OSHA 1910.146 and 1926.21
(Alternate Procedures for Permit-Required Confined Space Entry)
The purpose of this procedure is to establish minimum standards for identifying confined spaces and entry into those confined spaces classified as permit-required using alternate procedures.
This procedure applies to all personnel who are required to work near any confined space. This procedure is to be used by employees of City of Hillsboro to enter permit-required confined spaces using alternate procedures. For the purposes of this procedure,
Confined Space is defined as any space that:
Is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work; and
Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit; and
Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.
Confined spaces include, but are not limited to, storage tanks, process vessels, bins, boilers, ventilation or exhaust ducts, sewers, underground utility vaults and manholes, pipelines and open top spaces more than four (4) feet in depth such as pits, tubs, vaults, and vessels.
NOTE: The following areas are covered by OSHA 1926.800 Sub-part S: Tunnels and shafts, caissons, cofferdams and compressed air work places.
Permit-required confined spaces are defined as con fined space that:
Contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere.
Contains a material that has a potential for engulfing an entrant.
Has an internal configuration such that 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.
Non-permit confined spaces are defined as any space that does not contain any of the hazards listed above in the definition for a permit-required confined space. Control of atmospheric hazards through forced air ventilation does not constitute elimination of the hazards.
ANSI Z117.1 is applicable standard for confined spaces in construction. Certain provisions of OSHA 1910.119 and 1910.146 will apply to contractors in a general industry facility.
Entry means the action by which a person passes through an opening into 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 into the space.
Other definitions required for this procedure can be found in OSHA Standard 1910.146(b) and 1926.21(b)(6).
IDENTIFICATION OF CONFINED SPACES
The flow chart in Appendix A of 1910.146 (copy attached) was used to identify the confined spaces within the control of City of Hillsboro Locations identified as confined spaces can be found in Attachment 1 of this procedure.
Those spaces identified as permit-required confined spaces have been posted with the following warning “DANGER-PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE, DO NOT ENTER.” These signs will remain in place at all times.
A permit-required confined space will only be reclassified as a non-permit space if there is no actual or potential atmospheric hazards and if all hazards within the space are eliminated without entry into the space. The permit space will be reclassified as a non-permit confined space for as long as the non-atmospheric hazards remain eliminated.
When there are changes in the use or configuration a non-permit confined space that might increase the hazards to entrant, the safety director shall reevaluate that space and, if necessary, reclassify it as a permit-required confined space.
Whenever a confined space is permanently reclassified as a non-permit or permit confined space it will be recorded in the confined space listen found in Attachment I and the previous entry of this confined space will be lined out. When a confined space is temporally reclassified as a not-permit or permit-required confined space it will be recorded in the temporary confined space listing found in Attachment 2.
Spaces that are entered and checked out on a regular basis will be considered temporary confined spaces as long as ventilation is in place and quarterly inspections are made.
The following entry procedures apply to a permit confined space that has all of the potential hazards (engulfment, burns and heat stress, fire and fumes, etc.) controlled. For these procedures atmospheric hazards may be controlled by the use of mechanical ventilation. The hazards and controls will be posted at the confined space for the entire length of entry.
When entrance covers are removed, the opening will be promptly guarded by a railing, temporary cover, or other temporary barrier that will prevent an accidental fall through the opening and that will protect each employee working in the space from foreign objects entering the space.
Before an employee enters the space, the internal atmosphere will be tested (entrants or their authorized representatives will be offered the opportunity to witness the tests), with a calibrated direct-reading instrument, for the following conditions in the order given:
Oxygen content.
Flammable gases and vapors, and
Potential toxic air contaminants.
All readings will be recorded and posted at the confined space for the length of the entry.
There may be no hazardous atmosphere within the space whenever any employee is inside the space.
Continuous forced air ventilation shall be used, as follows:
An employee may not enter the space until the forced air ventilation has eliminated any hazardous atmosphere.
The forced air ventilation will be so directed as to ventilate the immediate areas where an employee is or will be present within the space and will continue until all employees have left the space.
The air supply for the forced air ventilation shall be from a clean source and may not increase the hazards in the space.
The atmosphere within the space will be periodically tested as necessary to ensure that the continuous forced air ventilation is preventing the accumulation of a hazardous atmosphere.
Hazards and control will be reevaluated when the confined space is left unattended during personnel changes, or if conditions, such as weather, warrant.
If a hazardous atmosphere is detected during entry:
Each employee will leave the space immediately.
