Jefferson Lab > ES&H
Privacy and Security Notice
ES&H Manual
Chapter 6160 Confined Space Program

At Jefferson Lab entering a confined space for any reason is considered to be an unmitigated Risk Code >2 and requires a Work Control Document (Confined Space Entry Permit or Alternate Entry Certificate as appropriate). Only when all hazard issues associated with the area and the work activity are mitigated can access to the area be authorized.

This program does not address construction work regulated by 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P – Excavations, 1926 Subpart S – Underground Construction, Caissons, Cofferdams and Compressed Air, or Construction work regulated by §1926 Subpart Y — Diving.

Purpose
At Jefferson Lab any area where work is assigned that is large enough to enter and perform work; has limited or restricted means of entry or egress; limited natural ventilation; and is not designed for continuous occupancy is considered to be a confined space. Working in confined spaces could potentially increase the risk of overexposure to atmospheric hazards and reduce a person's ability to exit quickly due to physical hazards within the space. The purpose of this chapter is to provide awareness of the locations of known permit-required confined spaces (PRCS) at Jefferson Lab and establishes the minimum requirements necessary to prevent death or serious injury associated with entry in to a PRCS.

Jefferson Lab has written agreements from the City of Newport News to provide emergency services through its 911 system. These include emergency medical response and transport, emergency technical rescue, and hazmat incident response. Letters confirming these services are on file with the Emergency Manager.

This program does not address construction work regulated by 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P – Excavations, 1926 Subpart S – Underground Construction, Caissons, Cofferdams and Compressed Air, or Construction work regulated by §1926 Subpart Y — Diving.
Scope
This Confined Space Program applies to all staff, affiliates, visitors, and others who perform work in PRCSs at Jefferson Lab. Subcontractors may operate under their company's Confined Space Program that meets or exceeds the requirements of this program and approved for use onsite by Jefferson Lab's Confined Space Coordinator.

This program complies with the requirements of OSHA General Industry Standard 29 CFR 1910.146 and OSHA Construction Standard 29 CFR 1926 Subpart AA and applicable federal, state, and local requirements as outlined in ES&H Manual 2410 Appendix T1 Hazard Issues List.
Technical Appendices:

T1 Listing of Permit-Required Confined Space Locations
ES&H Manual 6160 Appendix T1 Listing of Permit-Required Confined Space Locations provides a listing of Jefferson Lab's currently known PRCSs. They are generally located underground and entered through manholes. Entry is infrequent and normally made by a Jefferson Lab authorized subcontractor.
T2 Identification and Classification of Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS)
ES&H Manual Chapter 6160 Appendix T2 Identification and Classification of Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS) presents the process steps used to identify and reclassify PRCs.

Click for Permit Required Confined Space Classification form.
T3 Entry Procedure for Permit Required Confined Space (PRCS)
ES&H Manual Chapter 6160 Appendix T3 Entry Procedure for Permit Required Confined Space (PRCS) provides the process steps to initiate a confined space entry.

Click for Confined Space Entry Permit form.
T4 Alternate Entry Procedure for Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS)
ES&H Manual Chapter 6160 Appendix T4 Alternate Entry Procedure for Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS) provides the process steps for an alternate entry for PRCs.

Click for Alternate Entry Certification form.
Responsibilities:

Note: Management authority can be delegated to a task qualified JLab employee.

