Confined Spaces

August 2025

Click to edit Master title style

1

Training

• Employee proficiency in safe performance of entry duties
• Upon initial assignment
• Change in assigned duties or a change in permit space conditions
• Inadequacies in the employee's knowledge or use of confined space entry procedures

Click to edit Master title style

2

Training Outline

• Introduction
• General Requirements
• Equipment Requirements
• The Entry Permit
• Duties of Authorized Entrants, Attendants and Entry Supervisor
• Rescue and Emergency Services
• Contractors
• Safe Entry Procedures

Click to edit Master title style

3

Introduction

• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146: Permit-Required Confined Spaces
• Ensure that employees can safely enter and work in permit-required spaces

Click to edit Master title style

4

What defines a Confined Space?�

A confined space:

• Is large enough that an employee can enter and work
• Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit
• Is not designed for continuous occupancy

Click to edit Master title style

5

What defines a Confined Space?�

Click to edit Master title style

6

Types of Confined Spaces

Examples of confined spaces include:

• Tanks
• Pits
• Tunnels
• Vaults
• Boilers
• Sewers
• Shafts
• Ventilation ducts
• Crawl spaces

Click to edit Master title style

7

Permit Required Confined Space

A permit-required confined space:

• Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere
• Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant
• Internal configuration that might trap or asphyxiate entrant by inwardly converging walls or floor that slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross section
• Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard

Click to edit Master title style

8

Confined Space Entry

• "Entry" – passing through an opening into a confined space
• Any part of the entrant's body breaks the plane of the opening
• When any part of the body passes through the plane (as simple as reaching a hand in to pass an entrant a tool)

​

Click to edit Master title style

9

General Requirements

• Identify task and work to be performed – does it involve entry into a confined space?
• Identify and evaluate the hazards of the permit spaces before employees enter
• Appendix A of CS Policy contains list of spaces, hazards, controls (PPE, ventilation, etc)
• Identify confined spaces and classify as permit or non-permit
• A permit-required confined space may be reclassified (Appendix H)
• Inform exposed employees of location of permit space and associated hazards – through training and toolbox talks

Click to edit Master title style

10

General Requirements

• Measures to prevent entry
• Develop and implement practices and procedures for safe entry
• Provide and maintain all required equipment
• Educate employees on safe entry procedures and equipment operation

Click to edit Master title style

11

Non-Permit Confined Spaces

• A permit-required confined space may be reclassified into a non-permit confined space when it does not contain, or with respect to atmospheric hazards, have the potential to contain any hazard capable of causing death or serious physical harm.
• To re-classify a permit-required confined space into a non-permit confined space the following conditions must be met:
• If the PRCS poses no actual or potential atmospheric hazards (verified through air monitoring and inspection), and if all hazards within the space are eliminated without entry into the space, the permit space ay be reclassified as a non-permit space for as long as the non-atmospheric hazards are eliminated.
• Examples of Non-permit confined spaces are equipment closets, crawl spaces, machinery cabinets, ventilated tunnels, drop ceilings, open pits.
• The basis for determining that all hazards in a PRCS have been eliminated must be documented and certified with the date, location of the space, signature of person(s) making the determination. This documentation shall be made available to each employee entering the space or to that employee’s authorized representative. See Permit Required Confined Space Reclassification Form – Appendix H.

Click to edit Master title style

12

Equipment Requirements

• Testing and monitoring equipment
• Ventilation equipment
• Communication equipment
• PPE
• Lighting equipment
• Barriers and shields
• Equipment for safe ingress and egress
• Emergency equipment
• Other equipment

Click to edit Master title style

13

The Entry Permit

• Permit must be completed before entry is authorized
• Entry supervisor must sign the permit
• Permit must be available so entrants can confirm that pre-entry items are completed

Click to edit Master title style

14

The Entry Permit

• Duration may not exceed the time identified on the permit
• Retain each canceled permit for at least 1 year for review of the program
• Problems encountered during entry are noted on the permit so appropriate revisions can be made to the program

​

Click to edit Master title style

15

The Entry Permit

Click to edit Master title style

16

Contents of Permit

• Permit space to be entered
• Purpose of the entry
• Date and the authorized duration of the entry permit
• Authorized entrants
• Attendants
• Entry supervisor with a space for the signature
• Hazards of the permit space
• Measures used to isolate the permit space and to eliminate or control permit space hazards before entry
• Acceptable entry conditions

​

Click to edit Master title style

17

Contents of Permit

• Results of initial and periodic tests, names or initials of the testers and when the tests were performed
• Rescue and emergency services
• Communication procedures
• Equipment (personal protective equipment, testing equipment, communications equipment, alarm systems, rescue equipment, etc.)
• Any other information necessary to ensure employee safety

Click to edit Master title style

18

Duties of Authorized Entrants

• "Authorized entrant" - authorized by the employer to enter space
• Know the hazards including signs, symptoms, and consequences of exposure
• Properly use equipment
• Communicate with the attendant so attendant can monitor entrant status and alert entrants of the need to evacuate

Alert the attendant whenever:

• Entrant recognizes warning sign or symptom of exposure to a dangerous situation
• The entrant detects a prohibited condition

​

Click to edit Master title style

19

Duties of Authorized Entrants

Evacuate the confined space when:

• Order to evacuate is given by the attendant or the entry supervisor
• Entrant recognizes any warning sign or symptom of exposure to a dangerous situation
• Entrant detects a prohibited condition
• Evacuation alarm is activated

