined space rescues.

• One of the most important components of PPE in a confined space is a respirator.
• Hearing protection may be required depending on the type of work being performed.
• Other PPE that may be required are:
  
  • Safety Harnesses
  • Ropes and or cables for retrieval in case of emergencies.
• One of the most important components of PPE in a confined space is a respirator.
• Hearing protection may be required depending on the type of work being performed.
• Other PPE that may be required are:
  
  • Safety Harnesses
  • Ropes and or cables for retrieval in case of emergencies.
• Other forms of PPE can include:
  
  • Hard hats
  • Safety glasses
  • Clothing that protects the torso against chemicals, fires and other hazards
  • Gloves & safety shoes that protect the hands and feet from various hazards.

• The employer is to mark confined spaces that are permit-required. They must identify the hazards of the space and post a permit before allowing authorized employees to enter. Employers posts permits near the entrance of each confined space displaying the necessary information.
• Only Trained and Authorized Entrants are to enter a confined space.
• Emergency rescues should only be made by trained personnel or rescue services.
• Always report any concerns you may have regarding confined spaces.

Choose from the following options for the correct test answers:

• Asphyxiated
• Engulfing
• Oxygen
• Trenches
• 23.5%
• Life
• Permit
• Atmosphere
• One Year
• Opening