Confined space entry permits

An entry permit is a written authorization, issued for a specific space, task and period of time, confirming that the hazards have been controlled and that everyone involved knows their role. It turns the hazard assessment into a checklist for the day. A good permit is completed at the space, before entry, by people who have actually checked each item.

When a permit is required

Provincial rules set out when an entry permit is required, and they differ. In general, a permit is expected wherever the hazard assessment identifies a hazardous atmosphere, engulfment, energy sources or other serious hazards. Some spaces with only restricted access may need less formal controls, depending on the province. Your confined space program should state clearly which spaces need a permit, and the default should be to issue one when there is any doubt. CSA Z1006 is a useful reference for permit content. Check the current edition and your province's rules.

What a permit should contain

Permit formats vary, but most include the following:

Identification

• The space, its location and its identification number
• The work to be done and the tools and materials to be used
• The date, start time and expiry time of the permit
• The names of the entry supervisor, attendant and each authorized entrant

Hazards and controls

• The hazards identified in the assessment, with the control for each
• Isolation points: valves closed and locked, lines blanked or disconnected, electrical and mechanical lockout, with lock numbers
• Ventilation method and equipment, including where the fan intake is placed
• Required personal protective equipment, respiratory protection and retrieval equipment
• Any hot work or other permits that apply at the same time

Atmospheric testing

• The gases to be tested and the acceptable limits
• Results of pre-entry tests at each level of the space, with the time and the tester's name
• The detector used and confirmation that it was bump tested
• Whether monitoring is continuous or periodic, and how often periodic tests are repeated

Communication and rescue

• How the entrant and attendant will communicate
• How the attendant will summon rescue
• The rescue team, its location and how it will be contacted, and confirmation that its equipment is in place

Signatures

The supervisor signs to authorize entry after confirming that the conditions are met. Many programs also have the attendant and entrants sign to confirm they have reviewed the permit. A section for closing the permit records when everyone has left and the space has been secured.

How to use a permit well

1. Prepare it from the assessment. The supervisor fills in the hazards and controls using the written hazard assessment for that space, not from memory.
2. Verify each item at the space. Locks are checked, isolation is tested, ventilation is running and the atmosphere is tested before anyone signs.
3. Brief the crew. Everyone involved goes through the permit together, including the conditions that will require evacuation.
4. Post it at the entry point. The permit stays at the space for the duration of the work so anyone can see who is inside and what controls are in place.
5. Update it as you go. Periodic gas readings, changes of attendant and anyone entering or leaving are recorded on the permit or an attached log.
6. Close it properly. When the work is done, confirm everyone is out, tools and materials are removed, the space is secured and isolation is removed under your lockout procedure.

Common permit problems

• Permits filled in at the office and signed without anyone visiting the space
• Gas readings written on the permit before the detector has been bump tested
• Generic hazards and controls copied from permit to permit
• No named rescue team, or a phone number for a service that has never been confirmed
• Permits that stay open after the work ends, or that run across shift changes without a handover
• Contractors working under their own permit without the owner's isolation and hazard information

Reviewing closed permits is one of the quickest ways to see whether your program is working. Patterns in incomplete or inconsistent permits point to training, supervision or form design problems.

Permits and the roles involved

The permit names the people and their duties, but each role still needs training and authority. The entry supervisor must have the authority to stop work, and the attendant must be able to stay at the entry point for the entire entry. See Confined space roles: entrant, attendant, supervisor for detail, and Lockout and tagout for isolation practice.

How ehZee can help

We design permit forms that match your spaces and your province's requirements, train supervisors on how to use them, and review completed permits to find gaps. See our confined space programs service for the full approach.

Common questions