Permit-Required Confined Spaces
29 CFR 1910.146
Why Comply????
 Confined space entry is a leading cause
of occupational fatalities in this country.
Statistics
 Standard covers 240,000 workplaces
and 12.2 million workers
 Workers make 4.8 million entries/year
 Standard may prevent 85% of fatalities
and nearly 11,000 injuries
Definition of a Confined Space
 Limited means
of egress
 Can be bodily
entered
 Not designed
for continuous
occupancy
Definition of Permit-Required
Confined Spaces
 Contains or has potential to contain a
hazardous atmosphere
 Contains the potential for engulfment
 Internal configuration that can trap or
asphyxiate entrant
 Any other serious safety or health hazards
Typical Permit-Required Spaces
 Chemical
storage tanks
 Waste or storage pits
 Grain bins
 Underground tunnels
 Railroad cars
under construction
Typical
Non-Permit-Required Spaces
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Utility closets
Below-grade trenches
Storage vaults
Utility subbasements
Potential Confined
Space Hazards
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Engulfment
Oxygen deficiency (19.5% or less)
Oxygen enrichment (23.5% or higher)
Flammable gases or vapors
Combustible dusts
Toxic substances
IDLH atmospheres
Physical hazards
Atmospheric Testing
 Hazards must be tested in this order:
– Oxygen content
– Combustibility/flammability
– Toxic atmospheres
 Entrants must be allowed to observe monitoring
Reasons for Space Ventilation
 Maintain oxygen levels above 19.5%
 Maintain toxic gases and vapors
at acceptable levels
Types of Personal
Protective Equipment
 Harnesses
 Retrieval lines
 Chemical protective
clothing
 Welding apron/sleeves
 Respirators
 Gloves
 Safety glasses
Safety Department
Responsibilities
 Formulate and manage the confined
spaces program
 Maintain a space inventory
 Maintain a list of “Authorized Personnel”
 Maintain copies of space permits
 Direct the confined space training program
 Maintain rescue equipment
 Coordinate contractor activities
Supervisor Responsibilities
 Conduct a pre-entry briefing
 Ensure that personnel are evacuated
when necessary
 Ensure that permits are complete and
removed when work is finished
 Ensure that all necessary equipment
is returned to its proper location
 Oversee all necessary confined
space activities
Attendant Responsibilities
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Attend pre-entry briefing
Know the hazards of the space
Control access to the space
Maintain communication with entrants
Not to enter the space for rescue
Summon emergency services
Assist rescue efforts from outside the space
Attendant Responsibilities (cont.)
 Remain at the site while
entrants are inside
 Order a space evacuation
when conditions warrant
such an action
 Maintain an accurate
count of the number of
entrants
Entrant Responsibilities
 Attend the pre-entry briefing
 Know the hazards of the space
 Use appropriate equipment properly
Exit the space if:
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An alarm is activated
Communication is lost
Unknown exposures are encountered
Ordered to do so
Authorized Person
Responsibilities
 Familiarize themselves with characteristics
of spaces
 Verify that all hazards and sources of energy
have been controlled in the space
 Ensure that confined space permit is posted
 Rescind any permit for noncompliance with
permit requirements
Rescuer Responsibilities
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Understand the hazards of the space
Be certified in emergency first aid and CPR
Understand appropriate entry procedures
Know how to use rescue equipment
Practice confined space rescues at least annually
Quiz
1. A confined space is defined as having limited egress,
can be bodily entered, and is not designed for
______________________ and _____________________.
2. All confined spaces must be permit-required. True or False
3. The three hazards that must be tested for in a confined
space are __________ __________, combustibility and
flammability, and toxic atmospheres.
4. Since entrants will view the hazards while
in the space, it is not necessary that they
know or review the hazards prior to entry. True or False
5. If a chemical storage tank is empty, it would
not be considered a confined space.
True or False
Quiz (cont.)
6. Two examples of typical non-permit-required confined
spaces are ________________ and ________________.
7. Confined space entry is a leading cause of
occupational fatalities in the United States. True or False
8. Annual __________ drills are required by the OSHA
Confined Space Standard.
9. An attendant should be available to be the first
person into the space to conduct a rescue. True or False
10. An entrant should exit a confined space if ordered
to do so, unknown exposures are encountered,
communication is lost, or _______________________.
Quiz Answers
1. A confined space is defined as having limited
egress, can be bodily entered, and is not designed
for continuous occupancy.
2. False. Some confined spaces may be classified
as non-permit-required.
3. The three hazards that must be tested for in a confined
space are oxygen content, combustibility and flammability,
and toxic atmospheres.
4. False. Entrants must be familiar with all hazards prior
to entering a confined space.
5. False. Just because it is empty does not preclude its
being defined as a confined space.
Quiz Answers (cont.)
6. Examples of typical non-permit-required confined
spaces are utility closets, below-grade trenches,
storage vaults, and utility subbasements.
7. True. Confined space entry is routinely one of the
leading causes of occupational fatalities.
8. Annual emergency drills are required by the OSHA
Confined Space Standard.
9. False. An attendant should never enter a confined
space to rescue unless someone else is available to fill
the duties as attendant.
10. An entrant should exit a confined space if ordered to do
so, unknown exposures are encountered, communication
is lost, or an alarm is sounded.