Page 27 - Confined Space Training - Student Manual 2021

OSHA also believes that help must be summoned if there is any doubt as to whether it will be
needed.

If the attendant is certain that self-rescue can be performed, no rescue summons is needed.
However, if the attendant has any doubts as to whether an entrant can exit the permit space
under his or her own power, rescue and emergency services must be summoned. It is
recommended the emergency information, including who to contact and telephone numbers,
be place on the entry permit.

8. Take the following actions when unauthorized persons approach or enter a permit
space while entry is underway:
A. Warn unauthorized person that they must stay away from the permit space.
B. Advise unauthorized persons that they must exit immediately if they have entered the
permit space.
C. Inform the entrants and the entry supervisor if unauthorized persons have entered the
permit space.

9. Perform non-entry rescues as specified by the employer’s rescue procedure. A person
while attendant duties have been assumed by another is allowed to perform rescue entry
following the provisions set for rescue services. Item 9 relates only to person who remain on
duty as attendants.
10. DO NOT perform any duties or job tasks that might interfere with the attendant’s
primary duty or monitor and protect the entrants.

OSHA believes that entrants will be endangered if the attendant is distracted from his duties. Such
a distraction could cause an emergency condition inside or outside the permit space to go
undetected until injury or death results.

Therefore, an attendant may perform only these job duties that will not interfere with monitoring
and protecting entrants.

OSHA does permit the following duties for attendants, as long as the attendant does not break
the plane of an opening into the permit space:
• Passing tools to entrants
• Monitoring the atmosphere of the permit space

However, equipment repair is NOT PERMITTED. Such repair is considered a distraction that
would interfere with the attendant’s primary duty of monitoring and protecting entrants.

Prior to initiating entry operations, attendants should:
• Review permits space hazards.
• Review behavioral effects of hazard exposure in permit spaces.
o Discuss methods of monitoring the activities of entrants.
o Discuss actions to be taken in case of an emergency or rescue attempt.
o Discuss actions to be taken in case of an unauthorized entry.

Confined Space Training for Entrants, Attendants & Supervisors 27