Confined spaces are found across construction sites, manufacturing facilities, utilities, warehouses, maritime operations, and many other workplaces. While these areas may look routine, entering a confined space without the proper procedures, training, and equipment can expose workers to serious, and potentially life-threatening, hazards.
Understanding confined space safety and the applicable OSHA confined space requirements is an important part of protecting employees and maintaining a compliant workplace.
What Is Considered a Confined Space?
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a confined space is an area that is large enough for a worker to enter and perform work, has limited or restricted means of entry or exit, and is not designed for continuous occupancy.
Common examples can include:
- Tanks and vessels
- Silos and storage bins
- Vaults and pits
- Manholes
- Tunnels
- Pipelines and ductwork
- Equipment housings
Not every confined space presents the same level of risk. OSHA also identifies permit-required confined spaces, often called permit spaces, which contain or have the potential to contain additional serious hazards.
Employers should evaluate their facilities and jobsites to determine where confined spaces exist and whether those spaces meet OSHA’s requirements for a permit-required confined space.
What Makes a Confined Space Permit-Required?
A confined space may be classified as permit-required when it presents hazards such as a dangerous atmosphere, engulfment, an internal configuration that could trap or asphyxiate a worker, or another recognized serious safety or health hazard.
Atmospheric conditions are particularly important. Oxygen deficiency, toxic gases, combustible vapors, or other airborne hazards may not always be detectable without proper testing equipment.
OSHA’s confined spaces guidance provides additional information for employers and workers on identifying these environments and understanding applicable requirements.
Five Key Elements of Confined Space Safety
An effective confined space program goes beyond putting a warning sign near an entrance. Employers should establish procedures that address the hazards workers could encounter before, during, and after entry.
1. Identify and Evaluate Confined Spaces
Start by identifying potential confined spaces throughout your facility or jobsite. Each space should be evaluated for atmospheric, mechanical, electrical, engulfment, configuration, and other hazards.
A broader workplace safety assessment can also help organizations identify gaps that may otherwise go unnoticed.
2. Establish Entry Procedures
When workers must enter a permit-required confined space, employers need appropriate entry procedures. Depending on the situation, these may address entry authorization, hazard isolation, atmospheric testing, ventilation, communication, PPE, and other protective measures.
Procedures should be specific to the actual hazards employees may encounter rather than treated as a simple paperwork exercise.
3. Test and Monitor the Atmosphere
Atmospheric conditions inside a confined space can change quickly. OSHA emphasizes testing and monitoring where atmospheric hazards exist or could develop.
Employers should make sure workers understand how monitoring equipment is used, what acceptable entry conditions are, and what actions to take when conditions change.
4. Prepare for Emergencies
A confined space emergency is not the time to determine how a rescue will work.
Employers should establish appropriate rescue and emergency procedures before entry begins. Workers involved in an entry should understand their responsibilities, communication procedures, and what to do if conditions become unsafe.
5. Train Employees for Their Roles
Workers cannot be expected to recognize and respond to confined space hazards without proper training.
Training should address the hazards associated with the work and the responsibilities of employees involved in confined space operations. Depending on the entry, that may include authorized entrants, attendants, entry supervisors, and rescue personnel.
United Safety Professionals offers workplace safety training across a wide range of industries and can provide in-person group safety training for organizations that need training tailored to their workforce and operations.
Don’t Wait for an Incident to Review Your Program
Confined space safety requires planning before anyone crosses the entrance.
Employers should periodically review their confined space procedures, training, hazard assessments, equipment, and emergency response plans, especially when operations, equipment, or work environments change.
United Safety Professionals provides safety consulting, training, assessments, and experienced safety staffing professionals to help organizations identify hazards and strengthen workplace safety programs.
If you’re unsure whether your confined space procedures meet current requirements or whether your employees have the appropriate training, contact United Safety Professionals to discuss your operation and safety needs.
Confined Space Safety FAQs
What is a permit-required confined space?
It is a confined space that has additional serious hazards, such as a hazardous atmosphere, engulfment risk, potentially trapping configuration, or another recognized serious safety or health hazard.
Does OSHA regulate confined space entry?
Yes. OSHA has confined space requirements covering general industry and separate requirements applicable to construction, with additional standards relevant to industries such as maritime.
Do employees need confined space training?
Employees involved in permit-required confined space operations must receive training appropriate to their assigned duties and the hazards they may encounter.
How can an employer improve confined space safety?
Start by identifying confined spaces, evaluating their hazards, establishing appropriate entry and emergency procedures, providing necessary equipment, and making sure affected employees are properly trained.