Confined spaces are a necessary evil for many industries. They present extremely unique challenges to employers and safety teams, and are aggressively scrutinized by the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA created Standard 1910.146 to help employers understand the definition of, and requirements for, confined spaces.

This standard explains that 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. But the standard also discusses permit entry systems, which are what really matter if you have a confined space.

Unfortunately, determining whether or not your confined space requires a permit entry system can be complicated. If, after reviewing the standard, you feel you might need to establish a permit entry system, it is best to have the facility audited by a professional safety consulting firm to help you determine what kind of permit entry system is required for your facility.

If you would like more information on determining whether or not a space in your facility qualifies as a confined space, or if you feel you need to establish a permit entry system, please contact us. If you have anything to add about confined spaces and the importance of a proper permit entry system, please leave a comment.