Permit Required Confined Space Program

Sample Written Program

This sample Permit Required Confined Space Program is provided by the Missouri On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program.  In order to comply with OSHA’s standard for Permit Required Confined Spaces, 29 CFR 1910.146, this written program must be site specific.  Modify the template to reflect the policies and procedures at your company.  Since OSHA regulations set minimum requirements, you may choose to add additional information to your site specific program. There is no requirement to follow this sample and its use does not guarantee compliance with the OSHA standard. To prepare your plan, please follow these steps:

1. Read the Permit Required Confined Space Standard 29 CFR 1910.146

2. The following information may be useful in developing your program:

• OSHA Confined Space Safety Topic
• OSHA Confined Space Quick Card

3. Add information to make it site specific to your company.

4. For clarification or assistance, contact the Missouri On-Site Safety and Health Consultation Program at 573-522-SAFE.

 

Permit Required Confined Space Program

(To customize, please complete and remove the highlighted areas of the program)

 

Date Created:

 

Date Reviewed:

 

1. Company Policy

(Name of Company) is committed to providing a safe and healthful work environment for our entire staff.  The purpose of this program is to ensure that proper protection is taken for employees that work in confined spaces.  This Permit Required Confined Space (PRCS) Program has been developed in accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation 29 CFR 1910.146. 

2. Responsibility

(Name of person or job title) is responsible for the implementation of the PRCS Program, and the written program may be obtained from them.

It is the responsibility of management to protect its employees.  Management will:

• Evaluate the workplace to determine if any spaces are PRCS
• Inform exposed employees of the PRCS
• Determine if employees will not enter permit spaces, and what effective measures will be taken to prevent employees from entering PRCS
• Decide that its employees will enter PRCS, (a written permit space entry program must be developed and implemented)

If (Name of Company) determines that an outside contractor will perform work that involves permit space entry then the outside contractor will:

• Be informed that the workplace contains permit spaces and that permit space entry is allowed only through compliance with a permit space program
• Be informed of the hazards identified and the experience with the space that makes it a permit space
• Utilize precautions or procedures that (Name of Company) has implemented for the protection of employees in or near permit spaces where contractor personnel will be working
• Coordinate entry operations when both (Name of Company) employees and contractor personnel will be working in or near permit spaces so that they do not endanger each other
• Be debriefed at the conclusion of the entry operations regarding the permit space program followed and review any hazards confronted or created in permit spaces during entry operations
   

3. Program Review and Update

The PRCS Program will be reviewed and/or updated under these circumstances:

• When the employer has reason to believe that measures taken under the PRCS Program may not protect employees, it will revise the program to correct deficiencies before authorizing subsequent entries
• After a review of the PRCS Program, using cancelled permits retained within one (1) year after each entry, the employer will revise the program as necessary

 

4. Confined Space Assessment

An assessment of (Name of Company) was conducted in all areas that may contain confined spaces.  When performing this assessment the definitions of a confined space and permit required confined space were considered.  The confined space assessment can be located in Appendix A. 

(Name of Company) will inform employees by posting danger signs or by any other equally effective means, of the existence, location, and danger posed by the permit spaces. 

5. Methods of Compliance

Reclassification of Permit Required Confined Spaces

A PRCS can be reclassified as a non-permit confined space under the following conditions:

• The space poses no actual or potential atmospheric hazards and if all the hazards are eliminated without entry into the space
• If it is necessary to enter the PRCS to eliminate hazards, such entry will be performed under a permit space program.  If testing and inspection during that entry shows that the hazards in the space have been eliminated, the permit space may be reclassified as a non-permit confined space for as long as the hazards remain eliminated

When a permit required confined space is to be reclassified to a “non-permit” status, (Name of person or job title) will issue a written certification that contains the date, the location of the space and the signature of the person making the determination that all hazards have been eliminated. The certification shall be made available to each employee entering the space or to that employee's authorized representative.  This documentation must be completed each time a permit-required confined space is reclassified and remains in effect only as long as all of the hazards remain eliminated.  This reclassification form is located in Appendix B.

