Confined Space Consulting
At Institute for Environment Assessment, Inc. (IEA), we provide health and safety consulting services to schools, hospitals, government agencies and commercial property owners. With four offices in the upper Midwest, we serve clients throughout the United States. One of our areas of expertise is issues related to confined spaces in a variety of environments.
What is a confined space?
Confined spaces can include boilers, storage tanks, process vessels, ventilation exhaust ducts, sewers, utility vaults, tunnels, open bins and even open-top trenches. The OSHA definition describes confined space as any area that meets all of the following criteria:
- Large enough to bodily enter
- Limited entry and exiting
- Not designed for continuous occupancy
Services to clients
Employees who work in confined spaces are, by definition, working under hazardous conditions. As a result, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has developed standards for identifying, testing and training in confined space environments. Our experienced consultants are available to help your organization comply with these standards. Our services include:
- Conduct site visit to identify all confined spaces
- Test atmospheric conditions of the spaces for flammable gases, vapors and oxygen levels
- Develop safe entry procedures
- Recommend appropriate emergency procedures for permit required confined space entry
- Recommend appropriate signage to notify employees that a work area has been classified a confined space
- Provide training to all affected employees
- Conduct annual audits