This part applies to all confined spaces and provides requirements to protect employees from the hazards of entering and working in confined spaces. This part applies in any of the following circumstances:
• You have confined spaces in your workplace.
• Your employees will enter another employer's confined spaces.
• A contractor will enter your confined spaces.
• You provide confined space rescue services.
You can use Table 1 to help you decide which requirements to follow for confined spaces.
Table 1
Requirements for Confined Spaces
For confined spaces that are | The requirements in the following sections apply |
| 644 | 646 | 648 | 650 | 652 | 654 |
| Permit-required confined spaces | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Entered by a contractor | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Nonpermit confined spaces | X | | | | | X |
| Never entered | X | | | | | |
If you only: | | | | | | |
| Use alternate entry procedures | X | X | X | | X | |
| Have a contractor enter your space | X | | | | | |
| Are a rescue service provider | | X | X | X | | |
Definition:
A confined space is a space that is all of the following:
• Large enough and arranged so an employee could fully enter the space and work.
• Has limited or restricted entry or exit. Examples of spaces with limited or restricted entry are tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, excavations, and pits.
• Not primarily designed for human occupancy.
Note: | • Requirements in other chapters may apply to your work. You will find some safety and health requirements are addressed on a broad level in this part, while being addressed for a specific application in another rule. When this happens, both requirements apply and should not conflict. When a conflict does occur, you need to follow the more specific requirement. |
| • If you are uncertain which requirements to follow, contact your local labor and industries (L&I) office. |