OSHAcademy Online Occupational Health and Safety Training Course 713.0 - Introduction to Energy Control Program (Lockout/Tagout)

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This material is for training purposes only to inform the reader of occupational safety and health best practices and general compliance requirements and is not a substitute for provisions of the OSH Act of 1970 or any governmental regulatory agency.

COURSE INTRODUCTION

Many workplaces contain spaces that are considered to be "confined" because their configurations hinder the activities of employees who must enter into, work in or exit from them. In many instances, employees who work in confined spaces also face increased risk of exposure to serious physical injury from hazards such as entrapment, engulfment and hazardous atmospheric conditions. Confinement itself may pose entrapment hazards and work in confined spaces may keep employees closer to hazards such as machinery components than they would be otherwise. For example, confinement, limited access and restricted airflow can result in hazardous conditions that would not normally arise in an open workplace.

According to the Z117 ANSI Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) for Confined Spaces, a review of 200 confined space fatality cases from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) database occurring between 1993 and 2004 confirmed that the distribution of causes had not changed to any significant degree. The committee also noted that approximately 65 percent of incidents with fatalities involved atmospheric contamination and engulfment accounted for less than 10 percent of the identified causes. (ASSE Mini Tech-Brief: Confined Spaces - 9/2009)

Keep in mind: Most permit-space accidents happen for the following reasons:

Workers have not been properly trained to recognize permit-space hazards.
Hazards are not eliminated or controlled before workers enter the space.
Rescuers are inexperienced or improperly trained.

Course Goals

This course has been developed to explain basic requirements detailed within OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.146, Permit-required confined spaces, which will assist employers in establishing and maintaining an effective confined space program. By implementing such a program, our employees will be able to:

Recognize, evaluate, and control confined space hazards.
Save lives and protect employees from job-related injuries and illnesses.
Promote safe and effective work practices.
Reduce preventable workers’ compensation costs
Comply with company procedures and practices

This course provides a general overview of a particular topic related to OSHA standards. It does not alter or determine compliance responsibilities in OSHA standards or the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. Because interpretations and enforcement policy may change over time, you should consult current OSHA administrative interpretations and decisions by the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission and the Courts for additional guidance on OSHA compliance requirements.

If you're ready jump over to Module One: Confined Space Basic Concepts.

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