Confined Space Program

• Ensure Entrant(s) and Attendant(s) have completed UW PRCS entry training.
• Ensure that a UW PRCS Entry Form is completed before approving entry into a PRCS.
• Recognize any potential hazards during entry, including signs and symptoms of exposure.
• Verifies hazard controls or elimination methods are in place before entry.
• Verify air testing conducted properly by a qualified person.

• Complete required initial and refresher training for PRCS entry.
• Be aware of and understand the hazards that may be encountered during entry.
• Follow PRCS safety practices and procedures.
• Communicate regularly with Entrant(s).
• Conduct air monitoring in the space.
• Monitor work area for hazardous conditions.
• Communicate with entrants and monitor their status.
• Perform non-entry rescue.
• Summon rescue and emergency services as needed.
• Call for evacuation of the space as needed if a hazardous condition arises inside or outside the space.

• Hiring Managers of contractors with employees entering UW owned confined spaces must inform contractors of the following:
  • Presence of a PRCS that requires completion of a PRCS Entry Form before entry
  • Hazards of the space
  • Department/unit/organization experience with the space
  • Precautions and procedures implemented for protecting employees in or around the space
• Hiring Managers must ensure that contractors entering any UW PRCS:
  • Adhere to all applicable regulations regarding confined spaces; inform their sub-contractors, or other entities needing entry, of any hazards, ensure they are trained to enter, and they monitor the entry.
  • Provide the Hiring Manager with the company’s confined space program for review.
• Hiring Managers must coordinate with the contractor when employees and employers from different companies are working in or near any UW PRCS.

If a space has limited or restricted means of entry or exit, an entrant's ability to escape in an emergency would be hindered. The dimensions of a door and its location are factors in determining whether an entrant can easily escape. However, the simple presence of a door may not mean that the space is not a confined space. For example, a space such as a bag house or crawl space that has a door leading into it, but also has pipes, conduits, ducts, equipment or materials that an employee would have to crawl over, under or squeeze around to escape, has limited or restricted means of exit. A piece of equipment with an access door, such as a conveyor feed, a drying oven or a paint spray enclosure, may also have restricted means of entry or exit if an employee has to crawl to gain access to their work location. Similarly, an access door or portal that is too small for an employee to walk through upright and unimpeded may restrict an employee's ability to escape.

When all physical hazards have been eliminated in a PRCS and all atmospheric hazards have been either eliminated or controlled by continuous ventilation the space may be entered using Alternative Methods and documenting the entry with PCRS Entry Form Part A. If any hazard is present it is a “Permit” entry and PCRS Entry Form Part A & B must be used to enter the space which requires an Attendant and a rescue plan.

Flowable material (e.g., gas, liquids, fine solids) hazards must be isolated by physical disconnect, blinding or blanking of interconnected piping; or a risk assessment must be completed that provides equal protection. Isolation with a single valve is not acceptable as valves can fail.