PERMIT TO CONFINED SPACE ENTRY

• OBJECTIVE:

 To describe a standard operating procedure for Confined space entry Permit.

• SCOPE:

This Procedure is applicable for Confined space entry Permit at {Company Name} {Company Location}.

• RESPONSIBILITY:

• EHS Department in-charge / designee shall be,
  • Responsible to make availability of Confined space entry permit to concern department.
    • Responsible to inspect the area where work will be executed and authorize the Confined space entry permit.
• Concerned Department Employee shall be,
  • Responsible for initiating the Confined space entry permit.
    • Responsible to ensure that all safety precautions are followed during the execution of work.
• Concerned Department Heads shall be,
  • Responsible to approve the Confined space entry permit and ensure that all safety precautions are followed during the execution of work.

• ACCOUNTABILITY:

QA Manager shall be accountable for Approval & Implementation of SOP.

• PROCEDURE:

• Confined space is defined as a limited or restricted means for Entry / Exit and having a space that is large enough and so configured that a person can bodily enter and perform the assigned work. (Example: Storage tanks, Boilers, Underground tanks, Ducts, etc.). It was not designed for continuous occupancy and may be oxygen deficient and may contain toxic atmosphere.
  • Confined space Entry shall be carried out during general shift hours i.e. between 9.00 hours to 17.30 hours only.

• The concern department shall initiate the “Confined Space Entry Permit” (Format-1) and forward it to the engineering & utility department.

• The permit shall be given a serial number of YY/MM/NNN where, YY is the last two digits of the year, MM is the month and NNN is the sequential number of the permit in that month. The number starts from 001 of every January.

 For example: 16/01/001.

16 denotes the last two digits of the calendar year 2016. 01 denotes the January month.

001 denotes the first General work permit in the January month.

• Engineering & Utility department shall fulfil their precautions given in the “Confined Space Entry Permit” (Annexure-I) and again sent back to the initiating department.

• The initiating department fulfils the requirements mentioned in the permit by both the departments, the initiating Department will inform to EHS Department.

• The person who plans the job shall initiate a permit.

• The Permit Initiator shall ensure that all safety precautions mentioned in the work permit are taken before signing the permit. Filled permit is sent to the EHS department for approval.

• EHS Executive / Assistant shall visit the work spot, cross check the precautions listed in the permit and measure the % of oxygen (19.5% & above) & flammable atmosphere (LEL is 0%).

• After satisfying the stipulated permit conditions, EHS Executive / Assistant shall give clearance to obtain the authorization from the concerned head of the department to carry out the Confined Space Entry. EHS Executive / Assistant shall authorize the permit after the concern HOD approval.

• A minimum of one person from the Initiating Department shall be made available at the work spot throughout the work for necessary help (rescue operation) to assist the person who is executing the confined space job.

• The permit is valid for the issued period only. For getting extension/continuation of the Confined space entry work beyond general shift hours the Initiating department has to take clearance from the Engineering & Utility department, EHS department as well as Plant in charge as mentioned in the permit.
  • Work permit is automatically rendered invalid if permit conditions are not complied i.e. in case an emergency is declared/ changes in weather conditions/ violation during work execution.

• On completion of the work, the Work Place in-charge and Maintenance supervisor ensure that all men, all unwanted material etc., are removed from the work place and sign on the designated place of the permit for certification of completion of work.

• First copy of the permit shall be handed over to the initiating department and second copy to the EHS department after completion of Work.

• The completed permit shall be retained for six months with the EHS department.

• In case of any Incident /Accident happening during the execution of this permitted job or within a month, the permit is to be attached to the Incident Report and shall be retained in EHS department till the statutory requirements are compiled /completed.

• REFERENCES:

Not Applicable

• ANNEXURES:

ANNEXURE No.	TITLE OF ANNEXURE
Annexure-I	Permit to Confined Space Entry

                ENCLOSURES: SOP Training Record.

