713 Confined Space Program

Confined Space Inspections

Inspecting your confined space entry program, procedures, and practices is an important part of the safety management system evaluation. Use a checklist like this to help identify strengths and weaknesses in the program.

Sample Confined Space Inspection Checklist

1. _____ Are confined spaces thoroughly emptied of any corrosive or hazardous substances, such as acids or caustics, before entry?
2. _____ Are all lines to a confined space, containing inert, toxic, flammable, or corrosive materials valved off and blanked or disconnected and separated before entry?
3. _____ Are all impellers, agitators, or other moving parts and equipment inside confined spaces locked-out if they present a hazard?
4. _____ Is either natural or mechanical ventilation provided prior to confined space entry?
5. _____ Are appropriate atmospheric tests performed to check for oxygen deficiency, toxic substances and explosive concentrations in the confined space before entry?
6. _____ Is adequate illumination provided for the work to be performed in the confined space?
7. _____ Is the atmosphere inside the confined space frequently tested or continuously monitored during conduct of work?
8. _____ Is there an assigned safety standby employee outside of the confined space when required, whose sole responsibility is to watch the work in progress, sound an alarm if necessary, and render assistance?
9. _____ Is the standby employee appropriately trained and equipped to handle an emergency?
10. _____ Is the standby employee or other employees prohibited from entering the confined space without lifelines and respiratory equipment if there is any question as to the cause of an emergency?
11. _____ Is approved respiratory equipment required if the atmosphere inside the confined space cannot be made acceptable?
12. _____ Is all portable electrical equipment used inside confined spaces either grounded and insulated, or equipped with ground fault protection?
13. _____ Before gas welding or burning is started in a confined space, are hoses checked for leaks?
14. _____ Are compressed gas bottles forbidden inside of the confined space?
15. _____ Is the confined area tested for a flammable/explosive atmosphere prior to using electrical equipment/lights within the confined space?
16. _____ If the confined space may contain a potentially flammable/explosive atmosphere, are only intrinsically safe equipment and lights used within the confined space?
17. _____ If employees will be using oxygen-consuming equipment-such as salamanders, torches, and furnaces, in a confined space, is sufficient air provided to assure combustion without reducing the oxygen concentration of the atmosphere below 19.5 percent by volume?
18. _____ Whenever combustion-type equipment is used in a confined space, are provisions made to ensure the exhaust gases are vented outside of the enclosure?
19. _____ Is each confined space checked for decaying vegetation or animal matter which may produce methane?
20. _____ Is the confined space checked for possible industrial waste which could contain toxic properties?
21. _____ If the confined space is below the ground and near areas where motor vehicles will be operating, is it possible for vehicle exhaust or carbon monoxide to enter the space?

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.