Confined Space Entry

Document Number: [SWP-NUMBER]

Revision Date: [DATE]

Next Review Date: [NEXT REVIEW DATE]

Department: [DEPARTMENT NAME]

1. Scope

This safe work procedure applies to planning, preparing for, and performing entry into permit-required confined spaces where workers may be exposed to atmospheric hazards, engulfment, entrapment, mechanical hazards, electrical hazards, heat stress, noise, or other serious hazards. It covers hazard identification, risk assessment, permit authorization, atmospheric testing and continuous monitoring, isolation and lockout/tagout, ventilation, PPE selection, attendant duties, rescue readiness, training, and compliance with OSHA confined space requirements. The procedure is intended for routine and non-routine entry work such as inspection, cleaning, maintenance, repair, coating, welding, and similar tasks. It does not replace site-specific rescue procedures, hot work permits, energy isolation procedures, or manufacturer instructions. If conditions change, if the atmosphere becomes unsafe, or if the space cannot be made safe by the required controls, entry must stop and the space must be re-evaluated before work resumes.

2. Definitions

Confined Space A space that is large enough for an employee to enter, has restricted means of entry or exit, and is not designed for continuous employee occupancy. Permit-Required Confined Space A confined space that contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere, engulfment hazard, inwardly converging walls or a sloping floor that could trap or asphyxiate an entrant, or any other recognized serious safety or health hazard. Isolation The process of removing a permit space from service and protecting it against the release of energy and material into the space by methods such as blanking, blinding, lockout/tagout, disconnecting mechanical linkages, or double block and bleed. Attendant A trained person stationed outside the confined space who monitors entrants, maintains communication, prevents unauthorized entry, and initiates emergency response when required. IDLH Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health; an atmosphere or condition that poses an immediate threat to life, would cause irreversible adverse health effects, or would impair a person's ability to escape unaided from the space.

3. Responsibilities

3.1 Supervisors

• Identify permit-required confined spaces, evaluate hazards before entry, and ensure the entry permit system is used whenever required. Supervisors must verify that acceptable entry conditions exist, that the space has been isolated, ventilated, tested, and monitored, and that all required equipment and rescue arrangements are in place before authorizing entry.
• Confirm that only trained and authorized entrants and attendants are assigned to the job, that the permit is completed and posted, and that the permit remains valid only for the duration and conditions approved. If conditions change, the supervisor must stop work, re-evaluate the space, and issue a new permit if needed.
• Ensure rescue services are notified as required, that emergency procedures are understood, and that communication methods, retrieval systems, and standby arrangements are suitable for the specific space and task.
• Review atmospheric test results, verify calibration and functional checks of monitoring equipment, and ensure that monitoring frequency is sufficient to detect hazardous changes in time for entrants to exit safely.

3.2 Workers

• Follow the permit, training, and site-specific procedures exactly as issued. Workers must not enter a confined space unless authorized, must use required PPE and equipment correctly, and must immediately exit if an alarm sounds, communication is lost, ventilation fails, or conditions become unsafe.
• Participate in pre-job briefings, understand the hazards of the specific space, and report any unsafe condition, equipment defect, or change in atmosphere to the supervisor or attendant without delay.
• Maintain continuous awareness of atmospheric conditions, work practices, and personal limitations. Workers must not bypass controls, smoke, use unauthorized tools, or perform work that could create additional hazards without approval and additional controls.
• Use retrieval, communication, and rescue equipment only as trained, and cooperate with the attendant and rescue team during emergencies or evacuation.

3.3 Health and Safety Representative

• Verify that the confined space program includes hazard assessment, permit controls, training, rescue planning, incident reporting, and periodic program review. Safety representatives should support audits, observe entries when appropriate, and recommend corrective actions when deficiencies are identified.
• Review incident and near-miss trends, confirm that corrective actions are implemented, and help ensure lessons learned are communicated to affected workers and supervisors.

4. Potential Hazards and Risks

5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal protective equipment is the last line of defense and must be selected based on the specific hazards identified for the space, the work activity, and the atmospheric conditions. PPE does not replace isolation, ventilation, testing, or rescue planning; it supplements those controls when hazards cannot be fully eliminated.

