Permit Required Confined Spaces

QUICK
CARDTM
Protect Yourself
Permit-Required
Confined Spaces
A confined space has limited openings for entry or
exit, is large enough for entering and working, and is
not designed for continuous worker occupancy.
Confined spaces include underground vaults, tanks,
storage bins, manholes, pits, silos, underground utility
vaults and pipelines.
Permit-required confined spaces are confined spaces that:
• May contain a hazardous or potentially hazardous
atmosphere.
• May contain a material which can engulf an entrant.
• May contain walls that converge inward or floors that
slope downward and taper into a smaller area which
could trap or asphyxiate an entrant.
• May contain other serious physical hazards such as
unguarded machines or exposed live wires.
• Must be identified by the employer who must inform
exposed employees of the existence and location of
such spaces and their hazards.
What to Do
• Do not enter permit-required confined spaces without
being trained and without having a permit to enter.
• Review, understand and follow employer’s proce-
dures before entering permit-required confined
spaces and know how and when to exit.
• Before entry, identify any physical hazards.
• Before and during entry, test and monitor for oxygen
content, flammability, toxicity or explosive hazards as
necessary.
• Use employer’s fall protection, rescue, air monitoring,
ventilation, lighting and communication equipment
according to entry procedures.
• Maintain contact at all times with a trained attendant
either visually, via phone, or by two-way radio. This
monitoring system enables the attendant and entry
supervisor to order you to evacuate and to alert appro-
priately trained rescue personnel to rescue entrants
when needed.
For more complete information:
Occupational
N-05
0
Safety and Health
4-1
Administration
U.S. Department of Labor
www.osha.gov (800) 321-OSHA
OSHA 321