If your facility has confined spaces and you have not reviewed OSHA Standard 1910.146, you have done yourself a disservice. This standard is mandatory reading for anyone with a confined space to contend with. It explains when a permit entry system is and is not required for the confined space, who may and may not enter the confined space, and how you should monitor who is and is not entering the space.

First, it is important to understand what a confined space is. As per Standard 1910.146, a confined space is any space which meets the following 3 criteria: it is large  enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work; has limited or restricted means for entry or exit (for example, tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, and pits are spaces that may have limited means of entry.); and is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.

Next, you need to determine if your facility requires a permit entry system and an attendant. This determination can be tricky based upon the space (or spaces) in your facility, and for that reason it is usually advisable to hire a qualified auditing firm to assist in the process.

Should you determine your facility does, in fact, need a permit entry system, establishing one is actually not too difficult. You need to start by determining who will and will not have access to the space, and under what circumstances those individuals will have access. You then need to create procedures and make them known to employees. Finally, you need to create appropriate signage and properly display the signage near the confined space.

If you have any questions about a space in your facility, or would like help in developing your permit entry system, please contact us. If you have anything to add about how to properly establish a permit entry system for a confined space, please leave a comment.