HomeMy WebLinkAbout700-18 POLICY & PROCEDURE
Subject: CONFINED SPACE ENTRY Index: SAFETY
Number: 700-18
Effective Date:
9-12-2023
Supersedes:
09/04/2013
Page:
1 of 2
Staff Contact:
Ellen Bradley-Mak
Approved By:
1.0 PURPOSE:
To be used in conjunction with the Confined Space Entry Program to ensure safe
and compliant entry into confined spaces.
2.0 ORGANIZATIONS AFFECTED:
Public Works Maintenance Division, Facilities Maintenance Division, Parks
Maintenance Division, and all other employees whose work requires, or may
require, entry into a confined space.
3.0 REFERENCES:
WAC 296-809
Confined Space Entry Program
4.0 DEFINITIONS:
4.1 Confined Space: A space that is all of the following:
4.1.1 Large enough and arranged so an employee could fully enter the space
and work;
4.1.2 Has limited or restricted entry or exit. Examples of spaces with limited or
restricted entry are tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults,
excavations, and pits; and
4.1.3 Not primarily designed for human occupancy.
5.0 POLICY:
5.1 It is paramount that the City provides its employees with the means to safely
enter and work in any confined space.
Policy 700-18, Confined Space Entry
p. 2
5.2 Each department is responsible for initial training and appropriate refresher
training for their employees who perform confined spaces entry via permit-
required or alternate entry procedures.
5.3 Prior to any confined space entry, the supervisor will ensure that their
employees are thoroughly competent in all aspects of the confined spaces entry
procedure to the level that is appropriate for each employee's duties.
5.4 No employee shall enter a confined space without first possessing the proper
training and equipment and must only do so under the respective supervisor's
direction and as per the written procedure provided in the Confined Space
Entry Program.
5.5 The City of Renton and its employees treat all confined spaces as permit-
required spaces until they have been evaluated and are documented to be
alternate entry.
5.6 City of Renton permit-required confined spaces will only be entered by trained
employees where non-entry rescue can be used. Employees at the City of Renton
do not perform entry rescue.
5.7 All contractors working for the City who may enter an identified confined space
shall be provided with a current copy of the applicable written Confined Space
Entry Program.
5.8 All employees shall obtain, be familiar with, and comply with a copy of the
applicable Confined Space Entry Program belonging to other jurisdictions prior to
entry into a confined space that is owned and/or controlled by that jurisdiction.
Should the jurisdiction's written program or procedures be in conflict with the
City’s Confined Space Entry Program, the City's program shall supersede as
directed by the supervisor.
5.9 Because of the seriousness of the hazard created by confined space entry, failure
to comply with program procedures is grounds for discipline, up to and including
termination.
6.0 PROCEDURES:
Confined space entries, whether Permit-Required or Alternate Entry, must follow and
comply with the current Confined Spaces Entry Program document. Copies of the
program are available through each supervisor, through the department office with
confined space entry responsibilities, or through the Human Resources and Risk
Management Department.