Overview
A confined space is an area with limited or restricted means of entry or exit, is large enough for an employee to enter and perform assigned work, and is not designed for continuous occupancy. Confined spaces are found in many workplaces. Such spaces may include, but are not limited to, underground vaults, tanks, storage bins, pits, dikes, vessels, silos and elevator shafts.
In addition, when a confined space has ANY of the following characteristics, it is considered a permit-required confined space (PRCS):
- It contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere.
- It contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant.
- It has an internal configuration that might cause an entrant to be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor that slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross section.
- It contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazards.
Many workplaces contain spaces that are considered to be “confined” because their configurations hinder the activities of any employees who must enter into, work in and exit from them. In many instances, employees who work in confined spaces also face increased risk of exposure to serious physical injury.
Safe Work Practices
Only employees that have been trained on all confined space entry procedures should enter or be actively involved in a confined space entry.
Inspect all equipment to be used in a confined space entry and ensure proper working order.
For permit-required confined spaces, only enter if you have a written permit.
Ensure understanding of all procedures before entering permit-required confined spaces including when and how to exit.
All physical hazards should be identified prior to entry.
Testing and monitoring for oxygen content, flammability, and other hazards should be conducted prior to entry and during entry as deemed necessary.
Ensure the use of a monitoring system that requires contact at all times with the entry attendant visually, via phone, or two-way radio.
- Always stay focused on your assigned task but alert to your surroundings.