Many workplaces contain confined spaces that can present real more potential dangers to

employees who must enter the space for work purposes. this program will assist employers and
employees in understanding the requirements for practices and procedures to protect
employees in general industry from the hazards of entry into permit required confined spaces .
The overview of this instructional video will cover:
1-what is a confined space
2- Hazards up a confined space
3- Training
4- Permit required confined space program
5-emergency rescue
6-and personal protective equipment PPE
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1-what is a confined space.

OSHA's standard 1910 doc 146 permit required confined spaces .defines a confined space as an
area large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned
work as limited or restricted means for entry or exit. and is not designed for continuous
employee occupancy.
a confined space is not limited to small areas such as manholes and ditches. but includes larger
areas such as tanks vessels and silos . working within a confined space requires a permit if the
area has the potential as being a serious safety or health hazard. It is the employer's
responsibility to evaluate workspaces to determine if it is a permit required confined space

PRCs. if a confined spaces designated as PRCs that it is up to the employer to inform its
employees by posting danger signs or by other equally effective means of notification.
The employer must also take steps in preventing its employees from entering the space and
pillow written permit space program is produced .the permit program must be available at the
time of entry to all authorized entrance or their authorized representatives .by posting it at the
entry portal or by any other effective means. The entrance can therefore confirm that pre-entry
preparations have been completed.
Before an employer can enter a permit space the internal atmosphere must be tested with an
instrument to detect :

oxygen content
flammable gases and vapors
And potential toxic air contaminants.

Employers are also required to define:

1-hazards in permits faces
2-have confined space entry protocol and a written permit program
3- Train and equip employees to complete tasks in particular permits faces
4-only allow authorized entrance into the permit space
5-and appoint employees attendance to monitor permit spaces and enforce entry rules
An attendant is an individual station outside one or more permits bases whose job it is to
monitor authorized entrance as well as perform all attended duties assign in the employer's
permit space program.

2- Hazards up a confined space

Confined spaces can possess many hazards. Permit required confined space means a confined
space has one or more of the following characteristics:

1-hazardous atmosphere.
2-engulfing potential.
3-trapping or asphyxiation configuration.
4-other recognized serious safety hazards.
The atmosphere above confined space can be hazardous. The atmosphere can prevent escape
without help can cause illness or even death.
There are three types of hazardous atmospheres
1-oxygen deficient.
2-flammable.
3-and toxic.
Oxygen deficiency is the atmosphere having less than normal percentage of oxygen found in
normal air .oxygen is safe when it is between 19.5% and 23.5% percent. When a level of
oxygen falls to 16 % judgment and coordination suffer and difficulty breathing and drowsiness
occur. At 12 % a person becomes unconscious. And death occurs at 6 %
The level of oxygen can fall if the space contains:

iron which uses oxygen to form rust

Methane which pushes oxygen out of an area
and carbon dioxide which absorbs oxygen

Never enter a confined space unless the oxygen in that space is sufficient. If entrance into an
oxygen deficient space is required where are supplied air respirator to provide fresh air.
Confined spaces make often contain gases vapors missed or dust that are flammable .the risks
of a fire may not be obvious and only testing can show it contains traces a flammable
substances.
Substances in the air can be ignited by:

smoking
grinding or welding
unapproved electrical equipment

any kind of metal friction

Inhalation of the atmosphere can be toxic. If a substance exceeds its permissible exposure limit
it could cause illness or death. Inhaling just a little of some substances can cause irritation to
the respiratory or nervous system.
Such toxins include carbon monoxide which replaces the oxygen in the blood and can cause
death.
Hydrogen sulfide can cut off of breathing, it can be easily detected by its rotten egg smell.
And sulfur dioxide is very poisonous even in small amounts.
Dizziness drowsiness nausea or headaches are good signs that a confined space should
be evacuated immediately.
Another hazard a confined space may have is the potential for involvement. This happens
when an employee is trapped very or smothered by liquid or flowing solids such as grain for
sale. even if the material doesn't cover the head the pressure on the chest can be enough to
prevent breathing or damage internal organs. Some confined spaces have been entrapping
design, employees can be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor
which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross-section.
Confined spaces may also contain physical hazards such as:

moving machinery parts

buildup of heat
falls from entry or exit ladders
noise from machinery
and electrocution from live wires