Anyone at Jefferson Lab
  • Request a hazard evaluation to reclassify an identified or suspect area meeting the criteria of a PRCS.
Qualified Attendant
  • Maintain appropriate training (SAF907 Confined Space Entryand other applicable training for the tasks performed inside the PRCS).
  • Read and comply with the requirements listed on the CSE Permit or Alternate Entry Certification. Suspend work if conditions alter (see ES&H Manual Chapter 3330 Appendix T1 Suspend Work for Safety Procedure).
  • Remain stationed outside the permit space monitoring entrants.
  • Perform continuous air monitoring as assigned by the Entry Supervisor.
  • Prevent unauthorized entry into the PRCS.
  • Order an evacuation if hazard conditions change.
Authorized Entrant
  • Maintain appropriate training (SAF907 Confined Space Entry, or equivalent as approved by Industrial Hygiene).
  • Authorized by Entry Supervisor to enter the permit space and perform work.
  • Read and comply with CSE Permit requirements or Alternate Entry Certification. Suspend work if conditions alter (see ES&H Manual Chapter 3330 Appendix T1 Suspend Work for Safety Procedure).
  • Perform continuous air monitoring as assigned by the Entry Supervisor.
  • Maintain communication with the Attendant during the entry.
  • Evacuate immediately if directed, alarm activates, or if judgment tells you to evacuate.
Entry Supervisor
  • Maintain appropriate training (SAF907 Confined Space Entry and other applicable training for the tasks performed inside the PRCS).
  • Confirm Qualified Attendant(s) and Authorized Entrant(s) are trained, qualified, and have read and understand the requirements for the work.
  • Contact Newport News Fire Department (NNFD) prior to entry to ensure that emergency rescue service is available. When notified that NNFD is not available for rescue services, prevent or discontinue PRCS entries until services capability have been reactivated.
  • Initiate the CSE Permit or an Alternate Entry Certification.
  • Authorize entry into the PRCS.
  • Terminate entry and cancel the entry permit when operations have been completed or a condition not allowed by the entry permit arises in or near the permit space.
Supervisor/Technical Representative (TR)/Sponsor
  • Know the PRCSs under your authority. Ensure they are appropriately identified and secured.
  • Submit subcontractor confined space programs to the CS Coordinator for review/acceptance
    • Confined space entries performed by construction subcontractors shall provide the name and qualifications of the competent person assigned by the entry employer.
    • Subcontractors are expected to be equipped to perform CSE using air monitors, retrieval gear, etc. furnished by the entry employer. Jefferson Lab does not provide equipment for use by subcontractors.
  • Provide subcontractor with the following information (NOTE-this information may also be obtained from the Confined Space Coordinator):
    • Location of each known permit space.
    • Hazards or potential hazards in each space or the reason it is a permit space.
    • Any precautions that Jefferson Lab or other entrant implemented for the protection of employees in the permit space.
  • Coordinate entry operations when both Lab personnel and subcontractor personnel will be working in or near permit spaces.
  • Submits closed permits to the Confined Space Coordinator for retention.
Confined Space Coordinator
  • Maintain the listing of PRCSs.
  • Perform an appropriate reclassification and posting of PRCS.
  • Ensure monitoring instruments are appropriately maintained, calibrated, and bump tested prior to issuing for CSE.
  • Provide Confined Space Entry training.
  • Maintain copies of CSE Permits for both Jefferson Lab employee and subcontractor entries.
  • Provide copies of terminated permits for reference to employees and subcontractors as needed to plan for future entries.
  • Review subcontractor CSE Programs.
  • Annually review the confined space program and completed CSE permits for effectiveness.
  • Serve as Jefferson Lab's competent person when confined space entries are performed for construction activities performed by JLab staff.
    • Confined space entries performed by construction subcontractors shall provide the name and qualifications of the component person assigned by the entry employer.
Flow Chart:
Document Control:
  • ISSUING AUTHORITY:   ES&H Division
    TECHNICAL POINT-OF-CONTACT:  Jennifer Williams
    APPROVAL DATE:   10/14/16
    REVIEW DATE:   10/14/19
    REVISION HISTORY
    Revision 2.0 - 10/14/16 - Periodic Review; formerly titled 'Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS) Entry Program', updated Responsibilities, added Alternate Entry Procedure, updated TPOC from R.Owen to J.Williams.
    Revision 1.1 - 05/20/14 - Added Required Safety Training Table.
    Revision 1.0 - Rewritten to comply with current laboratory operations.

This document is controlled as an on-line file. It may be printed but the print copy is not a controlled document. It is the user's responsibility to ensure that the document is the same revision as the current on line file. .