(1) You must implement your procedures for hazard elimination and alternative methods from your written program.

(2) Before entry, eliminate any unsafe conditions including removing an entrance cover.

When entrance covers are removed, promptly guard the opening with a railing, temporary cover, or other temporary barrier to prevent any accidental falls through the opening and protect entrants from objects falling into the space.

(3) For spaces with potential atmospheric hazards you must do all of the following:

(a) Test before an employee enters the confined space. Use a calibrated, direct-reading instrument to test the internal atmosphere for all of the following, in this order:

(i) Oxygen content.

(ii) Flammable gases and vapors.

(iii) Potential toxic air contaminants.

(b) Make sure the atmosphere within the space is not hazardous when entrants are present. Continuously test the atmosphere within the space to ensure hazards do not accumulate.

(i) Wait until the forced air ventilation has removed any hazardous atmosphere before allowing entrants into the space.

(ii) Direct forced air ventilation toward the immediate areas where employees are, or will be working. Continue ventilation until all employees have left the space.

(iii) Provide the air supply from a clean source and make sure it does not increase hazards in the space.

(4) Provide entrants, or their authorized representatives, with an opportunity to observe the preentry and periodic testing.

(5) Evacuate employees from the space immediately when any of the following occurs:

(a) Detection of a hazardous atmosphere by air-monitoring instrumentation;

(b) Failure of a direct-reading instrument;

(d) Introduction of a hazard; a hazard develops; or conditions change within a space.

(6) When a space is evacuated, it cannot be reentered as alternative methods unless you do all of the following:

(a) Correct conditions that necessitated evacuation.

(b) Treat any reentry as a new entry.

PDFWAC 296-809-60004

Implement alternative methods for each permit-required confined space that meet the criteria.