813 Construction Worksite Safety

The Entry Permit

The permit space program must provide that entry is only permitted pursuant to a written entry permit.

Contents: The contents of the permit must include the following information:

• Name of the permit space to be entered, authorized entrant(s), current attendants, and current entry supervisors;
• Purpose of entry;
• Date and authorized duration of entry;
• Means of detecting an increase in atmospheric hazard levels;
• Name and signature of supervisor who authorizes entry;
• Known hazards in the space;
• Measures to be taken to isolate permit spaces and to eliminate or control space hazards;
• Acceptable entry conditions;
• Test results, date and time of test(s), and tester’s initials or signature;
• Name and telephone numbers of rescue and emergency services and means to be used to contact them;
• Communication procedures and equipment to maintain contact during entry;
• Special equipment and procedures, including personal protective equipment and alarm systems;
• Any other information needed to ensure employee safety; and
• Additional permits, such as for hot work, that have been issued authorizing work in the permit space.

Posting Permits: The permit must be posted at the entrance to the space or be otherwise made available to authorized entrants and their authorized representatives at the time of entry.

Canceling Permits: The employer must make sure that the entry supervisor cancels entry permits when an assignment is completed or when new conditions exist. Once a permit is canceled, entry under it is no longer permitted. New conditions must be noted on the canceled permit and used in revising the permit space program. The employer must keep all canceled entry permits for at least one year.

Suspending Permits: Suspending Entry Permits An entry supervisor may suspend an entry permit instead of cancelling it if a temporary condition has occurred in or near the space that, once corrected, is not expected to reoccur. The permit may be reinstated and entry may occur under the permit if the entry supervisor has determined that the conditions in the space match the allowable conditions listed on the permit.

Reclassifying Permits: A permit space that contains only physical hazards may be reclassified as a non-permit space if the following requirements are met:

1. the physical hazards are eliminated or isolated without entering the space; or
2. the physical hazards are eliminated or isolated by entering the space using permit space procedures.

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