Confined Space (Permits, confined spaces)
Every year workers die in confined spaces due to a variety of hazards that can suffocate, engulf, electrocute, or harm entrants in other ways.
Tanks, storage bins, utility vaults, pits and many other commonly encountered work spaces are classified as confined spaces. These spaces are large enough to accommodate workers, but aren’t primarily designed for continuous employee occupancy and offer limited means for entry or exit.
Rules
General Rules
- Confined Spaces (Chapter 296-809, WAC)
Rules for Specific Activities or Workplaces
- Agriculture Confined Space rules (WAC 296-307 Part Y8)
- Construction: Confined Spaces (WAC 296-155-203)
- Construction: Fire prevention (WAC 296-155-410 (7))
- Construction: General protection requirements (WAC 296-155-655)
- Construction: Requirements for protective systems (WAC 296-155-657)
- Construction: Temporary heating devices (WAC 296-155-280 (1)(b) and (5)(d)(ii))
- Construction: Ventilation and protection in welding, cutting, and heating (WAC 296-155-415 (2) and (3))
- Enclosed Spaces (WAC 296-45-205)
Fall Restraint and Fall Arrest - Construction (WAC 296-155 Part C-1)- Fire Fighters, Confined Space Rescue Operations (WAC 296-305-05003)
- Longshore and Stevedore: Hazardous atmospheres and substances (WAC 296-56-60053)
- Longshore and Stevedore: Welding, cutting and heating (hot work) (WAC 296-56-60235 (2) and (6))
- Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard: Vessel or confined area requirements (WAC 296-79-230)
- Shipyards, Ship Breaking, and Repair: Confined and enclosed spaces and other dangerous atmospheres in shipyard employment. (WAC 296-304-020)
- Shipyards, Ship Breaking, and Repair: Surface preparation and preservation (WAC 296-304-030)
- Shipyards, Ship Breaking, and Repair: Tools and related equipment (WAC 296-304-08011)
- Shipyards, Ship Breaking, and Repair: Welding, cutting and heating (WAC 296-304-040)
- Telecommunications: Underground Lines and Cable Vaults (WAC 296-32-340)
- Underground electrical installations (WAC 296-45-215)
- Underground residential distribution (URD) (WAC 296-45-225)
- Welding, Cutting, Brazing: Confined Spaces (WAC 296-24-69507)
- Welding, Cutting, Brazing: Ventilation in confined spaces (WAC 296-24-71507 through 71519)
- Welding, Cutting, Brazing: Work in confined spaces (WAC 296-24-70007)
- What practices must an employer follow for entry into grain storage structures? (WAC 296-99-040)
Policies
- Partial Body Entry Situations and the Confined Spaces Standard (WRD 12.40)
- Elevator Pits and the Confined Spaces Standard (WRD 12.55)
- Electrical Work and Confined Space Under WAC 296-45 & 62 (WRD 18.40)
- Law Enforcement (WRD 32.00)
Hazard Alerts, Bulletins & Notices
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Death After the Use of Explosives in a Sewer Construction Project
- Fatal Hazards in Agriculture: Two Boys Die in Silo (62 KB PDF)
- Industrial Ice-Making Systems (195 KB PDF)
- Underwater Confined Spaces Pose Serious Hazards for SCUBA Divers
Training Materials
Videos
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Other Resources
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"Links" to other information sources are provided as a courtesy, but we cannot vouch for or take responsibility for information contained beyond files administered by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries. Links from this page do not represent or imply the endorsement of commercial products by the State of Washington, Labor and Industries, or by departmental staff. For more information, read L&I's Intended Usage policy.
- Application of the Permit-Required Confined Spaces (PRCS) Standard OSHA CPL 2.100
- Confined Space Entry Programs, Example
- Confined Spaces - Winery Vessels (OR-OSHA Hazard Alert)
- Confined Spaces Accident Alert (WorkSafe BC)
- Confined Spaces Helpful Tools
- Confined Spaces: Rescue - Just Calling 911 Doesn't Cut It (WorkSafe BC Video)
- Dangers to workers from incorrectly rebuilt circuit breakers - OSHA Hazard Alert
- Foreman Performing Maintenance Work on Fuel Storage Tank Killed in Explosion (SHARP Fatality Narrative)
- Hazards of Nitrogen Asphyxiation, from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB)
- Hydroelectric Tunnel Fire, accident description from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB)
- Internal Combustion Engines as Ignition Sources (OSHA)
- L&I Workshop: Confined Space Hazard Awareness
- Nitrogen Asphyxiation Incident, accident description from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB)
- Preventing Occupational Fatalities in Confined Spaces (NIOSH Hazard Alert)
- Refinery Asphyxiation Incident, accident description from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB)
- Safety and Health Assessment and Program Evaluation
- Shipyards: Confined and Enclosed Spaces in Shipyards (OSHA)
- Silos and Silo Gas Hazards (SHARP FACE FATAL FACTS)
- Worker Deaths in Confined Spaces, summary from NIOSH
Related Topics
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