Alternate Procedures

(Name of Company) may use alternate procedures for entering a permit space under the conditions listed below. Employees entering a permit space under alternate procedures need not comply with the following parts of this program:

• Permit Required Confined Space Program
• Permit System
• Entry Permit
• Duties of Authorized Entrants
• Duties of Attendants
• Duties of Supervisors
• Rescue and Emergency Services, provided that,

• The only hazard is an actual or a potentially hazardous atmosphere
• Forced air ventilation alone is sufficient to maintain safe entry

• Monitoring and inspection data required by this program is developed
• If an initial entry is needed to collect the data above then it will be performed in compliance with parts (d) through (k) of the OSHA PRCS regulation
• The determinations and data required above are documented and available to employees who enter the space

Entry under the terms above must be performed in accordance with the following requirements:

• Any condition making it unsafe to remove an entrance cover will be eliminated before the cover is removed
• When covers are removed, a barrier that will prevent accidental fall through the opening and protect employees in the space from foreign objects entering the space will promptly guard the entrance
• Before an employee enters the space, the internal atmosphere will be tested with a calibrated direct-reading instrument, for the following conditions in the order given:
  • Oxygen content
  • Combustible gases and vapors
  • Potential toxic air contaminants

• There may be no hazardous atmosphere within the space whenever any employee is inside the space
• Continuous forced air ventilation will be used as follows:
  • An employee may not enter the space until forced air ventilation has eliminated any hazardous atmosphere
  • Forced air ventilation will be directed to ventilate the immediate areas where an employee is or will be, and will continue until all employees have left the space
  • The air supply for the ventilation will be clean and may not increase the hazard

• 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
• If a hazardous atmosphere is detected during entry:
  • Each employee will leave the space immediately
  • The space will be evaluated to determine how the hazardous atmosphere developed
  • Measures will be implemented to protect employees from the hazardous atmosphere before a subsequent entry

• Before each entry, it will be verified that the space is safe for entry and that the measures above have been taken, with a written certification giving the date, location of the space, and signature of the person providing the certification.  The certification shall be made available to each employee entering the space or to that employee's authorized representative.  The alternate procedure form is located in Appendix C

 

Permit-Required Confined Space

(Name of Company) will implement measures necessary to prevent unauthorized entry to a confined space and identify and evaluate the hazards of the permit spaces before employees enter them.

NOTE: This requires atmospheric testing with a gas detector before entry into the space.

The following measures will be provided:

• At least one attendant outside the permit space for the duration of entry operations.  If multiple spaces are to be monitored by a single attendant, means and procedures will be established to enable the attendant to respond to an emergency in one or more spaces without distraction form the attendant's responsibility under this program
• The employer will designate the persons who are to have active roles in entry operations, their duties, and provide each with the training required by this program
• Procedures for summoning rescue and emergency services, for rescuing entrants, and for preventing unauthorized personnel from attempting rescue will be developed
• Procedures will be developed and implemented to coordinate entry operations when employees of more than one employer are entering a permit space so that they do not endanger each other
• A system for the preparation, issuance, use and cancellation of entry permits will be in place
• Procedures to coordinate entry after operations are completed will be developed
• A review of entry operations when there is reason to believe that the measures taken under the PRCS Program may not protect employees and revise the program to correct deficiencies found to exist before subsequent entries are authorized
• Review the PRCS Program using canceled permits, and revise the program as necessary to protect employees participating in entry operations

(Name of Company) will provide the following equipment for free to employees, and maintain the equipment properly, and ensure that employees use that equipment properly:

• Testing and monitoring equipment needed to evaluate the permit space conditions
• Ventilating equipment needed to obtain acceptable entry conditions
• Communications equipment
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) insofar as feasible engineering and work practice controls do not adequately protect employees
• Lighting equipment needed to enable safe work in and exit from the space
• Barriers and shields to protect entrants from external hazards
• Equipment needed for safe ingress and egress
• Rescue and emergency equipment to comply with this program
• Any other equipment necessary for safe entry and rescue

Permit System

Before entry is authorized, (Name of Company) will document the completion of the measures below by preparing an entry permit. The employer will develop and implement the means, procedures and practices necessary for safe entry, including:

• Specifying acceptable entry conditions
• Providing each authorized entrant or that employee’s authorized representative with the opportunity to observe any monitoring or testing of permit spaces
• Isolating the permit space
• Purging, flushing, or ventilating the permit space to eliminate or control atmospheric hazards
• Providing barriers as necessary to protect entrants from external hazards
• Verifying that conditions in the permit space are acceptable for entry throughout the duration of an authorized entry

NOTE: To eliminate any possible doubt or confusion regarding this matter, appropriate testing or monitoring during the course of entry operations is specifically required by this program. This provision requires whatever periodic or continuous monitoring necessary to protect the employees.

