514 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 30-37

34-3. Personnel Required Qualification/Training.

Confined Space Training Requirements

All personnel involved in confined space operations must complete training before initial assignment, when duties or operations change, or annually if no changes occur.
Training must cover identification and avoidance of confined spaces for those not directly involved in confined space entries.

Initial Training Content

Initial training must include recognizing confined spaces, identifying and controlling hazards, and understanding emergency signs and required actions.
Roles, responsibilities, permit procedures, rescue operations, and equipment handling (monitoring, communication, retrieval, and PPE) must also be taught.

Refresher Training

Entrants, Attendants, Entry Supervisors, and rescue personnel must undertake annual refresher training, covering review of entry procedures, rescue exercises, and equipment usage (air monitoring, PPE, retrieval).

Entry Supervisor Training

Entry Supervisors must learn site-specific confined space plans, applicable safety regulations, hazard recognition, permit completion, atmospheric testing, equipment selection, and team role understanding.

Entrant Training

Entrants must be trained in equipment usage, hazard awareness, communication protocols, and emergency evacuation procedures.

Attendant Training

Attendants must learn about equipment handling, hazard recognition, documentation maintenance, evacuation ordering, non-entry rescue, and interaction with unauthorized individuals.

Competent Person for Confined Space Safety and Ventilation (CPCSSV) Training

The CPCSSV must be proficient in equipment use, conducting inspections and tests, implementing instructions from authorized personnel, and documenting according to regulations.

In-House Rescue Personnel Training

Rescue personnel must understand hazard response, rescue equipment setup, NFPA 350 requirements, and perform annual simulated rescues and first aid/CPR.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

34-2. Personnel involved in confined space operations must complete training before initial assignment, annually, and _____.

when recommended

quarterly if no spaces have been entered

when duties or operations change

if requested by personnel

You forgot to answer the question!

EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 34-3.

34-3. Personnel Required Qualification/Training.

a.  All personnel working in or around a confined space must receive training: (34-3.a)

(1)  Before they are first assigned confined space duties.

(2)  Before there is a change in assigned confined space duties.

(3)  Whenever there is a change in confined space operations that presents a hazard; about which an individual has not previously been trained.

(4)  Wherever the employer has reason to believe there are deviations from the confined space entry procedures or there are inadequacies in the individual’s knowledge or use of the entry procedures.

(5)  If none of the conditions exist in paragraph 34-3.a, retraining must be conducted at least annually.

Note. Individuals who work around a confined space but are not directly engaged in confined space entries must be trained to an awareness level to ensure they can identify and avoid confined spaces.

b.  Initial training must include the following:  (34-3.b)

(1)  How to understand and recognize the characteristics of a confined space.

(2)  How to identify, evaluate, and control the hazards of a confined space.

(3)  Mode, signs, symptoms, and consequences related to exposures.

(4)  How to understand and recognize the hazards, signals, or warnings that require immediate evacuation.

(5)  The roles and responsibilities in conducting an entry.

(6)  How to fill out a confined space permit and other confined space entry forms.

(7)  Rescue exercise(s) applicable to the space(s) on the site.

(8)  Hands-on exercise on the use, calibration, and maintenance of monitoring equipment, communication equipment, and retrieval equipment.

(9)  Instruction on the use and donning of appropriate PPE needed for safe entry and exit.

c.  Refresher Training.  All Entrants, Attendants, Entry Supervisors, and rescue personnel must complete refresher training at least annually.  The training must include, as a minimum:  (34-3.c)

(1)  Review of entry procedures.

(2)  Rescue exercise.

(3)  The use of air monitoring, PPE, and retrieval equipment.

d.  Train Entry Supervisors to:  (34-3.d)

(1)  Know the procedures of the written site-specific Confined Space Plan.

(2)  Know the requirements of this manual and all other applicable safety regulations (for example, OSHA) pertaining to the confined space entry.

(3)  Know the hazards the entry team may face during entry.

(4)  Know the signs and symptoms of exposures.

(5)  Know how to complete and cancel the entry permit.

(6)  Know how to conduct atmospheric testing prior to and throughout the entry.

(7)  Choose the equipment necessary and ensure it is place prior to the entry.

(8)  Know the hazard levels associated with the confined space and how to summon rescue services.

(9)  Know and understand the roles of all the Entrants, Attendants, and rescue personnel.

e.  Train Entrants to:  (34-3.e)

(1)  Know how to properly use necessary equipment (for example, fall protection, atmospheric monitoring, communication methods, PPE).  See chapter 5 for PPE and chapter 21 for fall protection.

(2)  Know the hazards that will be present during confined space entries and any warning signs or symptoms of exposure.

(3)  Know how to alert and communicate to the Attendant if a dangerous situation arises.

(4)  Know to immediately exit the space whenever an Attendant or Entry
    Supervisor orders an evacuation.

f.  Train Attendants to: (34-3.f)

(1)  Know how to properly use necessary equipment (for example, atmospheric monitoring, communication methods, PPE) (see chapter 5).

(2)  Know the hazards that will be present during confined space entries and any warning signs or symptoms of exposure.

(3)  Know how to fill out and maintain the documentation related to the confined space entry.

(4)  Know how to alert and order evacuation if unsafe conditions are present.

(5)  Know how to perform non-entry rescue, if applicable, or when to summon rescue and emergency services.

(6)  Know how to warn any unauthorized person of the need to stay away from the confined space work.

(7)  Know how to inform the Entrants and Entry Supervisor if any unauthorized persons have entered the PRCS.

(8)  Know that they are to perform no other duties that will interfere with their assigned roles.

g.  Train the CPCSSV to:  (34-3.g)

(1)  Know how to properly use necessary equipment (for example, atmospheric monitoring, communication methods, PPE) (see chapter 5).

(2)  Know how to conduct inspections and tests according to 29 CFR 1915.7.

(3)  Know how to implement the written or oral information or instructions provided by a Marine Chemist, Coast Guard authorized persons, or CIH.

(4)  Know how to document the records according to 29 CFR 1915 Subpart B.

h.  Train in-house rescue personnel to:  (34-3.h)

(1)  Know how to respond to the hazard level (see para 34-8.h).

(2)  Know how to prepare and set up the necessary equipment for rescue.

(3)  Know how to apply the rescue requirements of NFPA 350.

(4)  Complete training annually by means of simulated rescue operations in which they remove dummies, manikins, or actual persons from the actual confined space or from representative confined spaces.  Representative confined spaces will, with respect to opening size, configuration, and accessibility, simulate the types of confined spaces from which rescue is to be performed.

(5)  Provide basic first aid and CPR response.  Ensure that at least one member of the rescue team or service holds a current certification in basic first aid and CPR and is available. (See chapter 3)

Note. If contracted rescue services are used, verify they have the training and knowledge necessary as required by this paragraph 34-3.