Whether you are working in confined spaces under OSHA’s construction standard or general industry standard, confined space training and retention is vital to worker safety. As part of our ongoing efforts to make training helps free and creative, we are happy to make our new confined space safety poster available via download for free. Can you name the movie? Feel free to search the web for the original movie poster and let us know how we did.
Also, as a matter of information, our confined space training kit is being overhauled to help employer’s meet the strict guidelines for confined space training. We are also getting ready to create our confined space online course. Please contact us for information regarding their release.
As you are most likely aware, OSHA recently changed the confined space rules for the construction industry. These changes bring the construction confined space standard into more of an alignment with the general industry. You can read more about the changes to the construction confined space standard on OSHA’s website. Generally speaking, according to OSHA, the changes address the following:
There are 5 key differences from the construction rule, and several areas where OSHA has clarified existing requirements. The five new requirements include:
- More detailed provisions requiring coordinated activities when there are multiple employers at the worksite (for more detail, see question below). This will ensure hazards are not introduced into a confined space by workers performing tasks outside the space. An example would be a generator running near the entrance of a confined space causing a buildup of carbon monoxide within the space.
- Requiring a competent person to evaluate the work site and identify confined spaces, including permit spaces.
- Requiring continuous atmospheric monitoring whenever possible.
- Requiring continuous monitoring of engulfment hazards. For example, when workers are performing work in a storm sewer, a storm upstream from the workers could cause flash flooding. An electronic sensor or observer posted upstream from the work site could alert workers in the space at the first sign of the hazard, giving the workers time to evacuate the space safely.
- Allowing for the suspension of a permit, instead of cancellation, in the event of changes from the entry conditions list on the permit or an unexpected event requiring evacuation of the space. The space must be returned to the entry conditions listed on the permit before re-entry.
In addition, OSHA has added provisions to the new rule that clarifies existing requirements in the General Industry standard. These include:
- Requiring that employers who direct workers to enter a space without using a complete permit system prevent workers’ exposure to physical hazards through elimination of the hazard or isolation methods such as lockout/tagout.
- Requiring that employers who are relying on local emergency services for emergency services arrange for responders to give the employer advance notice if they will be unable to respond for a period of time (because they are responding to another emergency, attending department-wide training, etc.).
- Requiring employers to provide training in a language and vocabulary that the worker understands.
- Finally, several terms have been added to the definitions for the construction rule, such as “entry employer” to describe the employer who directs workers to enter a space, and “entry rescue”, added to clarify the differences in the types of rescue employers can use.
View or save an easy-to-read copy of the new confined space standard for the construction industry (29 CFR 1926, Subpart AA): new OSHA standard
1926.1200 [Reserved]
1926.1201 Scope.
1926.1202 Definitions.
1926.1203 General requirements.
1926.1204 Permit-required confined space program.
1926.1205 Permitting process.
1926.1206 Entry permit.
1926.1207 Training.
1926.1208 Duties of authorized entrants.
1926.1209 Duties of attendants.
1926.1210 Duties of entry supervisors.
1926.1211 Rescue and emergency services.
1926.1212 Employee participation.
1926.1213 Provision of documents to Secretary.