• Head Protection: Use an industrial hard hat or bump-cap style head protection appropriate to the space configuration and overhead hazards. The selected head protection must fit under access openings and remain secure during climbing, crawling, or rescue movement. Where impact or electrical hazards exist, use the correct class of head protection for the task.
  • Inspect shell, suspension, and chin strap before use.
  • Replace damaged or degraded head protection immediately.
• Eye and Face Protection: Use safety glasses with side shields, goggles, or a face shield as required by the hazard assessment. Eye protection must protect against dust, splashes, flying particles, and chemical exposure from cleaning, cutting, grinding, or coating operations.
  • Select sealed goggles for splash or vapor exposure.
  • Use a face shield over primary eye protection when grinding or handling corrosive liquids.
• Hand Protection: Wear gloves matched to the hazard, such as cut-resistant, chemical-resistant, heat-resistant, or general-purpose work gloves. Gloves must allow safe handling of tools, ladders, and retrieval equipment without reducing dexterity below a safe level.
  • Verify chemical compatibility for solvents, coatings, or residues.
  • Replace gloves that are torn, contaminated, or saturated.
• Respiratory Protection: Use respirators only when the hazard assessment shows they are necessary and when the atmosphere can be safely controlled or escape protection is required. Respiratory protection may include air-purifying respirators, supplied-air respirators, or SCBA depending on the contaminant, oxygen level, and exposure duration. Respirator use must comply with the applicable respiratory protection program.
  • Do not rely on a respirator in an oxygen-deficient atmosphere unless it is specifically approved for that condition.
  • Ensure fit testing, medical clearance, and user seal checks are completed where required.
• Protective Clothing and Footwear: Wear protective clothing suited to the hazard, such as coveralls, chemical-resistant suits, or flame-resistant garments where needed. Safety footwear should provide slip resistance, toe protection, and puncture resistance when the space contains sharp edges, wet surfaces, or dropped-object hazards.
  • Choose clothing that will not snag on ladders, manways, or moving parts.
  • Use chemical-resistant boots or boot covers when contamination is present.
• Fall Protection and Retrieval Harness: Use a full-body harness with a retrieval attachment point when vertical entry, limited access, or rescue retrieval is required. The harness must be compatible with the retrieval system and allow non-entry rescue where feasible.
  • Inspect webbing, buckles, D-rings, and stitching before each use.
  • Ensure lifelines are free of knots, cuts, and abrasion.

Inspect all PPE before each use and after any event that may have damaged it. Remove defective, contaminated, or expired PPE from service immediately. Clean, dry, and store PPE according to manufacturer instructions, and maintain records for respirators, harnesses, and other critical equipment where required. Replace components that show wear, chemical degradation, UV damage, loss of elasticity, or failed fit/function checks.

6. Equipment and Tools

Confined space entry requires equipment that supports hazard control, safe access, communication, monitoring, and rescue. All equipment must be suitable for the specific atmosphere and task, maintained in serviceable condition, and used only by trained personnel.

• Atmospheric Testing and Monitoring Equipment: Use a calibrated direct-reading gas monitor capable of testing oxygen, combustible gases or vapors, and toxic contaminants relevant to the space. The instrument must be checked before use, calibrated according to manufacturer requirements, and function-tested before each shift or entry as required by the site procedure.
  • Test in the correct order: oxygen first, then combustible gases/vapors, then toxic gases/vapors.
  • Use continuous monitoring where conditions can change during entry.
• Ventilation Equipment: Use mechanical ventilation, air movers, or local exhaust equipment sized to the space and the hazard. Ventilation equipment must be appropriate for the atmosphere present and positioned to supply fresh air and remove contaminated air without creating additional hazards.
  • Verify airflow direction and effectiveness before entry.
  • Use explosion-proof or intrinsically safe equipment where flammable atmospheres may be present.
• Lockout/Tagout and Isolation Devices: Use locks, tags, blanks, blinds, caps, disconnects, valve isolation devices, and other energy-control hardware to isolate the space from mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal, and process hazards. Isolation must be verified before entry and maintained until the job is complete.
  • Apply group lockout where multiple workers are involved.
  • Verify zero energy and zero material flow before removing covers or opening the space.
• Communication Equipment: Provide radios, hard-wired communication systems, field telephones, or other reliable methods that allow continuous contact between entrants and the attendant. Communication equipment must function in the space environment and remain usable despite noise, distance, or obstructions.
  • Test communication before entry.
  • Establish emergency signals if voice communication fails.
• Rescue and Retrieval Equipment: Provide retrieval lines, full-body harnesses, tripods, winches, lifelines, and other rescue equipment appropriate to the entry configuration. Rescue equipment must support prompt non-entry rescue whenever feasible and must be immediately available for use.
  • Ensure equipment is compatible and rated for the load and configuration.
  • Keep rescue gear unobstructed and ready for immediate deployment.

Inspect all equipment before each entry, including gas monitors, ventilation units, retrieval systems, ladders, lighting, communication devices, and isolation hardware. Confirm calibration, battery status, mechanical integrity, and safe operation. Remove defective equipment from service, tag it out, and repair or replace it before use. Maintain equipment according to manufacturer instructions and site preventive maintenance schedules.

