About this course
Silos, mixing vessels, tanks, hoppers, and below-grade pits are common in food manufacturing, and many of them meet OSHA's definition of a permit-required confined space: an area large enough to enter, with limited means of entry or exit, that is not designed for continuous occupancy and may contain a hazard such as an oxygen-deficient atmosphere, engulfment risk, or toxic accumulation. This course trains authorized entrants on the procedures required to enter these spaces safely and legally.
The applicable standard is OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146, Permit-Required Confined Spaces. It establishes three defined roles: the authorized entrant, who physically enters the space; the attendant, who is stationed outside and monitors the entrant and conditions; and the entry supervisor, who confirms acceptable entry conditions and authorizes the entry. The standard requires a written entry permit for each entry, atmospheric testing before and during occupancy, and continuous communication between the attendant and entrant throughout the work — by voice, radio, or another agreed method.
This course is written for maintenance workers, sanitation staff, and other employees who are designated as authorized entrants and will physically enter permit spaces to clean, inspect, or repair equipment. It assumes learners already understand basic lockout/tagout concepts, since most confined space entries also require isolating hazardous energy before entry.
After completing this course, learners will be able to recognize a permit-required confined space, explain the duties of the entrant, attendant, and entry supervisor, describe the atmospheric testing sequence (oxygen, flammability, and toxicity), and follow the communication and permit procedures required before, during, and after entry.
Topics covered
- Identifying permit-required vs. non-permit confined spaces
- Roles and responsibilities: authorized entrant, attendant, entry supervisor
- Atmospheric testing order and acceptable entry conditions
- Entry permit completion and duration limits
- Maintaining continuous communication during entry
- Recognizing engulfment and other space-specific hazards
- Emergency and non-entry rescue procedures
Want this tailored to your facility's policies? Build your own with AI or book a demo.