If your workplace contains only nonpermit confined spaces and your employees do not enter another employer's confined space, you may follow only the requirements in:

– WAC 296-307-644, Identifying and controlling permit-required confined spaces; and

– WAC 296-307-654, Nonpermit confined space requirements.

• Identify all permit-required confined spaces in your workplace.

• Assume any confined space is a permit-required confined space, unless you determine the space to be a nonpermit confined space.

– If you enter the space to determine the hazards, follow the requirements in WAC 296-307-650, Permit entry procedures.

– If you evaluate the confined space and there are no potential or actual hazards, you can consider it to be a nonpermit confined space.

• Document your determination that the space is nonpermit, as required by WAC 296-307-654.

A permit-required confined space or permit space is a confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics capable of causing death or serious physical harm:

– Contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere.

– Contains a material with the potential for engulfing someone who enters the space.

– Has an internal configuration that could allow someone entering to be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor, which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross-section.

– Contains any physical hazard. This includes any recognized health or safety hazards including engulfment in solid or liquid material, electrical shock, or moving parts.

– Contains any other recognized safety or health hazard that could either:

• Impair the ability to self rescue;

• Result in a situation that presents an immediate danger to life or health.

A nonpermit confined space is a confined space that does not contain actual hazards or potential hazards capable of causing death or serious physical harm.