7. Pre-Job Requirements

7.1 Training and Competency

Training and Competency: Only authorized workers who have completed confined space training may participate in entry operations. Training must cover hazard recognition, permit requirements, atmospheric testing, ventilation, isolation, PPE, attendant duties, rescue procedures, communication methods, and emergency response. Workers assigned to monitor gas testing or act as attendants must be competent in the specific equipment and procedures used at the site.

7.2 Pre-Job Briefing

Pre-Job Briefing: Conduct a documented pre-job briefing before each entry. Review the space identification, scope of work, known and potential hazards, control measures, permit conditions, communication methods, rescue plan, stop-work triggers, and individual responsibilities. Confirm that all workers understand the entry sequence, emergency signals, and evacuation criteria.

7.3 Work Area Preparation

Work Area Preparation: Prepare the area around the confined space before opening the entry point. Survey the surrounding area for drifting vapors, vehicle exhaust, process discharges, or other external hazards. Barricade or guard the opening, post warning signs, provide safe access and egress, and ensure lighting and equipment placement do not create trip, ignition, or obstruction hazards.

8. Safe Work Procedure Steps

1. 1. Confirm the Space, Scope, and Entry Need: Verify that the task truly requires entry and identify the exact space, work objective, and expected duration. Review the space history, previous permits, material safety data, and any recent changes in process, maintenance, or occupancy. If the space can be made safe without entry or the work can be performed from outside, use the safer alternative. Safety note: all spaces should be treated as permit-required until the pre-entry evaluation proves otherwise.
   • Define the work to be performed and the limitations of the permit.
   • Identify whether contractors, hot work, or simultaneous operations are involved.
2. 2. Perform Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment: Assess atmospheric and non-atmospheric hazards associated with the space, including oxygen deficiency or enrichment, flammable atmospheres, toxic contaminants, engulfment, entrapment, mechanical hazards, electrical hazards, heat, noise, and external hazards. Determine the likelihood and severity of each hazard and select controls using the hierarchy of controls. Safety note: if hazards cannot be controlled to acceptable levels, do not enter.
   • Consider hazards from residues, coatings, cleaning agents, and adjacent processes.
   • Evaluate whether work activities may change the atmosphere during the job.
3. 3. Complete the Permit and Obtain Authorization: Prepare the confined space entry permit before entry begins. The permit should document the space, scope of work, hazards, control measures, atmospheric test results, communication methods, attendant assignment, rescue arrangements, and authorization to proceed. Post the permit at the entry point and keep it active only for the approved duration and conditions. Safety note: if conditions change, the permit must be suspended and reissued after re-evaluation.
   • Ensure the permit is signed by the authorized supervisor.
   • Keep a copy available at the job site for the duration of the work.
4. 4. Isolate Energy and Material Sources: Lock out, tag out, de-energize, blank, blind, disconnect, cap, or otherwise isolate all sources of hazardous energy and material that could enter the space. Verify zero energy state and prevent accidental startup, release, or movement. Safety note: isolation must include mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, thermal, and process sources as applicable.
   • Block moving parts and secure stored-energy sources.
   • Verify isolation before removing covers or opening the space.
5. 5. Prepare the Space and Surrounding Area: Purge, flush, drain, clean, or remove residues as needed to reduce hazards. Set up ventilation, barriers, safe lighting, access equipment, and communication systems. Barricade the area to protect workers and the public from open manways, falling objects, and external traffic. Safety note: use only equipment suitable for the atmosphere and task, including explosion-proof or intrinsically safe equipment where required.
   • Remove or control sludge, sediment, vapors, and other contaminants.
   • Confirm that the opening can be safely accessed and egressed.
6. 6. Test the Atmosphere Before Entry: Test the atmosphere before entry and before changes to natural ventilation are made. Follow the correct sequence: oxygen first, then combustible gases and vapors, then toxic gases and vapors. Test at multiple levels in the space because gases may stratify. Safety note: do not enter until acceptable conditions are confirmed and documented.
   • Test top, middle, and bottom where stratification is possible.
   • Allow entrants or their representatives to observe testing when requested.
7. 7. Establish Ventilation and Continuous Monitoring: Use mechanical ventilation or other approved methods to maintain acceptable atmospheric conditions throughout the entry. Continue monitoring at a frequency that will detect hazardous changes in time for workers to exit safely. If ventilation fails, alarms activate, or readings drift outside acceptable limits, stop work and evacuate immediately. Safety note: entrants must be able to exit before conditions become dangerous.
   • Verify that ventilation does not introduce ignition or contamination hazards.
   • Confirm that monitoring continues for the full duration of occupancy.
8. 8. Assign the Attendant and Maintain Communication: Station at least one trained attendant outside the space for the duration of entry. The attendant must maintain continuous communication with entrants, monitor their status, prevent unauthorized entry, and initiate emergency response if needed. Safety note: the attendant must not leave the post or enter the space unless relieved and the rescue procedure allows it.
   • Use voice, radio, or other reliable communication methods.
   • Stop entry if communication cannot be maintained.
9. 9. Enter and Perform the Work Safely: Allow entry only after all pre-entry requirements are satisfied and the supervisor has authorized the permit. Workers must use required PPE, follow the work plan, and remain alert for changing conditions. Keep tools organized, avoid creating new hazards, and maintain housekeeping to prevent slips, trips, and entanglement. Safety note: any worker may order an immediate exit if unsafe conditions develop.
   • Use only approved tools and equipment.
   • Do not smoke, bypass controls, or perform unauthorized hot work.
10. 10. Exit, Close Out, and Restore the Space: When work is complete or conditions become unsafe, evacuate the space, account for all personnel, remove tools and materials, and close out the permit. Remove isolation only after the space is confirmed clear and safe to return to service. Safety note: review the job for lessons learned and document any issues, near misses, or corrective actions.
    • Inspect the space for leftover materials or obstructions.
    • Return permits and records according to site procedure.

