Confined Space
Confined spaces can present conditions that are immediately dangerous to workers if not properly identified, evaluated, tested, and controlled. DO NOT ENTER a confined space unless you have completed pre-entry planning, received job-specific training, and are authorized by your Supervisor to enter the space in accordance with the UTD Safety Policy for Confined Space Entry and your Unit’s written Confined Space Entry / Permit-Required Confined Space Entry program.
All Confined Space Entry notification(s) should be made at least 24 hours in advance unless entry is due to an emergency situation.
- Notification to UTD Occupational Health & Safety is REQUIRED before entering a permit-required confined space (PRCS)
A confined space has limited openings for entry or exit, is large enough for entering and working, and is not designed for continuous worker occupancy. Special precautions must be taken when entering confined spaces. Confined spaces include, but are not limited to, tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, pits, manholes, tunnels, equipment housings, ductwork, pipelines, etc.
Follow the flowchart below to help decide whether a space meets the definition of a confined space, and whether or not the space requires a permit before entry.
UTD Confined Space Entry – Decision/Notification Flow Diagram (Text Version)
Step One
Is the space a confined space (must meet all three of the following criteria)?
- Large enough and configured so that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work?
AND - Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit, such as tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults or pits?
AND - Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy?
If no: Entry permit not required. Control physical and general hazards before and during entry.
If yes: Proceed to step two.
Step Two
Does the confined space have any of these additional hazards (meets any of the criteria)?
- Contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere, including an oxygen-deficient condition (hazard may already be present in the space, or planned work may create a hazardous atmosphere in the space); or
- Contains a material that could engulf an employee; or
- Has an inside layout that could trap or smother (asphyxiate) an employee, such as walls that lean inward or a floor that slopes downward to a smaller cross-section; or
- Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.
If no:
- Entry permit not required. Confined space training and specialized safe work procedures must be implemented.
- Notification to Safety Team recommended.
If yes:
- Permit-Required Confined Space. Space-specific Entry Permit and all PRCS control measures are required.
- Notification to Safety Team required.
Under certain circumstances, supervisors may reclassify a permit-required confined space, and employees may enter the confined space without an entry permit, if all hazards can be removed by isolating the confined space or the only hazard is atmospheric, which can be controlled by ventilation.
If ventilation is used to control atmospheric hazards, pre-entry atmospheric testing and continuous atmospheric monitoring must be performed until all work is complete.
All UTD personnel and UTD Contractors must follow their Unit’s internal Confined Space Entry policy/procedures which meet the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.146 and/or Subpart AA of 29 CFR 1926, at a minimum.
- Confined Spaces for Construction – Sample Written Program (TX Dept. of Insurance – TDI)
- Confined Spaces for General Industry – Sample Written Program (TX Dept. of Insurance – TDI)
Implement all required safety measures to prevent injury or illness when working in these spaces:
- Protecting Construction Workers in Confined Spaces (OSHA)
- Confined Spaces in Construction – Pits (OSHA); Confined Spaces in Construction – Sewer Systems (OSHA); Confined Spaces in Construction – FAQ’s (OSHA)
- OSHA Quick Card – PRCS / OSHA Datos Rápidos – PRCS – Español
For pre-entry support or assistance, contact UTD Occupational Health & Safety.