1. Confined Space Safety Training Presentations
Permit-Required Confined Spaces
29 CFR
I. Background for the Trainer:
If a current written confined space program is available, show it to the attendees.
II. Speaker’s Notes:
Confined space entry is a dangerous activity and requires a very thorough program to avoid serious incidents.

2. Why Comply????
Confined space entry is a leading cause of occupational fatalities in this country
I. Background for the Trainer:
If you, as a trainer, have a particular story to share relative to confined space accidents hit home with the audience, by describing it.
II. Speaker’s Notes:
Entering confined spaces without taking the proper precautions is a leading cause of on-the-job fatalities in the United States.

3. Definition of a Confined Space
Limited means of egress
Can be bodily entered
Not designed for continuous occupancy
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Limited egress does not necessarily mean just one way in and out.
Breaking the plane of the space opening with any part of your body is considered entry.
If work is not routine in a space, it is tough to classify it as designed for continuous occupancy. A space designed for continuous occupancy should have its own environmental controls, such as a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
All three of these must be met to deem a space “confined.”

4. Definition of Permit-Required Confined Spaces
Contains or has potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere
Contains the potential for engulfment
Internal configuration that can trap or asphyxiate entrant
Any other serious safety or health hazards
I. Speaker’s Notes:
If any of these four elements is met, the space is permit-required.
Hazardous atmospheres include oxygen-deficient, toxic, etc.
Engulfment hazards include grain, sand, water, etc.
Inwardly converging walls are a perfect example of configurations that can trap the entrant.
“Any other serious safety or health hazard” is the “catchall” of the standard that prevents any dangerous confined spaces from slipping through unintended regulatory loopholes.

5. Typical Permit-Required Spaces
Chemical Storage
Tanks and Vessels
Pits
Waste Water
Lift Sumps
Underground
Sewage Tunnels
Industrial Steam Boilers
I. Background for the Trainer:
If you have photos of these types of spaces, show them to the class.
Include any permit-required spaces specific to your operation that are not explicit on this list.
II. Speaker’s Notes:
Permit-required spaces include:
Chemical storage tanks and vessels
pits
Grain bins
Railroad cars under construction
Waste Water Lift Sumps
Underground Sewage Tunnels
Industrial Steam Boilers

6. Typical Non-Permit-Required Spaces
Utility closets
Below-grade trenches
Storage vaults
Utility subbasements
I. Background for the Trainer:
Include any non-permit-required spaces common at your facility.
II. Speaker’s Notes:
Non-permit-required spaces include:
Utility closets
Below-grade trenches
Storage vaults
Utility subbasements

7. Potential Confined Space Hazards
Engulfment
Oxygen deficiency (19.5% or less)
Oxygen enrichment (23.5% or higher)
Flammable gases or vapors
Combustible dusts
Toxic substances
IDLH atmospheres
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Engulfment hazards are those that can envelope the entrant and cause suffocation.
Oxygen deficiency or enrichment makes it impossible to survive without atmosphere-supplying respiratory protection.
Flammable gases and dusts can lead to an explosion or fire.
Combustible dusts can also be quite explosive (e.g., grain dusts).
If entrants are exposed to toxic substances, they can suffer irreparable health effects, such as chemical burns, cancer, or death.
Spaces with conditions immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) cannot be entered without the use of atmosphere-supplying respirators.

8. Atmospheric Testing Hazards must be tested in this order:
Oxygen content
Combustibility/ flammability
Toxic atmospheres
Entrants must be allowed to observe monitoring
I. Background for the Trainer:
If monitoring equipment is available, demonstrate its use while reviewing this slide.
II. Speaker’s Notes:
Before entering a confined space, it is necessary to test the atmosphere.
Testing for hazards must occur in the following order:
Oxygen content
Combustibility/flammability
Toxic atmospheres
Entrants are given the opportunity to view the atmospheric testing.

