Employer Responsibilities
The Entry Employer
If the workplace contains a permit space, the entry employer must protect its workers against the hazards in the permit space. The protection that is required depends on the type and severity of the hazards present in the permit space.
Click on the link below to open a table covering the three categories of permit spaces for which different levels of protection are specified.
| Characteristics of Space | Protective Action |
|---|---|
| Permit spaces that do not qualify for one of the following two exceptions. | If the employer’s workers will enter the space, develop and follow a written permit required confined space program, or permit space program. The permit space program specifies, among other things, how the employer will (1) regulate worker entry into permit spaces; and (2) control permit space hazards. Chapter 6 describes the features that a permit space program must contain. All employers must inform their workers about the locations and dangers of each permit space (e.g., post signs), and take additional steps to ensure that workers do not enter permit spaces if they are not authorized to do so. |
| Exception 1: Spaces that contain only physical (nonatmospheric) hazards. | If the physical hazards are eliminated or isolated so that they no longer present a hazard, the space may be reclassified is a non-permit space, with no further precautions required. |
| Exception 2: Spaces containing an atmospheric hazard that can be controlled by continuous forced air ventilation. | As long as the atmospheric hazard is controlled by continuous forced air ventilation and any physical hazards are eliminated or isolated, the alternate procedures listed in 1926.1203(e) may be used instead of full permit space procedures, although the space is still classified as a permit space. |
Training: The entry employer must identify and train workers who work in a permit space.
The entry employer must identify:
- the worker(s) authorized to enter the space;
- an attendant who must remain outside the space and monitor the workers within; and
- an entry supervisor with overall responsibility for seeing that the program is followed.
Entrants, attendants, entry supervisors, and rescue workers, must be trained to have the knowledge and skills needed to recognize confined space hazards and protect themselves and their co-workers against permit space hazards.
Rescue: The entry employer must plan to rescue entrants who cannot exit the space under their own power.
The entry employer must ensure that a worker who becomes sick or injured in a permit space can be rescued in a safe and timely manner. Its permit space program must specify whether the employer plans to use its own workers, a rescue team of another on-site employer, or an outside rescue service if the need for a rescue arises
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
11-4. Who must identify and train workers who work in a permit space?
You forgot to answer the question!