Confined spaces awareness

Skills you'll practise

• Identify a confined space and a permit-required confined space using OSHA's defining conditions and HSE's description
• Describe the hazards that make confined spaces dangerous, including atmospheres that change during work
• Explain the duties of the authorized entrant, attendant and entry supervisor, and what an entry permit records
• State the order OSHA gives for atmospheric testing and why oxygen is tested first
• Choose the right action as an untrained worker when someone in a confined space needs help

Course outline

1. 1.Confined spaces awarenessVideo · 3 min
2. 2.What makes a space 'confined'Lesson · 16 min
3. 3.Permits, testing and rolesLesson · 17 min
4. 4.When something goes wrongLesson · 17 min
5. 5.Confined spaces awareness: knowledge checkKnowledge check · 19 questions
6. 6.Confined spaces awareness: practical exerciseKnowledge check · 1 question
7. 7.Final exam10 questions · passing it completes the course, so people who already know the material can test out

Sources it draws on

The lessons and questions are written from these references, so learners can go back to the original.

• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146: Permit-required confined spaces (definitions, (c)(2) danger signs, (d)(5) testing order, (e) permits, (h)–(j) entrant, attendant and entry supervisor duties, (k) rescue)
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146 Appendix B: Procedures for atmospheric testing
• HSE: Confined spaces, introduction (UK): definition, avoiding entry, safe systems of work, emergency arrangements
• HSE INDG258: Confined spaces, a brief guide to working safely (UK)
• The Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 (SI 1997/1713) (UK)
• Your employer's safety procedures, risk assessments and site rules (these govern)