3- Training
Employee training is very important part of safety in confined spaces .it is up to each
employer to maintain a safe working environment. When each employer's permit required

confined space safety program must ensure that all authorized entrance know the
hazards of the confined space they're about to enter. Use proper equipment,
communicate with the attendant as necessary and alert them whenever a potential
dangerous situation or prohibited condition arises. And exit from the permit space as
quickly as possible when required.
OSHA requires employers to provide training:

before assigning duties to employees pertaining to permit spaces

before changing employee's duties
when the procedures change for the permit space
when it is evident that an employee needs additional training

Authorized entrance attendance and entry supervisors should fully understand:

the signs ,symptoms and the resulting dangers and hazards in the confined space
procedures for entry into permit spaces
How to communicate with each other during occupancy a permit space as well as rescue

procedures.
how to be safe in a confined space

4- Permit required confined space program

OSHA requires a written entry permit program be developed and implemented by the company
before entering a permit required confined space .the program should be available for
inspection by employees and their authorized representatives. Employers must implement
necessary measures to prevent unauthorized entry, identify and evaluate hazards of the permit
space. Development implement procedures and practices necessary for safe permits based
entry operations including but not limited to:

specifying acceptable entry conditions

provide opportunity to observe any monitoring for testing a permit spaces to authorized

entrance
isolate the permit space

eliminate or control atmospheric hazards

provide barriers as necessary to protect the entrance from external hazards
And verify that conditions in the permit space are acceptable for entry throughout the
duration of an unauthorized entry.

Employers must provide and maintain all equipment for safe entry into and rescue from permit
spaces. All employees must be trained in the proper use of all the following equipment. Testing
and monitoring equipment needed to comply with the OSHA standard .ventilating equipment to
obtain acceptable entry condition communications equipment, PPE. Lighting equipment to see
well enough to work safely and to exit the space quickly in the event of an emergency.
Equipment needed to enter and exit space. Rescue and emergency equipment .and any other
equipment needed for safe entry into and rescue from permits spaces.
Additionally employers should test the conditions in the permit space to determine if acceptable
entry conditions exist before entry is authorized to begin. Test or monitor the permits as
necessary to determine if acceptable entry conditions are being maintained during the course
of operations.
When testing for atmospheric hazards:

test first for oxygen

then combustible gases and vapors
followed by toxic gases and vapors

Employers must provide authorized entrant the opportunity to observe the pre-entry and
subsequent testing or monitoring a permit spaces. Employers must also reevaluate the permit
space in present any authorized entrant who requests reevaluation. this is done because the
entrant has reason to believe that the evaluation of that space may not have been adequate .
Employers should immediately provide each authorized entrance with the result that any
testing conducted in accordance to the OSHA standard. Employers need to provide at least one
attendant outside the permit space into which entry is authorized for the duration of the entry
operations.

if attendant is monitoring more than one space employers must include in the permit, the
means and procedures to enable the attendant to respond to an emergency affecting one or
more of the monitored spaces.
the company needs to designate persons who have active roles in entry operations the duties
for each of these employees must be identified and training must be provided .they must also
develop and implement procedures for summoning rescue and emergency services.
The employer must develop and implement systems for the:

Preparation
issuance
and use in cancellation an entry permits

Review entry operations when the employer has reason to believe that the measures taken
under the permit space program may not protect employees. Revise the program to correct
deficiencies found to exist before subsequent entries are authorized. And finally permits must
be kept on file and used to review the program within one year the permit entry and revise the
program as necessary to ensure that employees participating in entry operations are protected
from permit space hazards. Employers may perform a single annual review covering all entries
perform during a 12-month period. Employers must post an entry permit at the entrance to
permit required confined space. It is important for the authorized entrant attendant and entry
supervisor to read the permit before working in or around the space.
The permit must contain:

the space to be entered and the purpose

permit date and length of time the permit is valid
the name of the authorized entrant
the personnel serving as attendant and entry supervisor
the hazards of the permit space
the methods used to isolate eliminate or control the hazards of the permit space
the acceptable entry conditions
results of initial and periodic test performed
the rescue services they can be contacted and the means for contacting those services

the methods to maintain communication between the authorized entrant and the

attendant
equipment needed to perform the tasks such as PPE testing equipment communication

equipment or rescue gear

any other information that is necessary for the circumstances of the confined space
and any additional permits required to perform work in the space such as welding

