Entry Supervisor Responsibilities
The Confined Space Entry Supervisor holds a key position with important responsibilities.
The Confined Space Entry Supervisor holds a key position with important responsibilities.
This position is in charge of confined space work and should:
- Ensure requirements for entry have been completed before entry is authorized.
- Authorize entry and oversee entry operations.
- Ensure confined space monitoring is performed by personnel qualified and trained in confined space entry procedures.
- Ensure a list of monitoring equipment and personnel qualified to operate the equipment is maintained by the employer.
- Ensure that the rescue team has simulated a rescue in a confined space within the past twelve months.
- Know the hazards that may be faced during entry, including the mode, signs or symptoms, and consequences of exposure.
- Fill out a permit when it is required.
- Determine the entry requirements and that conditions are acceptable for entry.
- Notify all involved employees of the permit requirements.
- Post the permit in a conspicuous location near the job.
- Renew the permit or have it reissued as needed (a new permit is required every shift).
- Determine the number of attendants required to perform the work.
- Perform duties as the confined space attendant if required.
- Ensure the attendant knows how to communicate with the entrants and how to obtain assistance.
- Ensure measures are in place to keep unauthorized personnel clear of the area.
- Ensure the confined space entry is barricaded or guarded to prevent entry while work is not in progress.
- Post any required barriers and signs.
- Remain alert to changing conditions that might affect the conditions of the permits, (i.e., require additional atmospheric monitoring or changes in personal protective equipment).
- Serve as an attendant, as long as the person is trained and equipped appropriately for that role.
- Change and reissue the permit, or issue a new permit as necessary.
- Ensure periodic atmospheric monitoring is done according to permit requirements.
- Ensure that personnel doing the work and all support personnel adhere to permit requirements.
- Ensure the permit is canceled when the work is done.
- Ensure the confined space is safely closed and all workers are cleared from the area.
- Check the work at least twice a shift to verify and document permit requirements are being observed (more frequent checks should be made if operations or conditions are anticipated that could affect permit requirements).
- Ensure that necessary information on chemical hazards is kept at the work site for the employees or rescue team.
- Ensure a rescue team is available and instructed in their rescue duties (e.g., an on-site team or a prearranged outside rescue service).
- Ensure at least one member of the rescue team has current certification in first aid and CPR.
- Terminate entry procedures as required.
1910.146(j)
Duties of entry supervisors. The employer must ensure that each entry supervisor:
- 1910.146(j)(1) Knows the hazards that may be faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs or symptoms, and consequences of the exposure;
- 1910.146(j)(2) Verifies, by checking that the appropriate entries have been made on the permit, that all tests specified by the permit have been conducted and that all procedures and equipment specified by the permit are in place before endorsing the permit and allowing entry to begin;
- 1910.146(j)(3) Terminates the entry and cancels the permit as required by paragraph (e)(5) of this section;
- 1910.146(j)(4) Verifies that rescue services are available and that the means for summoning them are operable;
- 1910.146(j)(5) Removes unauthorized individuals who enter or who attempt to enter the permit space during entry operations; and
- 1910.146(j)(6) Determines, whenever responsibility for a permit space entry operation is transferred and at intervals dictated by the hazards and operations performed within the space, that entry operations remain consistent with terms of the entry permit and that acceptable entry conditions are maintained.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
7-2. How often should the entry supervisor verify and document the work to make sure permit requirements are being observed?
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