9. Reasons for Space Ventilation
Maintain oxygen levels above 19.5%
Maintain toxic gases and vapors at acceptable levels
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Without proper oxygen levels in the atmosphere, entrants cannot survive in confined spaces.
Monitoring will determine the levels of toxic gases and vapors within a confined space. Ventilation will keep those levels within acceptable ranges.

10. Types of Personal Protective Equipment
Harnesses
Retrieval lines
Chemical protective clothing
Welding apron/sleeves
Respirators
Gloves
Safety glasses
I. Background for the Trainer:
If personal protective equipment (PPE) is readily available, demonstrate it during presentation of this slide.
II. Speaker’s Notes:
PPE will protect entrants of confined spaces only if it is used and maintained properly.
PPE includes:
Harnesses
Retrieval lines
Chemical protective equipment
Welding apron/sleeves
Respirators
Gloves
Safety glasses

11. Company’s Responsibilities
Formulate and manage the confined spaces program
Maintain a confined space inventory
Maintain a list of “Authorized Personnel”
Maintain copies of confined space permits
Direct the confined space training program
Maintain rescue equipment
Coordinate contractor activities
I. Background for the Trainer:
If you have entry permits available, show them during this slide.
II. Speaker’s Notes:
Someone must be accountable for the written program.
All confined spaces must be identified.
Only authorized personnel should be allowed to work in a confined space.
It is a good idea to print permits so that several copies of each are available for documentation purposes.
Anyone involved with confined space entry must receive training.
If on-site rescue is planned without the use of outside agencies, then an employer must have all the necessary equipment on the premises.
Contractors entering a confined space must follow specific requirements for entry. The host employer should oversee the contractor’s entry into a confined space.

12. Authorized Attendant Responsibilities
Know the hazards that may be faced
during entry.
Be knowledgeable in the use and
care of applicable atmosphere sampling
equipment.
Conduct all atmosphere tests/sampling
specified by the permit and render the
atmosphere safe before entry can be made.
Be aware of possible behavioral effects of hazard exposure in Authorized Entrants.
Continuously maintain an accurate count of Authorized Entrants in the confined space.
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Attendants must be at the pre-entry briefing.
They should also be trained to recognize any potential hazards and know where to get the information relative to those hazards.
The attendant should act as security for space entry.
There are several ways to communicate with the entrants, including radio, voice, hand, rope, etc.
Attendants should never enter the space for rescue unless someone else is available who is qualified to stay outside the space to replace the attendant.
Attendants must know whom to call and the proper chain of command in the event of an emergency.
The most important function for the attendant during an emergency is to provide up-to-the-minute information about the situation from outside the confined space.
Document No. EHSL D Rev. R1 Rev. Date: 01/30/09

13. Authorized Attendant Responsibilities (cont.)
Remain outside the permit space during entry operations until relieved by another Authorized Attendant.
Communicate with Authorized Entrants as necessary to adequately monitor their status.
Monitor activities inside and outside the confined space and order Authorized Entrants to evacuate when necessary.
Summon rescue services if needed (by use of portable radio or phone).
Keep unauthorized persons out of the permit space.
Do not perform any duties that might interfere with monitoring duties.
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Attendants must remain in constant communication and be on the property at all times during the permitted entry.
The attendant should be the first available person to recognize a problem within the space that warrants an evacuation.
Just as with an emergency evacuation, a count of all individuals in the space must be maintained and should be documented on the permit.
Document No. EHSL D Rev. R1 Rev. Date: 01/30/09

14. Authorized Entrant Responsibilities
Know the hazards that may be faced during entry.
Recognize signs and symptoms of exposure.
Properly use entry equipment
Communicate with the Authorized Attendant as necessary to enable the Attendant to monitor Authorized Entrant status and to enable the Attendant to alert Entrants of the need to evacuate the space.
Alert the Authorized Attendant whenever warning signs or symptoms of exposure to a dangerous situation are recognized or a prohibited condition is detected.
Exit from the space as quickly as possible whenever:
An order to evacuate is given by the Attendant or the Entry Supervisor.
Any warning signs or symptoms of exposure to a dangerous situation are recognized.
A prohibited condition is detected.
An evacuation alarm is activated
I. Speaker’s Notes:
The entrant must also attend the pre-entry briefing for discussions of hazards and work planning.
Entrants must be able to easily recognize when something goes wrong.
As is the case with any job, if you are expected to perform it, you must possess the skills to carry it out.
Evacuate the space immediately if:
You hear an alarm.
You lose communication.
You encounter unknown hazards.
You are ordered out.