Authorized entrance should:

know the hazards that are present in the workspace

properly use equipment
communicate with the attendant in case have exposure to hazards
alert the attendant when any warning signs of a dangerous situation or prohibited
conditions are recognized

Exit from the permit space when:

1-the attendant orders an evacuation of the confined space
2- Any warning signs have a hazard are recognized
3-a prohibited condition is discovered
4- And the evacuation alarm is activated
OSHA requires the employer to train all attendance that will be watching over a confined
space.
Employers should ensure attendance:

know the hazards of the confined space and the behavioral effects have those hazards
know how many authorized entrants are in a confined space and be able to identify each

one
never leave the entrance to the confined space while authorized entrance are inside
monitor and maintain communication with the entrance about the hazards that could be

presented inside and outside the space

contact rescue services as soon as they determine that the Authorized entrant needs

assistance with escaping

warn unauthorized persons to stay clear from the confined space and advise authorized
entrance and entry supervisor if unauthorized person has entered the permit space

be able to perform non-entry rescues

and do not perform any additional duties that could interfere with the primary duty to
monitor and protect the authorized entrant or for entrance
There must be an entry supervisor for each permit required confined space .the entry

supervisor can monitor more than one space at a time.

The duties of an entry supervisor include:

knowing the hazards have the confined space including the mod symptoms and

consequences have each hazard

verifying the proper entries have been Made as well as all the proper tests have been

performed and all procedures and equipment required are in place and ready to use
terminating the entry and canceling the permit
removing unauthorized individuals who enter or attempt to enter the restricted space
and determining that entry operations remain consistent with terms have the entry
permit and that the acceptable entry conditions: are maintained

5-emergency rescue
Employee safety is a major concern during confined space entry .emergency rescue teams
must be available while authorized are in confined space.
The Rescue Service is to:

close off the area

get authorized entrance out of the space
and perform first aid when needed

death often occur during rescue situations many times employees attempt to rescue an entrant
without the proper training and then get cop themselves in the confined space. it is best to use
a retrieval system outside the stage to bring the employees out of the space .authorized
entrants should wear a harnesses connected to the retrieval line .the retrieval equipment must
be in place before employees enter the permit space.

6-and personal protective equipment PPE

One of the most important component PPE in a confined space is respirator. The air purifying
respirator doesn't deliver fresh air but purifies the inhaled air from toxic gases and vapors.
Supplied air respirators provide air in areas that may have too little oxygen for the brain to
function properly.
It is important to fit death each piece of PPE. If a respirator is to lose or tied it may allow toxins
to be inhaled. A good fit feel secure around the chin and doesn't pinch the nose .it shouldn't slip
and should allow your head to move in all directions.
Respirators need to be inspected before each use to make sure that there are no:

cracks
holes
signs of wear
or loose connection

Respirator should be cleaned after each use .if a respirator is not cleaned or stored properly it
may not be fit to protect the next where.
Other forms of PPE include:

hard hats
safety glasses
Gloves
safety shoes
and clothing that protects the torso against chemicals fires and other hazards

Review

The employer must identify confined spaces that are permit required. They must identify the
hazards at this pace and post a permit before allowing authorized employees to enter. Permits
need to be posted near the entrance to the each confined space displaying the necessary
information .authorized entrance should remember safety training and read the permit before
entering the states. Use proper PPE and be alert to potential hazards. Authorized entrance

should immediately leave the space if the endangered or here in evacuation alarm. Attendance
must understand the dangers in and around the confined space as well as stay in contact with
the authorized entrant and be prepared to order an evacuation and call the rescue team. The
entry supervisor needs to ensure that the confined space operations conform to the permit .the
should remove unauthorized personnel from the area and keep them from entering the
space .make sure each hazard is identified and control before entering a confined space. And
emergency rescues should only be made by trained personnel or Rescue Service. A proper
confined space procedure can save lives and prevent injuries if procedures are followed
correctly .never take shortcuts when it comes to the safety of yourself and others