OSHA Confined Spaces Advisor

Results of the Session with the Confined Spaces Advisor

You said that you want to determine whether a particular space is a Permit-Required Confined Space.

You said that the space in question is large enough for a worker to enter bodily.

You said that the space is so configured that a worker can perform work inside.

You said that the space has restricted entry or exit.

You said that the space is designed for continuous human occupancy.

You said that the confined space has a hazardous atmosphere.

You said that the confined space has the potential for a hazardous atmosphere.

You said that the confined space contains a material with the potential to engulf an entrant.

You said that the confined space has a configuration that could cause an entrant to be trapped or asphyxiated.

You said that the confined space has a floor that slopes down to a narrower cross-section.

You said that the confined space has some other known hazard.

You said that you want detailed guidance.

You said that the space in question is part of your own workplace.

You said that no employees enter the space in question.

This Advisor concludes that the space in question is a confined space.

This Advisor concludes that confined space in question is a Permit-Required Confined Space.

This Advisor concludes that you do not have to implement permit entry procedures because your workers will not enter the space.

This Advisor cautions that a contractor who enters the space should assess it to determine if full permit entry procedures are required.

This Advisor concludes that a non-atmospheric hazard exists.

Guidance -- The guidance for the situation you described above is in the links below. You should review this information and may wish to 'Bookmark' or print it out for future reference. Your input is NOT saved by this system.

Guidance for Employers Who Will Never Allow Own Workers to Enter Permit Space
Based on your representation that your employees will never be authorized to enter a permit space, your obligations under 29 CFR 1910.146 are as follows:

• 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(1)
• 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(2)
• 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(3)
• 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(6)
• 29 CFR 1910.146(c)(8)

If you subsequently decide that employees will enter permit spaces, you, the employer, shall develop and implement a written permit space program that complies with this the provisions of 29 CFR 1910.146. The written program shall be available for inspection by employees and their authorized representatives.