The safety of your workers and the proper maintenance and cleaning of your machinery are both vital to the success of your business, but what happens when the two are in conflict? Some spaces, such as tanks, utility tunnels, and crawl spaces in industrial zones, pose too much of a risk for normal workers. These spaces, designated Permit Required Confined Spaces by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), require special procedures and training to safely enter and work in. Learn about the process and the training necessary below.
OSHA Requirements: Permit Required Confined Spaces
Identifying hazardous confined spaces, building safety programs to render the space safe for entry, and the entry permit system to relay all of this to the supervisors and entrants are all key to keeping these confined spaces safe.
1. What is a Permit Required Confined Space?
OSHA defines a confined space that requires a permit by two major factors:
- Is a Confined Space: Is large enough for an employee to enter fully and perform assigned work; is not designed for continuous occupancy by the employee; and has a limited or restricted means of entry or exit.
- Contains Risks to Occupants: Contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere; contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant; has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross-section; or contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.
2. What is the Entry Permit System?
Once a hazardous confined space has been found, the business must develop and implement a written program for the space, detailing the safety measures, procedures, and practices required to eliminate or control the hazards necessary for safe permit space entry operations.
When confined space entry is required for the space, the entry permit system is put into place. It includes the making safe of the space and the creation of the entry permit, which is a written or printed document posted at any entry space that contains details like the work to be performed, designated entry and exit points, assigned roles (including the entry supervisor), and emergency procedures.
The goal of this system is to make sure that all workers (including the authorized entrant) are aware of the hazards, that the confined space is rendered safe, and that entry only occurs when permits are present, being taken down before the space is returned to operation.
To learn more and get started on building your PRCS program, visit the OSHA Standards website 1910.146 – Permit-required confined spaces.
Examples of Confined Spaces
With the above in mind, your business, especially if it’s an industrial site, probably has multiple examples of confined spaces with hazards. Even if these spaces do not require regular access, for inspection, maintenance, and cleaning, there might be a need for a program and permit creation. Some examples include:
- Underground or Above-ground Storage Tanks (UST & AST)
- Sewer, Utility, and Process Line Tunnels
- Industrial and Warehouse Storage Pits & Trenches
- Utility Vaults and Electrical Vaults
- Boiler Rooms, Air Handling Units, and Cooling Towers
- Hazardous Atmosphere Crawl Spaces & HVAC Duct Work
Understanding the Training Required for PRCS
OSHA mandates that employers must provide proper training for all workers who are required to work in the confined space, so it makes sense for spaces that do not need regular access to use contractors who have PRCS training instead to save time and money. Training for confined spaces is extensive, especially when you include the need for rescue team training for CPR and first aid. Training in the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), emergency procedures, and crisis management are all critical.
NEDT staff perform regular Permit Required Confined Space training.
What sets NEDT apart from other industrial cleaning services is our deep pool of experience, equipment, and state certifications in Massachusetts to cover any eventuality from your projects, including rigorous Permit Required Confined Space training taken by our staff each year for tank cleaning and removal, industrial cleaning and maintenance, and disaster recovery. Using our 25+ years of project experience, we’ll collaborate with you to develop your PRCS system if needed and provide the trained staff to do entry that suits your timetable and budget. Contact us today to learn more and get started.
