The attendant plays a critical role in the safety of a confined space entry. This role involves much more than standing around the opening to the confined space waiting for something to happen. Done correctly, the activities and responsibilities of the attendant, summed up in the following 14 descriptions, will catch developing issues early enough to prevent problems.
1) Prepare the space - The attendant should be involved in the preparation of the space from the beginning of the entry. Helping prepare the space for entry ensures that the attendant is familiar with all aspects of the space and the work to be performed.