9. Precautions and Safety Measures

• Use a strict stop-work authority for any worker, attendant, or supervisor who identifies unsafe conditions. - Stop work immediately if alarms sound, ventilation fails, communication is lost, atmospheric readings change, or unexpected hazards are discovered.
• Maintain barricades, warning signs, and access control around the entry point. - Protect workers and the public from open holes, falling objects, vehicle traffic, and unauthorized entry throughout the job.
• Prohibit smoking, open flames, and uncontrolled ignition sources near the confined space. - Apply this rule to the entry area and any adjacent locations where vapors or gases could migrate.
• Use only trained personnel for gas testing, attendant duties, rescue support, and entry supervision. - Verify competency before assignment and retrain when equipment, hazards, or procedures change.
• Re-evaluate the space whenever conditions change or work is interrupted. - Issue a new permit or checklist if the space is vacated, the atmosphere changes, the process changes, or the job scope changes.

10. Emergency Procedures

10.1 General Emergency Response

If an emergency occurs, the attendant must order immediate evacuation, summon rescue services, and prevent untrained rescue attempts. Entrants must exit without delay using the safest available route. The supervisor must account for all personnel, notify emergency responders, and provide the rescue team with space information, hazards, isolation status, and atmospheric readings. Non-entry rescue should be used whenever feasible, and entry rescue must only be performed by trained rescuers with appropriate equipment and backup support.

10.2 Specific Emergency Scenarios

• Atmospheric alarm, loss of ventilation, or sudden change in gas readings: Stop work immediately, instruct all entrants to exit, and keep the space closed until the atmosphere is re-tested and declared safe. Do not re-enter until the cause is identified, controls are restored, and the supervisor reauthorizes entry.
• Entrant becomes incapacitated, trapped, or unresponsive inside the space: The attendant must not enter unless the rescue plan specifically authorizes entry rescue and adequate backup is in place. Activate the rescue team, use retrieval equipment if available, and provide emergency services with the space location, hazards, and access details. Maintain communication and keep the area clear for rescuers.
• Fire, explosion risk, or release of flammable/toxic material: Evacuate immediately, isolate ignition sources if this can be done safely from outside the space, notify emergency responders, and establish an exclusion zone. Do not attempt re-entry until the incident is controlled and the atmosphere is verified safe by competent personnel.
• Loss of communication with entrants: Treat loss of communication as a stop-work condition. Order evacuation if contact cannot be restored promptly, verify entrant status, and do not resume entry until communication systems are repaired and tested.

10.3 Emergency Contact Information

Emergency contact information must be site-specific and posted on the permit and at the entry point. It should include the designated rescue service, internal emergency response contacts, and any site alarm or notification method required by the confined space plan.

11. Incident Reporting and Investigation

Report all incidents, near misses, atmospheric alarms, equipment failures, permit deviations, and rescue-related events immediately to supervision and the safety function. Preserve the scene where safe to do so, secure monitoring records and the permit, and document the time, location, conditions, personnel involved, and immediate corrective actions. Near misses and hazards that did not result in injury must also be reported because they indicate program weaknesses and may prevent a serious event.

Investigate each confined space incident using a structured review of the permit, hazard assessment, atmospheric testing records, isolation steps, ventilation effectiveness, attendant actions, communication performance, training status, and rescue readiness. Determine root causes and contributing factors, assign corrective actions, and verify completion before the space is returned to service or the program is reused. Update procedures, training, equipment, and permits based on lessons learned.

Approved by: [NAME AND POSITION]

Date: [APPROVAL DATE]

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