CONFINED SPACE PERMITS

To obtain a Confined Space Assessment Permit, contact the Department of Environmental Health and Safety.

Call 631-632-6410 or visit 110 Suffolk Hall, Stony Brook, NY 11764-6200.

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 for engulfing an entrant.
- Has an internal layout such as that someone entering could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or a smaller cross-section.
- Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.
- Any space which is completely free of hazards and can be so proven without entering the space. The entrant must be a qualified person and would be able to work alone with no safety attendant required.
- If it can be proven that hazards can be eliminated or removed through preventative measures (e.g., ventilation of space, forced air feed, lockout/tagout, etc.) then the rescue equipment will not be required. This will be determined by Environmental Health & Safety.
- A confined space includes, but is not limited to, storage tanks, vessels, sub-cellars, bins, pits, boilers, sewers or underground utility vaults. A confined space can also be open-topped, especially if it is four feet or more in depth.
Four Major Hazards
- Oxygen deficiency (19.5%) and enrichment (23.5%)
- Fires and explosion
- Toxics in the air
- Physical hazards (engulfment, entrapment, mechanical, etc.)
Supervisor
- Provides all required information on permit.
- Contacts EH&S for authorization and review.
- Provides a copy of the permit to EH&S at start of job. Return permit at completion of job.
- Reviews entry requirements with entrants and attendants.
- Ensure that the permit requirements are accomplished.
- Post permit nearby confined space.
- Supervise the confined space operations to ensure that conditions remain consistent with requirements.
Entrants and Attendants
- Employees whose work requires them to enter a confined space or be an attendant must be designated as confined space qualified.
Qualified Entrant
- Must be trained and familiar with components of the training.
- Be able to ensure that special requirements are met.
- Understand environmental testing acceptable results.
- Know the hazards associated with the space and their effects.
- Properly use the required PPE and other equipment required for entry.
- Maintain a continuous means of communication with the attendant.
- Alert the attendant in the event of an emergency.
- Evaluate the space if an emergency occurs.
Qualified Attendant
- A confined space qualified attendant must be in position at all times, outside of the confined space, while workers are in the confined space.
- Under no circumstances is the attendant to enter the confined space unless they are equipped for emergency rescue and there is a qualified person to take their place as attendant.
- Must be trained to know the hazards associated with the confined space and their hazards.
- Maintain an accurate account of all persons in the space.
- Remain at their assigned station until relieved by another qualified attendant or until all entrants leave the confined space.
- Know how, and have the means, to summon emergency assistance.
- Be able to order the workers out of a confined space if:
- Hazardous conditions exceed those set by the permit.
- An unexpected hazard presents itself.
- Workers in confined space show signs of toxic reaction.
- A situation occurs outside the confined space that could pose a hazard to the workers.
- If attendant must leave the area.
- Perform non-entry rescue procedures.
- All information must be filled out accurately by supervisor.
- All special requirements must be noted on the permit.
- A copy of permit must be given to EH&S at the start of the job and returned upon completion.
- Environmental monitoring is required prior to entry, when shift goes beyond 8 hours and/or when conditions change that warrant additional monitoring.