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605 Confined Space Safety
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Non-Permit Required Confined Space (NPRCS)

Confined spaces that do not require a permit can be identified by meeting the following three criteria:

  1. Large enough for an employee to enter and perform work
  2. limited or restricted means for entry or exit
  3. is not designed for continuous occupancy confined space, but do not contain or have the potential to contain other hazards capable of causing death or serious physical harm.

Examples of non-permit-required confined spaces:

  • Equipment closets
  • Crawl spaces under houses
  • Machinery cabinets
  • Ventilated tunnels
  • Drop ceilings

Workers may continually access and occupy NPRCS spaces, but workers should still exercise a great deal of caution.

Location of Confined Spaces

Confined spaces are found not only in industrial settings but also in public places such as shopping malls and large public swimming pools. Waterfalls and water fountain displays used in malls for beautification may have pump vaults or valve pits that are seldom entered. Some swimming pool pumps are placed in vaults below ground. There have been reports of maintenance employees entering these areas and losing consciousness.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

1-5. Which of the following would be considered a non-permit-required confined space (NPRCS)?