Confined Spaces

The Confined Space Program applies to University employees who enter, attend, or supervise confined space or permit‑required confined space (PRCS) work, as well as those who provide confined space rescue support, in any Penn State facility. The program is designed to prevent serious injury or fatality associated with confined space work. Confined spaces may include, but are not limited to, pits, manholes, attics, crawlspaces, silos, and tanks. A confined space is defined as a space that is large enough for an employee to enter, has limited or restricted means of entry or exit, and is not designed for continuous human occupancy. A permit‑required confined space (PRCS) is a confined space that has, or may have, additional hazards such as hazardous atmospheres, engulfment hazards, dangerous internal configurations, or other serious safety or health hazards.

The Confined Space Program establishes responsibilities for management, supervisors, and employees to ensure safe confined space operations.

• Work Unit Management Responsibilities
  Work unit management must determine whether confined spaces or permit‑required confined spaces will be entered by employees and provide the resources necessary to plan, implement, and maintain all required program elements.
• Supervisor Responsibilities
  Supervisors must understand confined space program requirements, ensure employee compliance, provide required initial and refresher training, and ensure that entry and rescue procedures are developed and implemented. Supervisors are also responsible for verifying that atmospheric testing, permitting, and all other required controls are conducted and for notifying the Confined Space Program Coordinator and EHS of new or changed confined spaces, work processes, or hazards.
• Employee Responsibilities
  Confined space entrants, attendants, and entry supervisors must recognize hazards, participate in required training, follow entry and emergency procedures, use required equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE), perform required testing and monitoring, and communicate hazards. Employees must notify supervisors of any unexpected hazards before or during confined space entry. Entry supervisors must approve permits before entry and close permits after work is completed.
• Training Requirements
  Employees must receive training to establish and maintain proficiency for their assigned confined space roles. Additional training is required when new hazards are introduced or when deviations from procedures are identified. Rescue training may also be required when rescue services are not pre‑arranged.
• Recordkeeping Requirements
  Confined space training records must be maintained in accordance with EHS requirements. Completed entry permits must be retained for one year after permit closure.

Program:

• Confined Space Program

Procedure/ SOP/ List:

• Appendix E Confined Space Contractor Requirements
• Appendix G Penn State Confined Space Rescue Information
• Appendix H Penn State Confined Space Decision Process
• Appendix I Penn State Confined Space Entry Assessment Classification and Permit Instruction Sheet
• Elevator Access and Service SOP: The Elevator Access and Service Procedures is a fundamental SOP supporting qualified Penn State employee entrants, to access and/or provide elevator service at Penn State facilities.

Forms:

• Appendix B Penn State Confined Space Classification Form
• Appendix C Penn State Confined Space Entry Assessment Classification and Permit
• Appendix D Confined Space Monitor Calibration Record
• Appendix F Penn State Confined Space Program Site-Specfic Program Checklist

Access the Documents on SharePoint

OSHA Permit‑Required Confined Spaces Standard (29 CFR 1910.146)

The Penn State Confined Space Awareness Training (CSAT) is a general awareness training module.  Content may be substituted as necessary to support site- and job-specific needs.

Penn State CSAT is suitable for personnel that do not work in confined spaces, but need awareness of types of confined spaces, confined space hazards, controls, and proper confined space entry conditions, or, the CSAT may be used to support work operations by Penn State personnel that must enter non-permit confined spaces.  Confined space awareness training does NOT comply with OSHA training requirements for personnel working in Permit-Required Confined Spaces.

OSHA Guide- Permit-Required Confined Space

OSHA Confined Space eAdvisor - provides guidance regarding common questions on OSHA requirements in a confined space program.

The OSHA Confined Spaces webpage provides other current information and guides regarding confined spaces.