Scope
Purpose
Definitions
Permit System and Entry Permits
Scope
A Confined Space is defined as a space large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work. In addition, a confined space has limited or restricted means for entry or exit, and is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.
Purpose
Bentley College has identified confined spaces located in the work-place and has developed the 'Bentley College Confined Space Entry Policy' to serve as minimum guidelines for entry into any confined space. The Bentley College Confined Space Entry Policy requires specific practices and procedures that will protect employees from potential hazards of entering permit required confined spaces. No employee is allowed to enter a permit required confined space without specific authorization and the required entry permit.
Essential elements of this policy include the identification, evaluation and monitoring of confined spaces and informing employees of their existence, the posting of warning signs, entry permits, a written program, and training with the purpose of:
- Increasing the understanding of the potential hazards of confined spaces
- Providing appropriate skill training for each of the following worker groups:
- authorized entrants
- attendants
- entry supervisors
- rescue and emergency services personnel
- Avoiding the potential risks of injury or death
Definitions
Acceptable Entry Conditions
Conditions that must exist in a permit space to allow entry and to ensure that employees involved with a permit-required confined space entry can safely enter into and work within the space.
Attendant
An individual stationed outside of one or more permit spaces who monitors the authorized entrants entry.
Confined Space
A space large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work. In addition, a confined space has limited or restricted means for entry or exit, and is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.
Permit-required confined space or permit space
A confined space that has, or may have, one or more of the following characteristics:
- Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere. This could mean the oxygen content of the space is inadequate, or that toxic or explosive gases, fumes, or vapors are present.
- Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant. For example, a dust collector filled with aluminum dust has an engulfment hazard.
- Has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross-section.
- Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard, such as turning, exposed blades on equipment, or a hole where a worker could drop through to another level.
Entry
The action by which a person passes through an opening into a permit-required confined space. Entry includes ensuing work activities in that space and is considered to have occurred as soon as any part of the entrant's body breaks the plane of an opening into the space.
Entry Permit
The written or printed document that is provided by the employer to allow and control entry into a permit space.
Entry Supervisor
The person responsible for:
- determining if acceptable entry conditions are present at a permit space where an entry is planned
- authorizing entry
- overseeing entry operations
- terminating entry
Hazardous Atmosphere
An atmosphere that may expose employees to the risk of death, incapacitation, impairment of ability to self-rescue (escape unaided from a permit space), injury or acute illness from one or more of the following causes:
- flammable gas, vapor or mist
- airborne combustible dust
Isolation
The process by which a permit space is removed from service and completely protected against the release of energy.
Training
All Bentley employees involved with confined space entry permitting will receive training that will include:
- confined space locations
- permit completion and filing
- a written copy of the Bentley College Confined Space Entry Policy
- record keeping
Permit System and Entry Permits
Entry permits are an essential part of the overall permit-required confined space program. These permits document and verify that entries are conducted properly.
A permit system must be in place to handle entry permits. This system defines how permits are prepared, issued and canceled.
The Bentley College permit system requires:
- Before permit space entry, the entry permit must be signed by the entry supervisor. This signature confirms that all safety procedures have been reviewed and that authorized entry is permitted.
- The permit must be posted or made available to the authorized entrants.
- Permits be issued only for length of time needed to complete the job listed.
- When the assigned task is completed, the permit be canceled by the entry supervisor.
- Canceled permits must be kept for at least one year.
General Requirements of Entry Permitting
- All permit-required confined spaces in the workplace must be identified.
- Unauthorized entry into permit spaces must be prevented.
- Permit space hazards must be identified and evaluated before employees are permitted to enter.
- Development and implementation of procedures and practices needed for safe permit space entry. These include, but are not limited to:
- Specifying acceptable entry conditions. This ensures that the hazards have been identified, and that acceptable limits have been set. These conditions must be met before entry is permitted.
- Isolating the permit space. This includes the use of proper lockout/tagout procedures to control electrical and mechanical hazards.
- Verifying that conditions are acceptable for entry.
- All workers with active roles in and around permit spaces must be provided with proper training and equipment. These workers include authorized entrants, entry supervisors, and rescue and emergency services personnel.
- Test and monitor permit space conditions. Atmosphere must be checked for oxygen, combustible gases and vapors, and toxic gases and vapors. The oxygen level must be at least 19.5% and not more than 21%. If oxygen levels are present at said levels, the area must be ventilated.
- An attendant must be stationed outside the permit space as long as an authorized entrant remains inside. Attendants control and monitor all entry operations, and maintain on-going contact with the authorized entrants.
- Persons with active permit space roles must be identified, their duties clearly spelled out, and proper training provided.
- Contractors must be informed by Bentley College about permit spaces and related hazards, as well as the entry procedures and precautions that are used.
Posted Danger / Warning Signs at Each Space:
Each permit required confined space and non-permit required confined space will be posted with the appropriate labeling at the source.