So I posed the question to over 30,000 safety pros across my LinkedIn and Facebook groups and SAFTENG members, and as I suspected, there was a lively debate on this matter. I have received numerous requests to break down the evaluation like I have done for other “tricky” spaces that fall outside the traditional CS/PRCS type of spaces. So buckle up as this may be a wild ride for some of you.
First, for those who are not SAFTENG members, I will state up front that the large CNC machines, as shown below, are by definition a PRCS. Where I take a wild turn is that I do NOT think OSHA would use 1910.146 to issue citations and instead simply issue LOTO violations, as they have done many times before.
Is this CNC machine a Confined Space (CS)?
