When Are Confined Space Permits Required?
You already know confined spaces are potentially dangerous work zones – shouldn’t they all have permit required tags, then?
Many workplaces contain small spaces that are otherwise unsafe and considered “confined” because they obstruct the activities of employees. By design confined spaces have limited openings for entry and exit and are not intended for continuous worker occupancy.
Workers in confined spaces are presented with serious physical hazards such as entrapment, engulfment, and hazardous atmospheric conditions. When the percentage of oxygen in the air decreases, other health symptoms can occur, such as rapid fatigue, nausea, and unconsciousness. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), when the oxygen level becomes less than six percent (6%), death will occur in minutes.
Not all confined spaces are created equally. In order to further protect all general industry workers, including those in telecommunications and manufacturing, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has classified confined spaces as either “permit-required confined spaces” or “confined space.”
What’s the difference between a confined space and a permit-required confined space?
Per OSHA, a confined space has these features:
- Is large enough for an employee to enter fully and perform assigned work
- Is not designed for continuous occupancy by the employee.
- Has a limited or restricted means of entry or exit.
Confined spaces include underground vaults, tanks, storage bins, pits and diked areas, vessels, silos, and other similar areas.
A confined space (a non-required permit confined space) doesn’t contain atmospheric hazards or have the potential to contain any hazard capable of causing death or serious physical harm.
OSHA defines a permit-required confined space as having one or more of these characteristics:
- Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere.
- Contains a material with the potential to engulf someone who enters the space.
- Has or could have inwardly converging walls that could trap or asphyxiate an entrant.
- Contains or could contain other serious physical hazards such as unguarded machines or exposed live wires.
- Has or could have any other recognized safety or health hazards.
Per OSHA, it’s the responsibility of the employer to evaluate their workplace to determine if the space requires a permit. If the work environment is classified as a permit space, the employer will need to inform employees of the location and the hazards they pose.
If the work area is a permit-required space, employers can post confined space danger signs to alert others of hazards.
A permit-required confined space requires a written program (permit space program) so the employer can control and protect employees from hazards associated with the area. The written program will need to be available for inspection by employees and authorized representatives. Prior to entry, employees are required to have permit space training and can’t enter into the space without a permit.
Confined space entry permits must verify that pre-entry preparations are outlined, signed by the entry supervisor, and posted at all entrances before entering into a permit space. OSHA requires confined space entry permits to include:
- Name of permit space to be entered, authorized entrants, eligible attendants and individuals authorized to be entry supervisors
- Test results
- Initials or signature of tester
- Name and signature of authorizing supervisor
- Purpose of entry and known space hazards
- Measures to be taken to isolate permit spaces and to eliminate or control space hazards
- Name and telephone numbers of rescue and emergency services and means to be used to contact them
- Date and authorized duration of entry
- Acceptable entry conditions
- Communication procedures and equipment to maintain contact during entry
- Additional permits, such as for hot work, that have been issued authorizing work in the permit space
- Special equipment and procedures, including personal protective equipment and alarm systems
- Any other information to ensure employee safety.
Many general industry workers go into confined spaces daily and although all spaces aren’t created equal, following OSHA specifications will keep you safe and informed of hazards in your work area.