Description
What’s in the Confined Space Course?
This training course is OSHA-aligned and covers OSHA’s classroom training requirements. Each class contains sections on equipment and anatomy, maintenance and inspections, safe operations and stability, common hazards, and more. This presentation includes intermittent practice quiz questions to prepare for the final written exam included with the course. Upon successful completion of the course and exam, you will have immediate online access to your certificate of completion. You have the option to download the practical evaluations for the specific course. Although the practical evaluation is not a required part of the online course, we strongly recommend completing it under the supervision of your employer to ensure your mastery of the safety training topics. This class discusses these topics:
- Basic equipment and how to inspect it
- Atmospheric testing and monitoring
- Safe operations, including confined space entry procedures
- Common hazards like IDLH atmospheres
- Rescue techniques
- More!
Estimated Training Length: Because everyone learns and progresses at different speeds, the amount of time you spend taking this training will vary. However, the estimated time for this training is 120 – 150 min.
Intended Audience:
- Employees
- Supervisors
This course covers the following OSHA standards:
- 29 CFR 1910.146 – General Industry, Confined Spaces
- 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA – Construction
- 29 CFR 1915 Subpart B – Shipyards
- 29 CFR 1910.134 – Respiratory Protection
Why Take Our Online Confined Space Training?
Our online training course provides a substantial, thorough, and effective way to learn how to work safely. We’ve been providing industry-specific safety training solutions for individuals, safety managers, and business owners for over 15 years.
The online course meets the classroom requirement for occupational safety training. It also includes a proficiency checklist that employers can use to perform a practical evaluation, in accordance with standards and regulations.
We have fine-tuned this training to provide you with the best experience possible. Our robust training approach gives an interactive experience that helps learners retain information and apply it on the job site, preventing costly accidents and fines. Safety training is an investment. That is why hundreds of companies and individuals all over the world trust the Hard Hat Training Series for their online training needs.
Why Buy Our Online Confined Space Training?
- Complete Training: First and foremost our goal is to keep you safe and save you money. Don't risk getting expensive OSHA fines because you settled for a sub-par training program that didn't cover safety topics in depth. Train using a program that helps you retain what is learned so that it is put into practice on job sites.
- Cost-Effective: Hiring a trainer to come on-site can be expensive. In contrast, our online curriculum lowers costs while still providing a professional training experience.
- Records Tracking System: We offer an easy-to-use management system so that if you have multiple students who are receiving the training you can have access to all records, all-terrain certificates, observation guides and more! (contact us if you would like us to quickly create a company account for you)
- Train Your Way: You can use this online training program for new hire training, refresher training or train remotely. Access it from anywhere and work on your schedule.
- Interactive Learning: Special reminders and quiz questions throughout the course prep students for the final exam so that it is passed the first time.
- Corporate License: Do you want to host this course on your own server? Contact us about obtaining broadcasting rights for this and any of our other online courses.
The Ultimate Guide to Confined Space Training
What Defines a Confined Space?
Confined spaces take many different forms. A confined space could be a silo, sewer, cargo tank, crawl space, well, vault, trench, or even an ordinary room in a building.
A confined space doesn’t necessarily refer to a space that’s small or tight. While this can be true, a confined space is generally an area with limited means of entry or exit. It is a space that is not designed for continuous occupancy. For more in-depth information and details on this topics check out our article What 3 Things Define a Confined Space.
When classifying a confined space, there are four main characteristics one should identify:
- Space access
- Internal configuration
- Elevation
- Portal Size
Space access – Evaluate the entrance type. Horizontal entrances are on the side of the space, while vertical entrances mean you drop down or climb up to enter the space. Vertical tend to be more hazardous.
Internal configuration – The space’s interior is either open or obstructed. An open configuration implies that there are no barriers or obstacles a rescuer would need to navigate. An obstructed space has areas and obstacles that require more specific navigation.
Elevation – An elevated entrance is considered to be four feet above grade, while a non-elevated entrance is less than four feet. Elevated spaces require additional training and proper protective equipment (PPE).
Portal Size – Examine the size of the entrance/exit point. OSHA states that anything smaller than two feet in diameter is considered a restricted opening.
