Permit Required Confined Spaces

As many continue the debate around energy isolation methods associated with entry into a Permit-Required Confined Space, I offer another example of why getting the energy isolation plan RIGHT is SO IMPORTANT.  I know there are safety professionals out there who feel strongly that single valve isolation or the use of an “automated valve” being…...

This case involved an industrial laundry company which uses continuous batch washers (CBW) which were correctly defined as a Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS). During an OSHA inspection, the Compliance Officer (CO) took issue with the facility’s rescue plan from a CBW. After reading this case, I too took issue with their rescue plan; however, since…...

This OSHRC case involved laundry company who uses industrial sized washing machines which are correctly classified as a Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS).  OSHA inspected the facility, and the CSHO discovered that the calibration gas used to calibrate the direct reading meter that would be used for testing the atmosphere inside the continuous batch washers (CBW) has expired 18…...

I often review the OSHRC decisions to learn better the “legal” side of OSHA compliance and most of the time I find that the Review Commission is pretty much a straight shooter when it comes to applying OSHA standards. But there are times when I close my computer as if I just saw a ghost…...

I have written repeatedly about Confined Space rescue requirements and the problems with using off-site rescue teams, specifically referencing the requirement of 1910.146(j)(4)…  Duties of entry supervisors. The employer shall ensure that each entry supervisor: … 1910.146(j)(4) Verifies that rescue services are available and that the means for summoning them are operable; Now it seems that…...

In both their General Industry and Construction Confined Space Standards, one of OSHA’s criteria for a “Confined Space” is that the space is “not designed for continuous employee occupancy.” These six (6) words seem to cause much confusion on both ends of the CS debate. I have seen it misused to claim a space is…...

OSHA opened an inspection of the mill on Dec. 27, 2016, in response to a complaint alleging unsafe working conditions. Inspectors discovered employees exposed to serious safety hazards, including permit-required confined space hazards and LOTO failures, which I have summarized below:… Membership Required You must be a member to access this content.View Membership LevelsAlready a...

In my experience, I have found most older built cooling towers to be Permit-Required Confined Spaces (PRCS); however, some of the newer designs have addressed the hazards which make these units PRCS (e.g., guarding the fan and shaft within the unit) or these spaces may be eligible for reclassification using 1910.146(c)(7).  But this OSHA fatality inspection…...

OSHA cited a South Florida utility company and related contracting company after the agency’s investigation into the deaths of three workers who succumbed to toxic gases in a manhole on Jan. 16, 2017.  A 34-year-old pipe layer entered the manhole – a confined space – and quickly became unresponsive. A 49-year-old laborer entered the hole…...