Before entry, the entry supervisor shall sign the permit to authorize entry.  The completed permit will be made available to all authorized entrants to confirm that pre-entry preparations have been completed. The duration of the permit will not exceed the time required to complete the assigned task or job.

The entry supervisor will terminate entry and cancel the permit when:

• Operations have been completed
• A condition that is not allowed under the entry permit arises in or near the permit space
   

(Name of Company) will retain each entry permit for at least 1 year to facilitate the review of the PRCS Program. Any problems encountered during an entry operation will be noted on the permit so that appropriate revisions to the program can be made.  The entry permit can be located in Appendix D.

NOTE: This requires recordkeeping of gas detector readings, since these readings are entered on the permit before and during the entry.

Entry Permit

The entry permit that authorizes entry into a permit space shall identify:

• The space to be entered
• The purpose of the entry
• The date and authorized duration of the entry
• The authorized entrants
• The personnel serving as attendants
• The individual serving as the entry supervisor
• The hazards of the permit space to be entered
• The measures used to isolate the space and eliminate or control hazards before entry
• The acceptable entry conditions

• The results of initial and periodic tests performed below:(accompanied by the names or initials of the testers and by an indication of when the tests were performed)

• Test conditions in the permit space to determine if acceptable entry conditions exist before entry is authorized to begin, except that, if isolation of the space is infeasible because the space is larger or is part of a continuous system (such as sewer), pre-entry testing will be performed to the extent feasible before entry is authorized and, if entry is authorized, entry conditions will be continuously monitored in the areas where authorized entrants are working
• Test or monitor the permit space as necessary to determine if acceptable entry conditions are being maintained during the course of entry operations; and
  • When testing for atmospheric hazards, test first for oxygen, then for combustible gases and vapors, then for toxic gases and vapors

NOTE: The test for oxygen must be done first because most combustible gas sensors require oxygen to function.

• The rescue and emergency services that can be called and how to call them
• The communication procedures used by entrants and attendants to maintain contact with each other
• Equipment, such as personal protective equipment, testing equipment, communications equipment, alarm systems, and rescue equipment to be provided for compliance with OSHA’s PRCS regulation
• Any other information necessary to ensure employee safety
• Any additional permits, such as Hot Work Permits, issued for work in the space

6. Training

(Name of Company) will provide training so that employees acquire the understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of the duties assigned.  Training will be provided:

• Before the employee is first assigned duties under this regulation
• Before there is a change in assigned duties
• Whenever there is a change in permit space operations that presents a hazard about which an employee has not previously been trained on
• Whenever there is the belief there are inadequacies in their knowledge of these procedures

 

(Name of Company) certify that the training required has been accomplished and the employee is proficient in the duties.

 Duties of the Authorized Entrants

(Name of Company) will ensure that all authorized entrants:

• Know the hazards that may be faced during entry
• Understand proper use of the equipment required
• Communicate with the attendant as necessary to enable the attendant to monitor the entrants and to enable the attendant to alert entrants of the need to evacuate as required
• Alert the attendant whenever:
  • The entrant recognizes any warning sign or symptom of exposure to a dangerous situation
  • The entrant detects a prohibited condition, THEN
• Exit from the permit space as quickly as possible whenever:
  • An order to evacuate is given by the attendant or supervisor
  • The entrant recognizes any warning sign or symptom of exposure to a dangerous situation
  • The entrant detects a prohibited condition
  • An evacuation alarm is activated

 

Duties of Attendants

(Name of Company) will ensure that each attendant:

• Knows what hazards that may be faced during entry;
• Is aware of possible behavioral effects of hazard exposure;
• Continuously maintains an accurate count of entrants;
• Remains outside the permit space during entry until relieved by another attendant;
• Communicates with entrants as necessary to monitor their status and to alert them of the need to evacuate;
• Monitors activities inside and outside the space to determine if it is safe and orders evacuation immediately under any of the following conditions:

• If the attendant detects any prohibited condition;
• If the attendant detects the behavioral effects of hazard exposure in an entrant;
• If the attendant detects a situation outside the space that could endanger entrants; or
• If the attendant cannot effectively and safely perform all duties required.