If you’re an employer trying to analyze the hazard level of a combined space, then it’s important to keep these four items in mind. Use them to determine the level of risk in a confined space, and decide how much training may be necessary to keep employees safe while working.
What Type of Training Does OSHA Require To Operate in Confined Spaces?
As you read OSHA’s standards on confined spaces, you notice them regularly refer to “permit-required confined spaces” or simply “permit spaces”. These refer to any confined space that an employer has deemed dangerous.
There are a few things that may qualify a confined space as a permit space:
- The space in question has a toxic atmosphere
- The space has potential to engulf or entrap an employee
- The space severely restricts movement, and has the potential to trap or asphyxiate an employee
- Contains other hazards such as unguarded machinery or cut points
If you’re an employer, it’s your responsibility to assess whether or not a confined space should require a permit. If you’ve already assessed that risk is high, then it’s your responsibility to train employees ( learn the four levels of confined space training required by OSHA), and monitor who is allowed to operate within the space.
It’s a good idea to distribute permits only to employees who you feel understand the dangers within the confined space and feel confident entering. OSHA doesn’t require any formal education or certification for an employee to enter a confined space, although they do ask that the employee be a competent person.
A competent person is anyone who understands the task, its associated hazards, and has sufficient knowledge to accomplish the task safely. To make sure an employee is competent, it’s a good idea to enroll them in a safety course, and spend ample time teaching them one-on-one. Safety Training is a fast and inexpensive process that can be vital in preserving your employee’s lives. Click here to view our confined space online course, or browse the rest of our safety training courses.
How Often Must Training For Confined Spaces Be Reviewed?
It’s a good idea for employees to take at least two hours of refresher training annually. Employers should keep track of who has a permit, when they were trained, and what training, if any, may still be necessary.
Along with the annual renewal, it’s a good idea to distribute training to employees as conditions change. For example, imagine atmospheric conditions within a confined space become more toxic over time, and a full face mask was required to enter. In this case, it would be smart to give an updated training to all personnel regarding the new PPE and proper safety measures.
What Are The Most Common Hazards In a Confined Space?
Oxygen or Toxic Atmosphere
The air inside a confined space is often the most immediate danger. If an atmosphere lacks clean oxygen to breathe, the body can shut down in under a minute, leaving you trapped.
In one case, three employees were assigned to clear out an underground storage compartment. The first employee entered alone, but only minutes later collapsed on the ground. The second employee entered, calling out to his coworker who hadn’t responded. Not long after, he too collapsed. When neither of the employees were heard from, the third employee entered to investigate the disappearance. Minutes later, he too blacked out.
All three employees, being pronounced dead on the spot, had perished due to a lack of oxygen. The space had not been inspected before the employees entered. It was later confirmed that the atmosphere contained only 10-13% oxygen. Accidents like this, unfortunately, happen too often. Before a job begins, a competent person should always inspect the conditions within the confined space, and distribute the appropriate PPE.
Flammability
Many confined places once held flammable material. For example, a silo may still be full of flammable grain dust from when it was full, or a tanker might contain residual gas. Employees who enter a confined space for hot work, such as welding, may face fire hazards that can be a serious threat to their safety.
Because of this common accident, workers are required to get a hot work permit before working in or around the confined space.
Engulfment
Engulfment is a serious hazard in spaces such as a grain bin or trench. Engulfment refers to being enclosed, crushed, or suffocated by loose material. In the case of a grain bin worker, loose grain has the potential to collapse and crush an employee, making it a serious safety hazard. In many instances, an employee walks on loose grain in an attempt to unclog the bin, only to be entrapped and suffocated by the shifting grain.
The best way to avoid engulfment hazards is by proper training, supervision, and PPE. If you’re a confined space worker, it’s critical that you understand the hazards you’ll face on the job, so that you can avoid them at all costs. Always wear protective equipment, and avoid working alone. Doing so can help prevent engulfment before it occurs.
If you are interested in confined space training but this online course is not what you are looking for check out all our training formats for confined space training on our construction safety course catalog.
