Confined spaces are some of the most dangerous places that workers can find themselves in. Injury, entrapment, and exposure to harmful materials and gases are a few of the hazards that workers can face inside a confined space. This is why only trained personnel should enter a confined space, and why some confined spaces even need special permits to enter.

Before your workers attempt to access a confined space, it is up to you as the employer to make sure that they are properly trained. Untrained personnel risk injuring themselves and others if they attempt to work in a confined space. A comprehensive confined space certification program is vital to ensuring the safety of your work site.

What should a confined space certification program include?

While each work site is different, there are a few key points that every confined space training course should cover. Some of these key points include:

• Identifying a confined space — Workers should be able to identify when they have entered a confined space. They also need to be able to tell the difference between a confined space and a permit-required confined space.

• Risk and hazard assessment — Workers need to be able to recognize the hazards present in the workspace. Testing for hazardous gases and chemicals is one way to assess risks. Identifying fall or entrapment risks is also a part of preparing for work in a confined space.

• Personal protective equipment use — Personal protective equipment is vital to ensuring safety. Safety harnesses, protective headgear and breathing air systems are all examples of personal protective equipment. Workers should be able to identify and use all forms of personal protective equipment.

• Emergency and rescue procedures — In the event of an injury or other emergency, workers need to know the protocols they should follow. Confined space supervisors are responsible for making sure that proper procedures are followed. Confined space attendants are responsible for alerting first responders in the event of an emergency.

Where can I turn for confined space certification for my work site?

For comprehensive and trusted training programs for your work site, look no further than Basin Safety. Our Confined Space Entry & Operations and Confined Space Rescue programs are compliant with OSHA as well as all local regulations. Our certification programs ensure that employees understand how to protect themselves from the hazards of working in a confined space.

Contact Basin Safety today for more information on our dozens of OSHA-compliant training programs, as well as our field services, equipment services and consultation services.