This online engineering PDH course presents the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s requirements for practices and procedures to protect employees in general industry from the hazards of entering “permit spaces.” The term “permit spaces” refers to spaces that meet OSHA’s definition of a “confined space” and contain health or safety hazards. Many workplaces contain spaces that are considered to be “confined” because their configurations hinder the activities of employees who must enter into, work in or exit from them. In many instances, employees who work in confined spaces also face increased risk of exposure to serious physical injury from hazards such as entrapment, engulfment and hazardous atmospheric conditions. For example, confinement, limited access and restricted airflow can result in hazardous conditions that would not normally arise in an open workplace. This course describes employers’ responsibilities when these conditions exist. This course is based on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration document, “Permit-Required Confined Spaces,” OSHA 3138-01R, 2004.

Learning Objectives

• OSHA’s confined space standard
• Controlling hazards
• Informing contract employees
• Worker training
• Assigned duties
• Emergencies