If you need safety training beyond confined space check out the other courses we offer here at Hard Hat Training on ourhomepage.
Samuel B. –
it was good
Hard Hat Training –
Thanks for your feedback, Samuel. I’m glad that you found the training to be sufficient for what you needed.
Marco N. –
It was great
Hard Hat Training –
Hello Marco. We are glad you liked the training! Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. Please let us not if we can help you with any other training in the future! And thanks for choosing Hard Hat Training.
Flint R. –
good material
Hard Hat Training –
Thanks for the great comments, Flint. We appreciate you taking the time.
Terry G. –
Seems quite satisfactory
Hard Hat Training –
Terry, we are so happy to hear that the course was satisfactory. If we can help you with any other training needs, please let us know.
John D. –
This was the best course out of the lot.
Hard Hat Training –
What an awesome review, John! Thank you so much for the positive feedback. We would love to continue providing top-notch training, so if you know of anything in particular that you feel separated this course from others in its quality, please let us know. Thanks again!
Gerry B –
All good
Hard Hat Training –
Thank you for your review, Gerry. I’m glad the training was good for you.
Justine C. –
informative
Hard Hat Training –
Thanks, Justine, for your review. We dedicate a lot of time on these courses to make sure that they are full of information that you can use.
jeff Wright –
it’s a lot of material but the course was informative.
Hard Hat Training –
Jeff, what an incredible review! Thank you so much. We try to keep our trainings informative as well as interactive. We are glad to know that you have found this to be the case. Thank you again!
john Bard –
was great
Hard Hat Training –
Thanks for the great review, John. We’re glad that you found the training so great, and we hope that our other courses can be just as beneficial for you.
Lorenzo V. –
Convenient, great service!
Hard Hat Training –
Hello Lorenzo,
We are glad you liked the training! Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. Please let us not if we can help you with any other training in the future! And thanks for choosing Hard Hat Training.
Kevin Noriega –
Great class
Hard Hat Training –
Hello Kevin,
We are glad you liked the training! Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. Please let us not if we can help you with any other training in the future! And thanks for choosing Hard Hat Training.
Justin D. –
great course
Hard Hat Training –
Thanks, Justin, for rating us so highly on this course. We appreciate your feedback.
Kaylen –
nice setup.
Hard Hat Training –
Thank you, Kaylen. We work hard to make our courses as organized as possible, and we’re glad that you had a positive experience with this one in particular.
Jayce P. –
User friendly and OSHA compliant
Noah R. –
Good course
Liam N. –
Easy access and provides good info
Jose R. –
System seems to work good
Hard Hat Training (verified owner) –
Hello Jose, Thank you so much! We try to keep our trainings informative as well as interactive. We are glad to know that you have found this to be the case. Thank you again!
Nick R. –
All good
Hard Hat Training (verified owner) –
Hello Nick, We are glad you liked the training! Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. Please let us know if we can help you with any other training in the future! And thanks for choosing Hard Hat Training.
Jack E. –
It’s perfect the way it is set up
Hard Hat Training (verified owner) –
Hello Jack, We are glad you liked the training! Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. Please let us know if we can help you with any other training in the future! And thanks for choosing Hard Hat Training.
Barry K. –
Very good content. I enjoyed the audio to match the slides
Hard Hat Training (verified owner) –
Hello Barry, Thank you so much! We try to keep our trainings informative as well as interactive. We are glad to know that you have found this to be the case. Thank you again!
Emily U. –
all is good
Hard Hat Training (verified owner) –
Hello Emily, We are glad you liked the training! Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. Please let us know if we can help you with any other training in the future! And thanks for choosing Hard Hat Training.
Weston A. –
very informative easy to understand i enjoyed the experience
Hard Hat Training (verified owner) –
Hello Weston, Thank you so much! We try to keep our trainings informative as well as interactive. We are glad to know that you have found this to be the case. Thank you again!
Jason S. –
The course was very informative and was extremely useful
Hard Hat Training (verified owner) –
Hello Jason, Thank you so much! We try to keep our trainings informative as well as interactive. We are glad to know that you have found this to be the case. Thank you again!