The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Permit Required Confined Spaces standard (29 CFR 1910.146) requires confined space entry permits to have specific information. It is important to make sure your Company’s permit is compliant. According to OSHA, the following elements must be included in a confined space entry permit.

  • The permit space to be entered.
  • The purpose of the entry (i.e. cleaning, maintenance, repair).
  • The date and the authorized duration of the entry permit.
  • The authorized entrants within the permit space.
  • The personnel, by name, currently serving as attendants.
  • The individual, by name, currently serving as entry supervisor, with a space for the signature or initials of the entry supervisor who originally authorized entry.
  • The hazards of the permit space to be entered.
  • The measures used to isolate the permit space and to eliminate or control permit space hazards before entry.
  • The acceptable entry conditions.
  • The results of initial and periodic atmospheric tests, accompanied by the names or initials of the testers and an indication of when the tests were performed.
  • The rescue and emergency services that can be summoned and the means (such as the equipment to use and the numbers to call) for summoning those services.
  • The communication procedures used by authorized entrants and attendants to maintain contact during entry.
  • Equipment, such as personal protective equipment, testing equipment, communications equipment, alarm systems, and rescue equipment required during entry.
  • Any other information whose inclusion is necessary to ensure employee safety, and any additional permits, such as for hot work, which have been issued to authorize work in the permit space.

The employer must retain each canceled entry permit for at least 1 year to facilitate the review of the permit-required confined space program. Any problems encountered during an entry operation must be noted on the permit so that appropriate revisions to the permit space program can be made.

Remember, safety doesn’t have to be difficult, simple steps, such as ensuring that your company’s confined space entry permit has the required information, can prevent injuries, and save lives.