• Summons rescue and other emergency services as soon as it is determined that entrants may need assistance to escape;
• Takes the following actions when unauthorized persons approach or enter a permit space while entry is under way:

• Warn the unauthorized persons that they must stay away from the permit space;
• Advise unauthorized persons that they must exit immediately if they have entered the permit space; and
• Inform authorized entrants and the entry supervisor if unauthorized persons have entered the permit space.

• Performs non-entry rescues as specified by the employer's rescue procedure; and
• Performs no duties that might interfere with the attendant's primary duty to monitor and protect the authorized entrants.

 

Duties of Entry Supervisors

(Name of Company) will ensure that each entry supervisor:

• Knows the hazards that may be faced during entry
• Verifies, 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 specified by the permit are in place before endorsing the permit and allowing entry to begin
• Terminates the entry and cancels the permit as required by this program
• Verifies that rescues services are available and that the means for summoning them are operable
• Removes unauthorized individuals who enter or attempt to enter the permit space during operations
• Determines that entry operations remain consistent with terms of the entry permit and that acceptable entry conditions are maintained

Rescue and Emergency Services

The following requirements apply to employers who have employee enter permit spaces to perform rescue services.

• It will be ensured that the rescue service is provided with, and is trained to use, personnel protective equipment necessary for making rescues
• Each member of the rescue service will be trained to perform assigned rescue duties. They will also receive the training required of authorized entrants under this plan
• Each member of the rescue service will practice making rescues at least once every 12 months
• Each member of the rescue service will be trained in basic first-aid and CPR

 

When a host employer arranges to have persons other than their employees perform rescues, the host employer will:

• Evaluate a prospective rescuer’s ability to respond to a rescue summons in a timely manner considering the hazards identified
• Evaluate a prospective rescue service ability, in terms of proficiency with rescue-related tasks and equipment, to function appropriately while rescuing entrants from the permit space
• Select a rescue team that has the capability to reach victims within a time frame that is appropriate for the permit space hazards and is equipped and proficient to perform needed rescue services
  • Inform the rescue service of the hazards they may confront when called on to perform a rescue
  • Provide the rescue service with access to all permit spaces from which rescue may be necessary to allow them to develop rescue plans and practice rescues

To facilitate non-entry rescue, retrieval systems or methods will be used whenever an authorized entrant enters a permit space, unless this would increase risk or would not assist the rescue. Retrieval systems will meet the following:

• Each authorized entrant will use a chest or full body harness with a retrieval line. (Wristlets may be used in lieu of a harness if the employer can demonstrate that they are a safer, more effective alternative.)
• The other end of the retrieval line will be attached to a mechanical device or fixed point outside the permit space so that rescue can begin as soon as it becomes necessary

If an injured entrant is exposed to a substance for which a Safety Data Sheets (SDS) or other similar written information is required, that sheet or written information will be made available to the medical facility treating the exposed entrant.

 

Appendix A

Confined Space Assessment

Confined Space (Non-Permit Required)

• Is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work
• Has limited means for entry and exit
• Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy
   

Permit Required Confined Space – meets the definition of a confined space and has one (or more) of the following:

• Contents have the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere
• Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant
• Has an internal configuration such that the entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward or tapers to a smaller cross-section
• Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard

 

 

OSHA Decision Flow Chart for Determining Permit-Required Confined Space

           CONFINED SPACE ASSESSMENT FORM

 

Confined Space Determination Name of Evaluator _______________________________ Work Area Assessed______________________________ Date of Assessment_______________________________

1.  Space was not designed for continual worker occupancy  YES      NO  2.  Space can be bodily entered and assigned work performed  YES      NO  3.  Space has limited and/or restricted means of access and egress  YES      NO       If you answered yes to all of the above you have met the criteria of a confined space, and must proceed to the next section.

Permit-Required Confined Space Determination

1.  The area contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere  YES      NO  2.  The area contains a material that has the potential to engulf an entrant (water, grain, sand, etc.).  YES     NO     3.  The area has an internal configuration, inwardly converging walls or a floor that slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross section.  YES      NO  4.  The area contains any other recognized serious safety and health hazards (electrical, thermal, mechanical, physical, chemical, etc.).  YES      NO  If you answered yes to any one or more of the above you have met the criteria of a permit-required confined space.  Permit-required spaces must be identified with the appropriate signs, and implement measures to prevent unauthorized entry (locks, bolts, etc.).  If employee entry is required a confined space entry program and training program must be developed and implemented.