The space shall be evaluated to determine how the hazardous atmosphere developed, and
Measures will be implemented to protect employees from the hazardous atmosphere before any subsequent entry takes place.
Training will be given to all affected employees on at least an annual basis and will cover the topics listed in Attachment 4.
When City of Hillsboro has employees of another employer working in or around any confined spaces the following procedures will be followed:
Contractors working on-site will be informed of all spaces requiring confined space entry permits.
If contractors are hired to perform work in confined spaces, they will be trained on the exposures of that confined space.
Note: It is the responsibility of the contractor to determine the safe entry requirements of any confined space that their employees will be entering. It is also the responsibility of the contractor to ensure that their confined space program meets all of OSHA’s current requirements.
A copy of this program will be given to contractors to inform them of the precautions and procedures that City of Hillsboro has taken to protect employees in or near permit spaces where the contractor personnel will be working.
Confined Spaces Listing
Temporary Confined Spaces Listing
Confined Space Training Log
Training Topic _______________________________________________________________________
Description _________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Instructor’s Name: ____________________________________________________________________
Instructor’s Signature __________________________________________________________________
Signature of Employees in Attendance
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Training Agenda
1. The identification and evaluation of permit required confined spaces.
2. Method of obtaining a permit.
3. Explain how to calibrate and use atmospheric testing equipment.
4. Explain how to set up required ventilation.
5. Demonstrate how to use SCBA’s to enter oxygen deficient or unknown atmospheres.
(Check with supplier for training, maintenance, and fit testing).
6. Explain the acceptable ranges for oxygen, flammable and toxic chemicals.
7. Explain the rescue provision to retrieve an employee.
8. Have the rescuers take first aid and CPR training.
9. Show employees how to wear the safety harness.
10. Review types of hazards and causes of fatalities of a confined space.
11. Demonstrate communication methods/devices.
12. Contractor/Operator interfacing.
Rescue Procedures
1. Call for help (insert telephone number or other means of summoning trained and properly equipped rescue team).
2. Attempt rescue (using entrant retrieval system) without entering the
3. Employee(s) Entering for rescue shall be provided with and wear a self-contained breathing apparatus, life line, harness, and other necessary equipment before entering the confined space.
4. Upon reaching the injured entrant, assess injury and the nature of the accident
5. Administer first aid (if conditions allow) and prepare the injured entrant for extrication.
6. Remove injured entrant with care.
7. There must always be an attendant (top person, person outside confined space monitoring entrants, etc.) even during rescue attempts.
8. Transport any applicable MSDS (should be at confined space) to the medical facility with the injured entrant.
Procedures for Atmospheric Testing in Confined Spaces1
Atmospheric testing is required for two distinct purposes: evaluation of the hazards of the permit space and verification that acceptable conditions exist for entry into that space.
1. Evaluation Testing. The atmosphere of a confined space should be analyzed using equipment of sufficient sensitivity and specificity to identify and evaluate any hazardous atmospheres that may exist or arise, so that appropriate permit entry procedures can be developed and acceptable entry conditions stipulated for that space. Evaluation and interpretation of these data, and development of the entry procedure, should be done by, or reviewed by, a technically qualified professional (e .g., OSHA consultation service, or certified industrial hygienist, registered safety engineer, certified safety professional, certified marine chemist, etc.) based on evaluation of all serious hazards .
2. Verification testing. The atmosphere of a permit space which may contain a hazardous atmosphere should be tested for residues of al I contaminants identified by evaluation testing using permit specified equipment to determine that residual concentrations at the same time of testing and entry are within the range of acceptable entry conditions. Results of testing (i .e., actual concentrations, etc.) should be recorded on the permit in the space provided adjacent to the stipulated acceptable entry condition.
3. Duration of testing. Measurement of values for each atmospheric parameter should be made for at least the minimum response time of the test instrument specified by the manufacturer.
4. Testing stratified atmospheres. When monitoring for entries involving a descent into atmospheres that may be stratified, the atmospheric envelope should be tested a distance of approximately four feet (1.22 m) in the direction of travel and to each side. If a sampling probe is used, the entrant’s rate of progress should be slowed to accommodate the sampling speed and detector response.
5. Order of testing. A test for oxygen is performed first because most combustible gas meters are oxygen dependent and will not provide reliable readings in an oxygen deficient atmosphere. Combustible gases are tested for next because the threat of fire or explosion is both more immediate and more life threatening, in most cases, than exposure to toxic gases and vapors. If tests for toxic gases and vapors are necessary, they are performed last.
1Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations 1910.146, Appendix B