Ecmweb 7649 Confined Entry

Confined Entry Unsafe Acts, Part 2

Aug. 3, 2015
This doesn’t mean “If it ain't on the permit, I don’t have to use it.”

A confined entry permit typically lists some required personal protective equipment (PPE). But this doesn’t mean “If it ain't on the permit, I don’t have to use it.” Often, this part of the permit is filled out with the goal of protecting you from the confined space itself. So it may include things such as breathing apparatus and extraction straps, but not include such things as the gloves you need to work at the expected voltage.

It would be redundant to state on the permit that you must wear serviceable leather safety shoes rated for electrical work; you wear those on the job site anyhow. The same applies to safety glasses. Typically, the expectation is that when you “pass the gate” you are wearing protective eye gear (safety glasses) except in designated areas such as break rooms. So there’s no need to specifically mention them on the permit.

In addition to wearing your normally expected PPE, you must wear job-specific PPE. Conduct an assessment of the electrical work you’ll be doing in the confined entry space just as you would outside the confined entry space.

You have a complete PPE list only after you’ve identified all of the PPE required to perform those specific tasks (on the work order) in that specific space (the confined entry permit).

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