One of the most asked-about standards is OSHA’s Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS) standard. The standard can be difficult to decipher, so this post attempts to break down an employer’s entry options. We should view the standard as offering three (3) entry options. Each option has its own set of rules and pros and cons.
Once a facility has completed its Confined Space/Permit Required Confined Space evaluations, the employer must label those spaces deemed Permit-Required Confined Spaces (PRCS) AND decide if employees will enter these PRCS(s). If the employer decides their employees may enter one of these PRCS(s), they have three (3) entry options available to them. However, two (2) of these entry options have some significant limitations and apply ONLY to PRCS that meet strict criteria.
Option #1 is NOT ONE YOU SHOULD EVEN CONSIDER (in our opinion), but it is a legal option.
