Confined Space Program and Entry Permits

Confined Space

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte Confined Space Program is designed to comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) confined space requirements as outlined in 29 CFR 1910.146. The program outlines acceptable practices for entry into a confined space. The program applies to any work activity that requires employees to enter or work inside any manhole, sewer, sump, vault, vat, pit, tunnel, tank, tank car, or similar confined space.

What you need to know

  • A workplace hazard assessment should be conducted to determine which confined spaces should be classified as permit-required confined spaces
  • You must be enrolled in the Confined Space program prior to performing work in a permit-required confined space. Contact EHS to determine enrollment status.
  • Specific equipment (4-gas meter, harness, retrieval, etc.) must be provided to the employee prior to performing permit-required confined space entry work
  • Training is required initially and periodically thereafter
  • A permit-required confined space entry permit must be completed and authorized by an entry supervisor prior to entry
  • All permits must be canceled with the date and time work was completed. The canceled permit must be forwarded to the EHS office.
  • The servicing of machines or equipment must be in accordance with manufacturer requirements

The OSHA Confined Space definition:

  1. A space that is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work;
  2. A space that has limited means for entry or exit;
  3. A space that is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.

No confined space shall be entered until adequate precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of the entrant/s and their work environment.

Permit-Required Confined Space (entry by permit only):

The OSHA permit-required confined space (entry by permit only) means a confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics:

  1. Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere;
  2. Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant;
  3. 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;
  4. Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.

Download complete Confined Space Program

Permit-Required Confined Spaces

Services

The Environmental Health and Safety Office offers the following services:

  • Consultative hazard assessment
  • Confined space permit authorization
  • Training
  • Permit-required confined space signage
  • 4-gas meter calibration and rescue equipment limited testing
  • Written programs, plans, and procedures
  • Inspections

Resources