Confined Spaces on Construction Sites
Objective: To provide employees with safety requirements for confined space entry on construction sites
Work in confined spaces always requires precautions to assure that the individuals involved are able to perform their duties with as little risk as possible. When confined spaces work takes place on construction sites, additional precautions are required. This document provides an overview of these requirements.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Host employers must:
- Assure that a competent person has assessed the site and identified all potential confined spaces.
- Provide all known information about permit-required spaces at the site to the controlling contractor.
- Controlling contractors must:
- Act as the central point of communication between all parties and relay information between the host employers and all subcontractors.
- Assure that no other employees conduct activities that may create hazardous conditions within the confined space during entry operations.
- Subcontractors must:
- Provide the controlling contractor with details of their entry program and of any hazards they find in the confined space.
Permit-Required Confined Spaces
If confined space entry conditions change from those listed on the permit, instead of being cancelled, permits may be suspended and then reinstated once the space is restored to the listed conditions.
Communication on Construction Sites
Employers, contractors, and subcontractors must remain in contact with each other before, during, and after entry procedures to assure that all employees are fully aware of the site’s details and potential hazards at all times.
Pre-entry Procedures
In addition to standard pre-entry procedures, continuously monitor engulfment hazards with either spotters or electronic sensors.
Atmospheric Testing
Perform continuous atmospheric monitoring whenever possible.