• Evaluate and control hazards for safe entry into permit-required confined spaces by doing all the following:
– Test for atmospheric hazards, in this order:
■ Oxygen.
■ Combustible gases and vapors.
■ Toxic gases and vapors.
– Provide each entrant or their authorized representative an opportunity to observe any of the following:
■ Preentry testing.
■ Subsequent testing.
■ Monitoring of permit-required spaces.
– Reevaluate the permit-required space in the presence of any entrant, or their authorized representative, who requests this to be done because they have reason to believe that the evaluation of that space may not have been adequate.
– Upon request, immediately provide each entrant or their authorized representative, with the results of any testing required by this rule.
– Continuously monitor conditions in areas where entrants are working, when isolation of the space is not feasible.
• Examples would be a large space or space that is part of a continuous system, such as a sewer.
• Evaluate space conditions during entry as follows:
Table 3
Evaluating Space Conditions
You must: | In order to |
Test conditions before entry | Determine that acceptable entry conditions exist before entry is authorized by the entry supervisor |
Test or evaluate space conditions during entry | Determine that acceptable entry conditions are being maintained during entry operations |
Evaluate entry operations | Make sure entrants of more than one employer working at the same time in or around a permit-required confined space, do not endanger each other |
important:
This section applies to both:
• Employers whose employees use permit entry procedures; and
• Employers who provide rescue services.