• DISTRIBUTION:

Controlled Copy No. 01	:	Safety Health & Environment
Master Copy	:	Quality Assurance Department

• ABBREVIATIONS:

EHS          :           Environment Health & Safety

LEL          :           Lower Explosive Level

• REVISION HISTORY:

                          CHANGE HISTORY LOG

Revision No.	Details of Changes	Reason for Change	Effective Date
00	New SOP	Not Applicable	To be written manual

ANNEXURE-I
PERMIT TO CONFINED SPACE ENTRY

Frequently Asked Question ?

• Q: What is a confined space?

• A: A confined space is a limited or restricted means for Entry / Exit and having a space that is large enough and so configured that a person can bodily enter and perform the assigned work. (Example: Storage tanks, Boilers, Underground tanks, Ducts, etc.). It was not designed for continuous occupancy and may be oxygen deficient and may contain toxic atmosphere.

• Q: When can confined space entry be carried out?

• A: Confined space Entry shall be carried out during general shift hours i.e. between 9.00 hours to 17.30 hours only.

• Q: Who initiates the Confined Space Entry Permit?

• A: The concern department shall initiate the “Confined Space Entry Permit” (Format-1) and forward it to the engineering & utility department.

• Q: How is the permit numbered?

• A: The permit shall be given a serial number of YY/MM/NNN where, YY is the last two digits of the year, MM is the month and NNN is the sequential number of the permit in that month. The number starts from 001 of every January.

For example: 16/01/001.

16 denotes the last two digits of the calendar year 2016. 01 denotes the January month. 001 denotes the first General work permit in the January month.

• Q: What does the engineering & utility department do with the permit?

• A: Engineering & Utility department shall fulfil their precautions given in the “Confined Space Entry Permit” (Annexure-I) and again sent back to the initiating department.

• Q: What are the responsibilities of the initiating department?

• A: The initiating department fulfils the requirements mentioned in the permit by both the departments, the initiating Department will inform to EHS Department.

• Q: Who plans the job and initiates the permit?

• A: The person who plans the job shall initiate a permit.

• Q: What are the responsibilities of the permit initiator?

• A: The Permit Initiator shall ensure that all safety precautions mentioned in the work permit are taken before signing the permit. Filled permit is sent to the EHS department for approval.

• Q: What does the EHS department do before approving the permit?

• A: EHS Executive / Assistant shall visit the work spot, cross check the precautions listed in the permit and measure the % of oxygen (19.5% & above) & flammable atmosphere (LEL is 0%).

• Q: Who authorizes the permit?

• A: After satisfying the stipulated permit conditions, EHS Executive / Assistant shall give clearance to obtain the authorization from the concerned head of the department to carry out the Confined Space Entry. EHS Executive / Assistant shall authorize the permit after the concern HOD approval.

• Q: How many people from the initiating department should be present at the work spot?

• A: A minimum of one person from the Initiating Department shall be made available at the work spot throughout the work for necessary help (rescue operation) to assist the person who is executing the confined space job.

• Q: Can the permit be extended?

• A: The permit is valid for the issued period only. For getting extension/continuation of the Confined space entry work beyond general shift hours the Initiating department has to take clearance from the Engineering & Utility department, EHS department as well as Plant in charge as mentioned in the permit.

• Q: When is the permit invalid?

• A: Work permit is automatically rendered invalid if permit conditions are not complied i.e. in case an emergency is declared/ changes in weather conditions/ violation during work execution.

• Q: What happens after the work is completed?

• A: On completion of the work, the Work Place in-charge and Maintenance supervisor ensure that all men, all unwanted material etc., are removed from the work place and sign on the designated place of the permit for certification of completion of work.

• Q: Who gets the copies of the completed permit?

• A: First copy of the permit shall be handed over to the initiating department and second copy to the EHS department after completion of Work.

• Q: How long does the EHS department keep the completed permit?

• A: The completed permit shall be retained for six months with the EHS department.

• Q: What happens if there is an incident or accident?

• A: In case of any Incident /Accident happening during the execution of this permitted job or within a month, the permit is to be attached to the Incident Report and shall be retained in EHS department till the statutory requirements are compiled /completed.