Entry to confined spaces
Many people start confined space entry classes thinking they don’t have such areas on their premises. They often learn that it does. These areas are not just wells and tanks but can actually be a mezzanine area or just a room with no proper entrance and exit. This standard is often misunderstood, so you should try to get as much as you can from this course. This course is not designed to make you an expert or to train your employees on confined space entry, but to make them aware of the dangers associated with CSE.
By definition, you must have the following three elements to consider an area as a confined space:
- Large enough to enter and perform assigned work
- Limited access and egress
- Area not for continuous occupation
There are also three types of classification:
- Permission required
- Alternate permit space
- Space without permission
This standard can often be misunderstood, and programs can be difficult to manage. There are many resources to educate your employees about tight spaces. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA has several excellent training materials on their website. There are also many safety training companies that will come to your workplace and provide on-site training for employees. The most affordable option for most companies is online security training. There are several great online courses available, just make sure your courses are OSHA approved.
OSHA states that you must have a facilitator available for questions and discussions about any safety training you provide. This can be accomplished through your daily, weekly, or monthly safety meetings. CSE training is only one of OSHA’s required workplace safety requirements, but it is one of the most cited violations, so it is important that you do not overlook this standard.