Confined spaces are responsible for an average of 50 worker deaths a year in the United States alone. According to OSHA, approximately 65% of all confined space worker fatalities are due to hazardous atmospheres (3/4 of which were not hazardous before entry). Of those deaths, 60% were would-be rescuers.
Permit-required confined spaces represent a significant safety and health hazard to workers throughout the country. In too many cases, lack of training and understanding result in serious injury or loss of life. That’s why OSHA’s Confined Space standards for General Industry (29 CFR 1910.146) and Construction (29 CFR 1926, Subpart AA) require proper training of all employees affected by confined spaces. Under the standard, employers are required to identify confined spaces and implement a permit-required confined space program.
Many workplaces contain spaces that are considered to be confined due to their configuration. Often, a confined space can hinder the activities of an employee who must enter to perform work. Employees working in confined spaces often face exposure to serious injury by entrapment, engulfment, and hazardous atmospheric conditions.
Permit Vs. Non-Permit Required Confined Space
By definition, a confined space is large enough for an employee to enter and perform work, is not designed for continuous occupancy, and is considered to have limited or restricted means of entry or exit. Examples of confined spaces include tanks, silos, vessels, underground vaults, storage bins, and diked areas.
A permit-required confined space meets the definition of a confined space and also has (or has the potential to) contain a hazardous atmosphere, contains a material that has the potential to engulf the entrant, has an internal configuration that could cause the entrant to become trapped or asphyxiated, or contains any other recognized safety or health hazards.
Employee Requirements for OSHA’s Confined Space Standard
Employers are required to evaluate the workplace to determine if spaces are permit-required confined spaces. If an employer identifies permit-required spaces, they must inform employees of the existence, location, and dangers imposed by the spaces. If employees are required to enter these spaces, they must develop a written permit space program which includes the following:
- Evaluation of all permit-required confined spaces prior to allowing entry
- Testing of conditions in the permit space before entry
- Monitoring of conditions in the permit space during entry
- Evaluation of oxygen, combustible gases/vapors, and toxic gases/vapors levels
- Prevention of unauthorized entry to permit spaces
- Implementation of procedures for identifying acceptable entry conditions, isolating permit spaces, and verifying acceptable entry conditions
- Identification of employee duties for specific roles
- Provision and maintenance of PPE for safe entry and testing
- Implementation of appropriate procedures for emergency rescue
Confined Space Training
Karl Environmental Group has over 25 years experience in environmental and health and safety consulting in greater Philadelphia, Allentown, Reading, King of Prussia, eastern Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Our 1 day Confined Space training course provides a review of the OSHA standards to enable participants to understand and recognize the hazards associated with permit-required confined spaces. Upon completion, participants will be able to recognize permit-required and non-permit-required confined spaces, have an understanding of instrumentation used to evaluate atmospheric hazards, be aware of different methods of ventilation, understand signage requirements, and know the permitting process.
Course topics include:
- Overview of OSHA Confined Space Standards
- Hazards associated with Confined Spaces and work in Confined Spaces
- Identification of permit-required vs. non-permit-required Confined Spaces
- Signage requirements
- Requirements for Confined Space Programs
- Entry permit process
- Emergency and rescue service requirements
- Atmospheric hazard testing and monitoring
- Ventilation methods
- Duties of entrants, attendants, and entry supervisors
Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a course completion certificate.
How to Book
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