Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001C Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.146(c)(4): Permit-required confined spaces. If the employer decides that its employees will enter permit spaces, the employer shall develop and implement a written permit space program that complies with this section. The written program shall be available for inspection by employees and their authorized representatives. On or about October 19, 2021, and October 25, 2021, at an establishment located at 112 Mainline Drive in Seymour, Wisconsin, employees were assigned service and maintenance work inside loading dock pits (permit-required confined spaces) for the dock leveler equipment. Employees worked under the dock plates removing debris, removing two air bag assemblies, and installing one air bag assembly. The employer did not develop and implement a permit-required confined space entry program that ensured compliance with all of the applicable elements under 1910.146(d) such as, but not limited to: a. Procedures to prevent unauthorized entry. b. Procedures to identify and evaluate the hazards of permit spaces. c. Procedures necessary for safe permit space entry operations (applicable conditions for entry, providing entrants or their representatives with the opportunity to observe monitoring or testing of permit spaces, ventilating the permit space as necessary to eliminate or control atmospheric hazards, protection from external hazards, and verifying that conditions are acceptable for entry throughout duration of entry). d. Procedures for providing testing and monitoring equipment and rescue and entry equipment. e. Procedures for evaluating permit space conditions when entry operations are conducted (testing and monitoring). f. Procedures for summoning rescue and emergency services, for rescuing entrants from permit spaces, for providing necessary emergency services to rescued employees, and for preventing unauthorized personnel from attempting a rescue. g. Procedures for preparing, issuing, using, and canceling entry permits. h. Procedures for reviewing and revising entry operations. i. Procedures for reviewing and revising the permit space program.