Page 25 - Confined Space Training - Student Manual 2021

4. Ability to react and exit a permit space. Whenever the entrant recognizes any warning
signs or symptoms of exposure to a dangerous situation or prohibited condition (any condition
in a permit space that is not allowed by the permit) within the confined space, the entrant must
take immediate action. Entrants must be aware of the hazards associated with the confined
space and the signs of exposure. This information is found on the entry permit. Acting on this
knowledge by promptly alerting the attendant and exiting the permit space is mandatory and
greatly increases the entrant’s chances of a safe evacuation. Exiting should be immediate
when the entrant recognizes any warning sign or symptoms of exposure to a dangerous
situation. Also, if entrants hear an alarm, they must immediately stop work in the confined
space area and exit the space.

Prompt action can save lives. Permit spaces can become lethal in a matter of seconds.
It is absolutely essential that the entrants exit a confined space as soon as any of these
conditions occur.

NOTE: OSHA believes that self-rescue will often provide the entrant’s best chance of
escaping a permit space when a hazard is present. A major problem in permit space
operations is that an injured or incapacitated entrant within the permit space cannot
normally be seen from the outside.

Attendant Job Duties
Stationing an attendant outside a permit space is the accepted
method of monitoring the status of the entrants within the
permit-required confined space.

In addition, stationing an attendant outside the entrance to a
confined space allows the attendant to quickly learn of
emergency situations and to immediately summon rescue
assistance when necessary.

Therefore, an attendant’s most important function is to monitor
and protect entrants in permit-required confined spaces.

Specific Duties
1. Know the hazards that may be faced during entry of a permit space, including how
exposure occurs and the signs, symptoms, and consequences of exposure to the entrants.
2. Be aware of possible behavioral effects of hazard exposures to entrants. Subtle
behavioral changes can be detected in the entrant’s speech or by a deviation from the agreed
upon communication procedures or diminished dexterity and coordination. These changes
may indicate that the entrant should be evacuated from the space.
3. Continuously maintain an accurate count of entrants in the permit space and ensure
that the means used to identify entrants accurately identifies who is in the permit space.

“The entry permit shall identify the entrants within the permit space, by name or other means
(for example, using rosters or tracking systems) that will enable the attendant to quickly and
accurately determine which entrants are inside the permit space, for the duration of the permit.

Confined Space Training for Entrants, Attendants & Supervisors 25