As a former South Carolina OSHA compliance officer, I know it’s difficult to comply with OSHA’s confined space standard. From record-keeping requirements, training, and permits to the written program, this standard requires a lot of effort on the part of the safety professional. One thing that should not be overlooked, however, is how dangerous confined space entry can be. Over the years, I’ve noticed five practices (or the lack of doing them) in particular that can be deadly. Before discussing each one, I cite the relevant section of the standard.
Knowing the atmospheric conditions inside the confined space can mean the difference between life and death. No employee should go in until he is aware of the hazards that he faces on the inside, such as exposure to a toxic, oxygen-deficient or enriched, or flammable atmosphere. It is also important to monitor during entry because conditions can change. For even more protection, have the entrant positioned near a monitor with an alarm to warn them if conditions change.