The contact form for questions and assistance from Evan Casey and the staff at Great Lakes Environmental and Safety Consultants is at Safety Consultants
Rayce Bannon is a freelance writer working closely with Evan Casey and his staff at Great Lakes Environmental and Safety Consultants.
A Confined Space Safety Policy can be divided into 9 sections.
This article briefly describes the nine parts of a comprehensive yet efficient confined space safety program.
1 - Purpose - The confined space safety policy states the requirements for the identification and safe entry into both permit required and non-permit required confined spaces.
The policy applies to areas of the workplace not designed for continuous occupancy and containing recognized serious safety or health hazards.
2 - Reference - OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146
3 - Scope - Applicable to all of the business's employees, visitors and contractors.
4 - Administration - Variable, but generally administration of the confined space policy is by safety coordinators, supervisors, engineers and other trained managerial staff.
5 - Definitions - Can be standard, see: OSHA, Occupational Safety and Health Act
6 - Descriptions -
Confined Space is an area/space where an employee: - has limited openings for entry and egress; - can bodily enter and which is large enough to perform assigned work; - could be engulfed by bulk materials; - is not intended to continuously occupy.
Non-Permit Required Confined Space is a confined space neither containing nor having the potential to contain any hazard.
Permit Required Confined Space is a confined space with: - a hazardous atmosphere or potential for it; - material that could engulf an entrant; - converging/tapering walls/floors that could entrap or asphyxiate; - a recognized hazard.
Procedures Followed For All Permit Required Confined Space Entry
- Permit
- - Issuance - By the supervisor, mandatory for the employee, one shift in duration.
- - Cancellation - At shift end or on job completion.
- - Retention - Must be reviewed and kept. -
- Alternate Entry/Space Reclassification - Specific ref: OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146 (c)(5)/(c)(7)
- Pre-Entry Briefing - By permit issuing entry supervisor.
- Contractor Notification - Outside contractor adheres to procedures - compliance must be assured.
- Lighting Requirements - Natural, auxiliary, emergency.
- Special Tools and Equipment - Intrinsically safe in flammable or combustible atmosphere.
- Preparation and Hazard Control - Preventing engulfment, burns. Lockout/tagout procedures.
- Assuring adequate ventilation.
- - Pre-Entry Atmospheric Testing - Includes employee training with testing equipment.
- - Monitor Calibration and Testing
- Field and Manufacturer Testing.
- Attendant Duties - Mandatory for permit required confined space entry, no other duties.
- Entry Supervisor Duties - Trained and authorized entry supervisor.
- Safety Equipment - PPE, non-entry rescue, rescue, general.
- Equipment Inspection - Per manufacturer's recommendation.
- Handling Problems
- Rescue and Emergency Services - Documented, available, trained, equipped.
- Summoning Rescue Services Procedure
7 - Responsibilities - Employees and Entry Supervisor - Safety Coordinators - Supervisors - Contractors
8 - Training - Initial - Refresher - Annual
9 - Revision - Annually by Safety Coordinators
These are the nine parts of a Confined Space Safety Policy.
Fleshed out details of just such a policy can be read at Confined Space Safety Policy
For a selection of actual policies on the subject of industrial safety, environmental health and safety, and loss control please click on Environmental Safety Articles
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
- The Confined Space Safety Policy - 9 Policy Headings
- Manhattan Construction Accident Lawyers are There to Help You
- The Importance of Safety Signs and Hazard Signs in the Workplace
- Safety on a New Home Construction Site
- 40 Ideas for Safety Meeting Topics
- Safety Tips For Plumbers
- OSHA Safety Training For The General Industry
- How To Correctly Undertake Site Induction Training




Asset Management: Your Knowledge
By: Margaret Prusan | 16/11/2009As your business' CEO, your role is to grow your business, be the face of your business and develop new products or services.That means imparting your knowledge to your team so they can handle the day-to-day of your business without you.
What Buyers Should Know Before Purchashing A Minnesota Home
By: Gen Wright | 16/11/2009If you are thinking about purchasing a home in Minnesota there are a few things you should know. Here is a list of items that will help you to have a stress free home buying experience.
How Structural Analysis of Buildings works?
By: Mike Thomas | 16/11/2009Structural analysis is a method to monitor the considerable dependability of a structure of a building such as residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Know your building structure’s behavior now!!
The Wide Variety of Fire-Fighting Tools Offered By The Chubb Fire Extinguishers
By: Bennett Glover | 15/11/2009We all know what fire extinguishers are. They’re those red metal cylinders designed like gigantic grenades or oxygen tanks with a hose of a nozzle. We see them all the time in movies and TV shows being grabbed from behind a glass that says “Break glass in case of fire” and sprayed all over mantles of flame until they dissipate into nothingness.
Enigin Stay Competitive By Going Green - Energy Efficiency
By: Gen Wright | 15/11/2009Today, there is a heightened awareness of the damage that has been done to our environment. Many environmental campaigns and initiatives have brought our attention to the issues of global warming and climate changes.
Tele of the Two Security Industries
By: Romeo Richards | 14/11/2009Bearing in mind that my audience was made up of security managers, senior executives of the SIA and many of the trade organisations that purport to represent our security industry. It dawned upon me that ‘not all security professionals are created equal’.
step to bulid a small cleaning business
By: zee mack | 14/11/2009One of the main reasons people start businesses is to make money. For some it’s a blessing to make money doing something they love. I’m not saying that you have to love house cleaning in order to have a successful house cleaning business; however it would be a good idea if you didn’t hate it.
Payroll Processing Service Contracts: The Fine Print
By: Monique L. Myers | 12/11/2009Outsourcing payroll is a great way for most businesses to reduce how much is spent on handling payroll related operations. Although smaller businesses, those with less than 20 employees, tend to see the greatest savings when switching to a payroll services provider, businesses of all sizes incur savings. A well crafted contract is what distinguishes a good payroll provider with a great payroll provider. It can also make the difference between payroll outsourcing being a means of saving money or
Petroleum Spill Remedial Action Report - 6 Key Points
By: Rayce Bannon | 10/06/2007 | Ask an ExpertThe Petroleum Spill Remedial Action Report has 6 important components: Background; Investigation; Remedial Action; Sampling Activities and Analytical Results; Waste Generation and Disposal; Summary/Conclusion.
Constuction Job Site Safety Audit - 9 Common Construction Site Safety Issues
By: Rayce Bannon | 10/06/2007 | Ask an ExpertThe construction job site safety audit is a tool for protecting your personnel as well as for keeping your projects on time and under budget. Ongoing attention to safety and loss control is the ounce of prevention that's worth a pound of cure.