CONFINED SPACE ENTRY

Confined Space Definition
  1. Has adequate size and configuration for employee entry,
  2. Has limited means for access or egress, and
  3. Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.
Permit-Required Confined Space Definition
Permit space means a confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics (OSHA, 1993):
  1. Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere,
  2. Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant,
  3. Has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor that slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross section,
    or
  4. Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.

Entry Definition
Entry means the action by which a person passes through an opening to a permit-required confined space. Entry includes ensuing work activities in that space and is considered to have occurred as soon as any part of the entrant's body breaks the plane of an opening to the space.

The first step for managers regarding confined spaces is to identify all permit-required confined spaces under their jurisdiction according to the above definitions.

Contents
Section
Introduction
    Confined Space Definition
    Permit-Required Confined Space Definition
Entry Definition
The Extent of the Problem
Elements of a Confined Space Entry Problem
    Policy
    Assignment of On-Site Personnel
    Training
    Safety Equipment
Confined Space Entry Checklist
    Preentry Procedures
    Removing Access Covers
    Testing Workplace Atmosphere
    Isolation/Lockout/Tagout
    Ventilation
    Set-up Equipment
    Monitoring Workplace Atmosphere
    Entering a Confined Space
    Confined Space Evacuation Criteria
    Non-Direct-Sight Entries
Summary
    Review
    Guidelines
Collection Systems
    Types of Hazards
    Types of Confined Space Structures
    Establishment of Policy and Procedures
    Basic Equipment
    Sample Procedures		 Page
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Appendix A National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Case Studies 69
Appendix B Occupational Safety and Health Administration Sewer Entry Permit and Confined Space Entry Permit (Pre-entry/Entry Checklist) 105
Appendix C Sample Procedures for Collection Systems 111

Confined Spaces are those locations not intended for human occupancy and that represent certain hazards of toxic and flammable gases, asphyxiation, and entrapment. Improper entry into confined spaces still represents a significant danger in industry.

I had the opportunity to participate with a team of other engineers and facility operators to coauthor a Special Publication on Confined Space Entry earlier this year. Above is some descriptive material about that publication.

If you or your clients are involved in confined space entry, I suggest you consider this publication for your library.

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