Recent U.S. Federal statistics show that there are 238,853 establishments containing more than 4.8 million Permit Required Confined Spaces in the United States. In addition, there are millions more Non-Permit Required Confined Spaces, all of which must be entered and worked in from time to time.
Many confined spaces contain inherent risks and dangers, such as hazardous materials or gases, oxygen-deprived environments, or materials that could engulf and trap a worker. Over 30 different industries are affected by the hazards of confined space entry, including construction, water and sewer operations, agriculture and farming, the petrochemical industry, utility workers and miners.