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713 Confined Space Program
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713 Confined Space Program

Attendant Responsibilities

The Attendant should be stationed outside the work space and should:

Infographic about confined space entry arrangement example.
The Attendant should be stationed outside the work space.
  • Be knowledgeable of, and be able to recognize potential confined space hazards.
  • Maintain a sign-in/sign-out log with a count of all persons in the confined space and ensure all entrants sign-in/sign-out.
  • Monitor surrounding activities to ensure the safety of personnel.
  • Maintain effective and continuous communication with personnel during confined space entry, work and exit.
  • Order personnel to evacuate the confined space if he/she:
    • Observes a condition which is not allowed on the entry permit;
    • Notices the entrants acting strangely, possibly as a result of exposure to hazardous substances;
    • Notices a situation outside the confined space which could endanger personnel;
    • Notices within the confined space a hazard which has not been previously recognized or taken into consideration;
    • Must leave his/her work station; or
    • Must focus attention on the rescue of personnel in some other confined space that he/she is monitoring.
  • Immediately summon the Rescue Team if crew rescue becomes necessary.
  • Keep unauthorized persons out of the confined space, order them out, or notify authorized personnel of the unauthorized entry.

1910.146(i)
Duties of attendants. The employer must ensure that each attendant:

  • 1910.146(i)(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(i)(2) Is aware of possible behavioral effects of hazard exposure in authorized entrants;
  • 1910.146(i)(3) Continuously maintains an accurate count of authorized entrants in the permit space and ensures that the means used to identify authorized entrants under paragraph (f)(4) correctly shows who is in the space;
  • 1910.146(i)(4) Remains outside the permit space during entry operations until relieved by another attendant;
  • Note: Attendants may enter the space for rescue if trained and equipped, and only after being properly relieved as required.
  • 1910.146(i)(5) Communicates with authorized entrants as needed to monitor their status and to alert them if evacuation is required under paragraph (i)(6);
  • 1910.146(i)(6) Monitors activities inside and outside the space to decide if it is safe for entrants to stay and orders immediate evacuation if:
    • 1910.146(i)(6)(i) A prohibited condition is detected;
    • 1910.146(i)(6)(ii) Behavioral effects of hazard exposure are seen in an entrant;
    • 1910.146(i)(6)(iii) A situation outside the space could put entrants in danger;
    • 1910.146(i)(6)(iv) The attendant cannot safely perform all duties required by this section;
  • 1910.146(i)(7) Calls for rescue and emergency help right away if entrants may need help escaping space hazards;
  • 1910.146(i)(8) Acts when unauthorized people approach or enter the space during entry:
    • 1910.146(i)(8)(i) Warns them to stay away;
    • 1910.146(i)(8)(ii) Tells them to leave if they entered;
    • 1910.146(i)(8)(iii) Informs entrants and the entry supervisor;
  • 1910.146(i)(9) Performs non-entry rescues as stated in the employer’s rescue procedure;
  • 1910.146(i)(10) Does not do anything that would interfere with the duty to monitor and protect the entrants.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

7-4. What should confined space attendants do if they notice entrants behaving strangely?

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