Some spaces in a residential home may be considered confined spaces or permit required confined spaces.
Attic confined space.
If an attic space in your building fits the definition of a confined space then attics are confined spaces.
There is sure to be some eye rolling from the folks affected by this new clarification.
Confined spaces or permit required confined spaces exist before beginning work on a residential homebuilding project each employer must ensure that a competent person identifies all confined spaces in which one or more employees it directs may work and identifies each space that is a permit required confined space.
Not all attics are defined.
However attic spaces that are determined to be confined spaces should generally fall into the category of non permit confined spaces because they have either natural or mechanical ventilation which would prevent accumulation of.
The confined spaces in general industry standards 29 cfr 1910 146 address attics in this osha letter of interpretation stating that if the attic space in your building fits the definition of a confined space then attics are confined spaces.
This course reviews the requirements responsibilities and procedures under subpart aa of 29 cfr 1926 in an easy to learn multimedia presentation.
Work site for the presence of confined spaces including permit required confined spaces.
Osha fact sheet on confined spaces in construction.
The standard helps to eliminate and isolate hazards in order to prevent construction workers from being hurt or killed in confined spaces.
If you have anything to do with confined spaces you should spend some time there and make sure you understand the new rules.
Examples of confined spaces include some attics boiler rooms sewers crawl spaces and more.
Ensuring that the air in a confined space.
Slow and plodding sure.
They define a confined space as a location that has limited access to entering or exiting the space.
According to a publication by osha and the national association of home builders nahb attics.
Once the space is classified as a permit required confined space identifying the means of entry and exit proper ventilation methods and elimination or control of all potential hazards in the space.
I agree with kate that a loft attic is not a confined space per se unpleasent though they are it really depends on the inherent hazards which may be unknown until visited.
In which case training operatives to be aware of the risks is essential and far better than giving the task a generic label in my opinion.
Confined spaces are inherently dangerous and osha s not unreasonable response is to require additional safety.
But osha is a force of nature.
An attic for example will not be considered a confined space because there is not limited or restricted means for entry and exit.
But attic spaces that are determined to be confined spaces should generally fall into the category.
Here are links to the two main pdfs.
Crawl spaces and attics pdf standard 29 cfr 1926 subpart aa confined spaces in construction pdf.