Classification of Work Space

Permit-required confined space   YES       NO  Non permit-required confined space (does not contain hazards capable of causing serious harm or death)     YES       NO

Type of Entry

No Entry        Reclassification         Alternate Procedures          Permit Space Program

 

Appendix B

Permit-Required Confined Space Reclassification Form

A Permit-Required Confined Space may be reclassified as a non-permit confined space if:

1. The space does not contain actual or potential atmospheric hazards
2. All hazards are eliminated without entry into the space.

 

The reclassification is valid only while the confined space remains free from hazards. If hazards arise during the course of entry, the space must be evacuated immediately and re-evaluated for hazards.

The reclassification is valid only for the specific entry indicated below:

Location of Space:
Certifying Employee:
Date:
Hazards Originally Existing in Space	Methods of Eliminating Hazards	Verified By
Additional Comments:

Appendix C

Alternate Procedures Certification Form

 

Location of Space:

Certifying Employee:

Date:

AIR MONITORING

Substance Monitored

Permissible Levels

Monitoring Results

Time monitored (put time) Percent Oxygen

Record the time 19.5% to 23.5%

LEL/LFL

Under 10%

Toxic 1:

_____ PEL

____STEL

Toxic 2:

_____ PEL

____STEL

Toxic 3:

_____ PEL

____STEL

Toxic 4:

_____ PEL

____STEL

REMARKS:

Air Tester Name

ID#

Instrument(s) Used (For example:  oxygen meter, combustible gas indicator, etc.)

Model # or Type

Serial# or Unit

Appendix D

Permit-Required Confined Space Entry Permit

Date:
Permit Space to be Entered:
Purpose of Entry:
Supervisor(s) in Charge of Crews:	Type of Crew (Welding, Plumbing, etc.):	Phone #:
Permit Duration:
Communication Procedures (Including Equipment):
Rescue Procedures (Also See Emergency Contact Phone Numbers at End of Form):
Hazards of Permit Space:
Acceptable Entry Conditions:

 

 

REQUIREMENTS COMPLETED (Put N/A if item doesn’t apply)	Date	Time	REQUIREMENTS COMPLETED (Put N/A if item doesn’t apply)		Date	Time
Lockout/De-energize/Try-out			Supplied Air Respirator (N/A if alternate entry)
Line(s) Broken-Capped-Blank			Respirator(s) (Air Purifying)
Purge-Flush and Vent			Protective Clothing
Ventilation			Full Body Harness w/ “D” ring
Secure Area (Post and Flag)			Emergency Escape Retrieval Equip
Lighting (Explosive Proof)			Lifelines
Hotwork Permit			Standby safety personnel (N/A if alternate entry)
Fire Extinguishers			Resuscitator—Inhalator (N/A if alternate entry)
Add other specific information, if needed, or attach additional instructions or requirements. See the following examples in bold print.
Line(s) to be Bled/Blanked:
Ventilation Equipment:
PPE Clothing:
Respirator(s):
Fire Extinguisher(s):
Emergency Retrieval Equipment:
Communication Equipment:
Alarm Systems:

 

AIR MONITORING

Substance Monitored

Permissible Levels

Monitoring Results

Time Monitored (Put Time) Percent Oxygen

Record the Time 19.5% to 23.5%

LEL/LFL

Under 10%

Toxic 1:

_____ PEL

____STEL

Toxic 2:

_____ PEL

____STEL

Toxic 3:

_____ PEL

____STEL

Toxic 4:

_____ PEL

____STEL

REMARKS:

Air Tester Name

ID#

Instrument(s) Used (For example:  oxygen meter, combustible gas indicator, etc.)

Model # or Type

Serial# or Unit

ATTENDANTS AND ENTRANTS

Attendant(s) (Required for all confined space work except alternate entry)

ID#

Confined Space Entrant(s)

ID#

REMARKS:

 

 

SUPERVISOR AUTHORIZATION - I certify required entry conditions are met. Time: Date: Name: Signature: Department or Phone Number:
Emergency Contact Phone Numbers:   Ambulance: Fire: Safety: Rescue Team: Other:

 

 

 

Permit Required Confined Space Training Roster

Training Performed By:

 

Employee Name	Employee Signature	Training Date