15. Confined Space Supervisor Responsibilities
Know the hazards that may be faced during entry.
Verify by checking that the appropriate entries have been made on the permit, that all tests specified by the permit have been conducted, and that all procedures and equipment are in place before endorsing the permit and allowing entry to begin.
Terminate entry and cancel the permit as required.
Verify rescue services are available and that the means for summoning them are operable.
Remove unauthorized individuals who enter or attempt to enter the permit space during operations.
See that entry operations remain consistent with the permit
Ultimately, the Confined Space Supervisor is responsible for all confined space entry activities.
I. Speaker’s Notes:
Pre-entry briefings are important to ensure that all parties involved in the confined space entry understand the job as well as the potential hazards.
Supervisors must be able to make the decision when to evacuate the space.
Supervisors must sign the permit and keep records of each permitted entry for future reference.
Once the entry is complete, the equipment must be returned to the proper location so that it is available the next time it is needed.
Ultimately, the supervisor is responsible for all confined space entry activities.

16. Rescuer Responsibilities
Understand the hazards of the space
Be certified in emergency first aid and CPR
Understand appropriate entry procedures
Know how to use rescue equipment
Practice confined space rescues at least annually
I. Speaker’s Notes:
The rescuers must know the hazards of the space so that they are not injured during the rescue attempt.
Because confined space rescue is very serious and often difficult, all rescuers must have emergency first aid and CPR training.
It is important that the attendant make sure that rescuers are familiar with entry procedures so that their entry can be performed safely.
Appropriate training for rescue equipment is a necessity to minimize the potential for failure during the rescue attempt.
A revision to the confined space standard requires that emergency rescue drills be conducted at least once annually.

17. Quiz
1. A confined space is defined as having limited egress, can be bodily entered, and is not designed for
______________________________________________.
2. All confined spaces must be permit-required. True or False
3. The three hazards that must be tested for in a confined space are _____________________, combustibility and flammability, and toxic atmospheres.
4. Since entrants will view the hazards while in the space, it is not necessary that they know or review the hazards prior to entry. True or False
5. If a chemical storage tank is empty, it would not be considered a confined space. True or False
I. Background for the Trainer:
Hand out the quiz copies. Go over the questions orally and have the employees write their answers on their quiz sheets.

18. Quiz (cont.)
6. Two examples of typical non-permit-required confined spaces are ________________ and ________________.
7. Confined space entry is a leading cause of occupational fatalities in the United States. True or False
8. Annual __________ drills are required by the OSHA Confined Space Standard.
9. An attendant should be available to be the first person into the space to conduct a rescue. True or False
10. An entrant should exit a confined space if ordered to do so, unknown exposures are encountered, communication is lost, or _______________________.

19. Quiz Answers
1. A confined space is defined as having limited egress, can be bodily entered, and is not designed for continuous occupancy.
2. False. Some confined spaces may be classified as non-permit-required.
3. The three hazards that must be tested for in a confined space are oxygen content, combustibility and flammability, and toxic atmospheres.
4. False. Entrants must be familiar with all hazards prior to entering a confined space.
5. False. Just because it is empty does not preclude its being defined as a confined space.

20. Quiz Answers (cont.)
6. Examples of typical non-permit-required confined spaces are utility closets, below-grade trenches, storage vaults, and utility subbasements.
7. True. Confined space entry is routinely one of the leading causes of occupational fatalities.
8. Annual emergency drills are required by the OSHA Confined Space Standard.
9. False. An attendant should never enter a confined space to rescue unless someone else is available to fill the duties as attendant.
10. An entrant should exit a confined space if ordered to do so, unknown exposures are encountered, communication is lost, or an alarm is sounded.