​

Click to edit Master title style

20

Duties of Attendants

• "Attendant" - stationed outside permit space; monitors entrants
• Knows the hazards including signs, symptoms and consequences of exposure
• Continuously maintains accurate count of entrants in permit space
• Remains outside the permit space during entry until relieved by another attendant
• Communicates with entrants to monitor entrant status and to alert entrants of the need to evacuate
• Monitors activities inside & outside the space to determine if it is safe for entrants to remain in the space

​

Click to edit Master title style

21

Duties of Attendants

Orders evacuation immediately:

• Detects a prohibited condition
• Detects the behavioral effects of hazard exposure in entrant
• Detects a situation outside the space that could endanger the entrants
• If the attendant cannot effectively and safely perform all the duties
• Summon emergency services
• Keep unauthorized persons away
• Performs non-entry rescues when applicable and only if they have training/equipment
• Performs no duties that might interfere with primary duty to monitor and protect entrants
• If more than once space shall be attended by one attendant, it must be approved by Finch Safety

​

Click to edit Master title style

22

Duties of Entry Supervisor

• "Entry supervisor" - person responsible for determining if acceptable entry conditions are present, for authorizing entry, overseeing entry operations, and for terminating entry as required
• An entry supervisor also may serve as an attendant or as an entrant
• Knows the hazards including signs, symptoms, and consequences of the exposure
• Verifies that the entry permit is complete, all tests have been conducted and all procedures and equipment are in place before entry
• Verifies that rescue services are available and that the means for summoning them are operable

​

Click to edit Master title style

23

Duties of Entry Supervisor

• Removes unauthorized individuals who enter/attempt to enter space
• Ensures acceptable entry conditions are maintained throughout the entry
• Terminates entry and cancels permit when the operations have been completed or a condition that is not allowed under the permit arises

Click to edit Master title style

24

Rescue and Emergency Services

• Self-Rescue when able
• Non-entry Rescue by attendants
• Only trained and equipped workers can enter space
• Glens Falls Fire Department
• Call 611 or Radio Channel 13

Click to edit Master title style

25

Rescue and Emergency Services

• Finch contracts with Glens Falls Fire Department
• Notified when any entry is initiated
• Entry must stop if GFFD cannot support services
• GFFD maintains and provides all rescue equipment other than what employees are provided to wear when necessary (harness)
• Responds in a timely manner
• Rescue provider must be proficient with confined space rescue-related tasks/equipment
• Inform rescue provider of the hazards they may encounter
• Finch must provide the rescue provider with access to all permit spaces so they can develop rescue plans and practice rescue operations

Click to edit Master title style

26

Rescue and Emergency Services

• Retrieval systems shall be used unless they increase the overall risk of entry or would not contribute to the rescue
• Each entrant shall use a full body harness and a retrieval line if feasible
• The other end of the retrieval line shall be attached to a mechanical device or fixed point outside the permit space
• A mechanical retrieval device shall be available for vertical type permit spaces more than 5 feet deep

Click to edit Master title style

27

Contractors

• Finch must
• Inform contractor that workplace contains permit spaces and entry is allowed only in compliance with permit space program
• Apprise contractor of the hazards in the permit space
• Apprise contractor of precautions for the protection of employees in or near permit spaces where contractor will be working
• Coordinate with contractor when both host and contractor will be working in or near the permit spaces
• Debrief contractor at the conclusion of entry
• Contractor shall follow the Finch permit program and will notify of any hazards confronted or created
• Contractor will be required to monitor space in addition to Finch monitoring every 2 hours.

Click to edit Master title style

28

Safe Entry Procedures

• Identify tasks internal and external to entry – can work be performed outside of space?
• Designate entrants, attendants, entry supervisors and atmospheric monitors, identify the duties of each, and assure training has been provided
• Notify all departments affected by entry – when initiated and completed
• Post signs and barriers to protect entrants from traffic and pedestrians
• Specify acceptable entry conditions and ensure conditions are maintained for the duration of the entry
• Ventilate, eliminate, or control the space’s atmospheric hazards before entry

​

Click to edit Master title style

29

Safe Entry Procedures

• Blind or disconnect and cap all input lines so that no hazardous materials can enter the space
• Lockout/Tagout when applicable
• Follow Line Breaking Procedure
• Review wall and floor opening hazards
• When entrance covers are removed, guard the opening immediately
• Ensure rescue / emergency services have been notified of confined space entry

Click to edit Master title style

30

Safe Entry Procedures

• Test permit space before entry begins
• Monitor permit space to ensure entry conditions are maintained
• Finch must monitor space and complete air quality record every 2 hours
• Contractors must provide monitor which may include continuous monitoring (they can use additional Finch form for documentation)
• Test for oxygen, flammability and toxins in that order
• Observe status of other existing hazards and those created during entry
• Authorized entrants can enter a permit space only after it’s been tested and found safe for entry
• The entrant must know what equipment to use & how to use it
• Provide at least one attendant outside the permit space for the duration of entry

​

Click to edit Master title style

31

Safe Entry Procedures

• Attendant must stay at space even when entrants have exited if space cannot be protected against entry
• Finch Confined Spaces last for more than one shift
• Entry Supervisors and Attendants must sign the transfer sheet (included in permit) each time there is a change or every shift, whichever is more.
• Review entry operations when there is reason to believe that measures taken may not protect employees and revise program before subsequent entries
• Review the permit space program within 1 year after each entry and revise program as necessary to ensure employees participating in entry operations are protected

Click to edit Master title style

32

Confined Space Entry

QUESTIONS?

Click to edit Master title style

33