51°µÍø

51°µÍø ORM manages the confined space program on the 51°µÍø campus. 51°µÍø has hundreds of confined spaces on campus, and the program is to ensure the safety of students, faculty, staff, guest, and contractors. Any person entering a confined space on campus is required to follow the 51°µÍø Confined Space Program. For full details of confined spaces, hazards, hazard mitigation and 51°µÍø policies please review the 2019 ORM PRCS Program.

Permits

At 51°µÍø, we use work permits to help ensure safety. Confined Space Permits are required to enter a confined space by 51°µÍø policy and OSHA Federal Law. Below is the type of confined space permits issued on campus.

• Permit-Required Confined Spaces
  • PRCS Permits is used when someone is entering a confined space with a known hazard.
  • PRCS Permits require all aspects of the 51°µÍø Confined Space Program.
  • PRCS require specialized training, minimum equipment, confined space rescue team.
  • Requires 51°µÍø ORM authorization before entering.
• Non-Permit Required Confined Space
  • Non-permit required confined spaces are confined space with no known hazards.
  • Employees may enter confined spaces after checking for potential hazards and eliminating those hazards

Definitions

Confined Space

• Confined space contains all three following below:
  • A confined space is a location that is large enough for an employee to enter and perform assigned work.
  • A confined space has limited or restricted means of entry or exit.
  • A confined space is a location not designed for continuous employee occupancy.

Common Confined Spaces Examples: tunnels, sewers, tanks, manholes, small industrial spaces, storm drains, crawl spaces, electrical vaults, and basements.

Confined Spaces that do not have any hazards do not need a permit to enter. See Hazard and Hazard Control section for more information.

Permit-Required Confined Space (PRCS)

A permit-required confined space is a confined space with one of the following:

1. It contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere.
2. It contains a material that has the potential to engulf an employee or entrant.
3. The confined space is configured in such a way that an employee could become trapped by sloped floors or inwardly configured walls.
4. Or contains any other serious safety or health hazard.

Non-Permit Required Confined Space

A Non-Permit Required Confined Space was a Permit-Required Confined space where all known and potential hazards are removed.

Once a Non-Permit Required Confined Space, employees can work in the confined space without the full permit-required confined space requirements.

A non-permit required confined space may remain unpermitted until the project is completed or a hazard is identified.

Rescue Team

Rescue Teams are highly trained people who are authorized by ORM or governmental organizations having jurisdiction to enter a permit-required confined space to rescue injured entrants.

• Rescue Teams are required for all permit-required confined spaces.
• A rescue team must be notified before any permit-required confined space entry, or a confined space permit is released from 51°µÍø ORM.
• For emergencies, call 51°µÍø Police Department at (214)-768-3333.
• Calling 911 is not a substitute for having a standby rescue team.

Inventory

The majority of the confined spaces on campus do not have any known hazards. 51°µÍø Office of Risk Management (ORM) maintains an inventory of recognized Permit-Required Confined Spaces. Known Confined Spaces will be assessed and documented for potential hazards. Employees and Rescue teams should not rely on the information in the confined space inventory alone.