Assessing Fall Protection Needs For Confined Spaces
Although most confined spaces are not typically identified as having fall hazards, injuries sustained from a fall into a confined space can be as serious as a fall from a work platform above ground level. In fact, confined spaces such as holding tanks, manholes, food processing tanks, etc., have access holes that are over 20 feet deep. Therefore, using proper personal fall arrest and retrieval equipment is imperative.
OSHA's 29 CFR 1910.146, "Permit Required Confined Spaces for General Industry," defines a confined space as any area which has . . .