Permit space

Permit space As defined by OSHA, a confined space that contains a hazardous atmosphere, a material that could engulf an occupant, a configuration that could trap an occupant, or any other recognized safety or health hazard. 

Rod consolidation can permit space saving by dismantling the fuel assembly racks. The rods are still maintained underwater. Rod consolidation is not a routine practice due to issues of heat dissipation and criticality, the possibility of a chain reaction continuing. Dry cask storage is the more common approach for the oldest fuel assemblies and calls for removal of the fuel assemblies from the cooling pool. Designs of the casks vary m detail, but... 

Design a grid. If 100 traps are available, use 50 for the wooded area and 50 for the clearing. Lay out a grid of 5 x 10 traps. If the terrain permits, space the traps 10 m apart. Draw numbers from a hat to place traps of each treatment in a random pattern. 

Any condition that poses an immediate or delayed threat to life or that would cause irreversible adverse health effects or that would interfere with an individual s ability to escape unaided from a permit space. 

A respirator that provides breathing air from a source independent of the surrounding environment. It is typically either an air line or self-contained breathing apparatus. Attendant, Permit Space... 

The attendant is the individual stationed outside a (work) permit space to perform attendant duties. The attendant s major function is to monitor and protect the authorized entrants. 

A space that by design has limited openings for entry and exit, unfavorable natural ventilation, contains or produces dangerous air contaminants, and is not intended for continuous employee occupancy. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) uses the term permit-required confined space (permit space) to describe a confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere contains a material that has the potential to engulf an entrant has walls that converge inward or floors that... 

Procedures must allow for the identification and evaluation of all permit space hazards before entry. Employers must establish and implement means to prevent unauthorized entry. Employers must also establish and implement means to eliminate or control hazards necessary for safe entry by specifying acceptable entry conditions and isolating the space. The employer must purge, make inert, flush, or continuously ventilate the permit space as necessary to eliminate or control atmospheric hazards. Additionally, the employer must provide, maintain, and require the use of PPE necessary for safe entry. Employers ensure the testing of atmospheric conditions inside the SPACE BEFORE ENTRY (Table 5.10). 

This classification of space presents the lowest hazard level to the employees, and is similar to a non-permit space described in 1910.147(c)(7) of the general industry standard. 

The other end of the retrieval line must be attached to a mechanical device or fixed point outside the permit space in such a manner that rescue can begin as soon as the rescuer becomes aware that rescue is necessary. A mechanical device must be available to retrieve personnel from vertical type permit spaces more than 5 feet deep. 

Whenever there is a change in permit space operations that presents a hazard about which an employee has not previously been trained and... 

Whenever the employer has reason to believe either that there are deviations from the permit space entry procedures required or that there are inadequacies in the employee s knowledge or use of these procedures. 

An employer whose employees have been designated to provide permit space rescue and emergency services must ... 

Provide affected employees with the personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to conduct permit space rescues safely and train affected employees so they are proficient in the use of that PPE, at no cost to those employees ... 

Isolating the permit space for entry (i.e., a lock-out/tagout plan)... 

If an employer decides employees will not enter permit spaces, he posts an appropriate danger sign and prevents employees from entering the spaces. If he decides employees will enter permit spaces, he must develop and implement a written program. There is a major exception to this. If the employer can demonstrate the only hazard is atmospheric and is alleviated through continuous forced air ventilation, all procedures do not have to be followed. 

The actual spreadsheet rows correspond to the components involved that is, each row denotes a particular component. To permit space for the column headings, the identification of the components start at, say, row number 7 on the spreadsheets, for the first (and usually more permeable) component, say, component 1, with the increased numbering continuing downward on the spreadsheets for however many components are to be involved. 

Many workplaces contain spaces that are considered confined because their configurations hinder the activities of employees who must enter, work in, and exit them. For example, employees who work in process vessels generally must squeeze in and out through narrow openings and perform their tasks while cramped or contorted. OSHA uses the term confined space to describe such spaces. In addition, there are many instances where employees who work in confined spaces face increased risk of exposure to serious hazards. In some cases, confinement itself poses an entrapment hazard. In other cases, confined space work keeps employees closer to hazards, such as asphyxiating atmospheres or the moving parts of machinery. OSHA uses the term permit-required confined space or permit space) to describe those spaces that both have confined space and have elements that pose health or safety hazards (see Rgure 25.4). 

Note to 1926.953 Entries into enclosed spaces conducted in accordance with the permit-space entry requirements of paragraphs (d) through (k) of 1910.146 of this chapter are considered as complying with this section. 

Acceptable entry conditions— The conditions that must exist in a permit space to allow entry and to ensure that employees involved with a permit-required confined space entry can safely enter into and work within the space. 

Attendant— An individual stationed outside one or more permit spaces who monitors the authorized entrants and who performs all attendant duties assigned to the employer s permit space program. 

Authorized entrant— An employee who is authorized by the employer to enter a permit space. 

Emergency— Any occurrence or event (including any failure of hazard control or monitoring equipment) internal or external to the permit space that could endanger entrants. 

Entry permit (permit)—The written or printed document provided by the employer to allow and control entry into a permit space and that contains the information shown in an approved entry permit. 

Entry supervisor— The person (such as the employer, foreperson, or crew chief) responsible for determining whether acceptable entry conditions are present at a permit space where entry is planned, for authorizing entry and overseeing entry operations, and for terminating entry as required by the confined space entry standard. 

Hazardous atmosphere— An atmosphere that may expose employees to the risk of death, incapacitation, impairment of ability to self-rescue (i.e., to escape unaided from a permit space), injury, or acute illness from one or more of the following causes ... 

Inerting— The displacement of the atmosphere in a permit space by a noncombustible gas (such as nitrogen) to such an extent that the resulting atmosphere is not combustible. This procedure produces an IDLH oxygen-deficient atmosphere. 

Permit-required confined space (permit space)—A confined space that has one or more of the following characteristics ... 

Permit-required confined space program (permit space program)—The employer s overall program for controlling (and where appropriate, for protecting employees from) permit space hazards, and for regu-lahng employee entry into permit spaces. 

Permit system—The employer s written procedure for preparing and issuing permits for entry and for returning the permit space to service following termination of entry. 

Prohibited condition— Any condition in a permit space that is not allowed by the permit during the period when entry is authorized. 

Rescue service—The persoimel designated to rescue employees from permit spaces. 

Retrieval system—The equipment, including a retrieval line, chest or full-body harness, wristlets (if appropriate), and a lifting device or anchor (usually a tripod and winch assembly), used for non-entry rescue of persons from permit spaces. 

Testing—The process by which the hazards that may confront entrants in a permit space are identified and evaluated. Testing includes specifying the tests that are to be performed in the permit space. 

A permit-required confined space must be clearly labeled to inform employees of the location and the danger posed by the permit space. 

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