Approved permits must be posted onsite along with confined space entrant attendant log.
Confined Space Entry Guidelines – UNT Policy Requirements
Posting Requirements
Approved permits must be posted onsite near the confined space entrance.
The Confined Space Entrant/Attendant Log must be posted alongside the permit.
A copy of the permit must also be posted in the General Contractor’s onsite office.
Applicability Criteria
A Confined Space Entry Evaluation is required prior to any entry.
A space is classified as a Confined Space if it meets all of the following:
1. Is large enough for an employee to bodily enter and perform work.
2. Has limited or restricted means of entry or exit (e.g., tanks, silos, pits).
3. Is not designed for continuous occupancy.
Permit-Required Confined Space designation applies if any of the following hazards are present or anticipated:
- - Potential for a hazardous atmosphere.
- - Potential for engulfment.
- - Internal configuration that could trap or asphyxiate an entrant (e.g., inwardly converging walls or sloped floors).
- - Is a trench or excavation 4 feet deep or more at its deepest point.
- - Any recognized serious safety or health hazard.
Permit Requirements
Permits are typically valid for one work period only.
Certain repetitive tasks may qualify for extended permits in limited, pre-approved circumstances.
If the space is abandoned for more than one hour, atmospheric retesting is required prior to reentry.
Permit must be site-specific, including a clear and accurate description of the space.
A new permit and evaluation are required if:
- - Work conditions change, or
- - Work continues beyond the permit's expiration date/time.
Communication & Emergency Action
The attendant must maintain constant communication with all authorized entrants.
The communication method must:
- - Be clearly understood by all entry team members.
- - Include a protocol for emergency signaling.
Rescue efforts should be conducted from outside the confined space whenever feasible.
Retrieval equipment (e.g., full-body harnesses, lifelines, rescue winches) must be used as appropriate, especially for vertical entries over 4 feet deep.
A designated rescue team must be identified and available prior to entry.