This document discusses TECO's policies and procedures for confined space entry. It defines confined spaces and outlines the two classifications of permit-required and non-permit spaces. Permit-required spaces require an entry permit and procedures like atmospheric testing, ventilation, and attendant and entrant duties be followed for safe entry. Non-permit spaces can be entered without a permit unless hazards arise, in which case reclassification is required. The roles of attendants in monitoring entrants and entrants in recognizing unsafe conditions are also described.

1. TECO Policies and Procedures
• 400-07 – Confined Space Policy
• 400-07P – Confined Space Procedure
• 400-07P1 – Permit-Required Confined Space
Listing
• 400-07P2 – Confined Space Entry Permit
• 400-07P3 – Confined Space Entry Checklist
Confined Space
Attendant and Authorized Entrant

2. Learning Objectives
 Define a confined space.
 State the 2 classifications of confined spaces.
 Identify the conditions required for a space to be
considered a permit-required confined space.
 Discuss the roles and responsibilities of a
confined space attendant.
 Discuss the roles and responsibilities for a
confined space authorized entrant.

3. Learning Objectives
 Describe the process to enter a permit-required
confined space.
 Identify the conditions required for a space to be
considered a non-permit confined space.
 Understand the requirements to reclassify a
permit-required confined space.

4. Working in a confined space is dangerous!
There are several hazards associated with
confined spaces, some that we take for granted
when working in a more typical environment. In
addition to usual workplace hazards we
encounter daily; confined spaces create
additional hazards unique to their environment.
These must be addressed and eliminated or
mitigated prior to starting any work inside a
confined space.

5. Confined Spaces
Confined Spaces are enclosed spaces that meet
the following conditions:
 Not designed for normal human occupancy
 Limited entry / exit locations (vessels, tanks, vaults,
cooling towers, etc.)
 Large enough to allow bodily entry to perform
assigned work

6. Confined Spaces
Confined Spaces are classified into two categories:
 Permit-required confined space
 Non-permit confined space

7. Permit-Required Confined
Spaces

8. Permit-Required
Confined Spaces
A permit-required confined space contains one or
more of the following characteristics:
 Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous
atmosphere
 Contains material that has the potential for engulfing
entrant(s)
 Has an internal configuration where the entrant(s)
may become trapped or asphyxiated
 Contains any recognized serious safety or health
hazard.

9. Permit-Required
Confined Spaces
All permit-required
confined spaces are
identified by a sign that
reads:
“DANGER –
CONFINED SPACE
DO NOT ENTER
WITHOUT PERMIT”

10. Permit-Required
Confined Spaces
A list of Permit-Required Confined Spaces for
TECO both on and off site can be found at TECO
400-07P1.
NOTE: This is NOT an all-inclusive list.
 The list does not include temporary ditches,
trenches, or other potential spaces that can be
encountered.
 Conditions can change and some spaces that are
not on this list may become Permit-Required
Confined Spaces.

11. Permit-Required
Confined Spaces
 Some examples of Permit-Required Confined
Spaces on the list are boilers, water tanks, chemical
tanks, valve pits, weir pits, cooling towers, chiller
condensers and evaporators, lift stations, etc.
 All employees are required to notify their supervisor
immediately if they encounter a confined space
which is not included on the list in TECO 400-07P1.

12. Confined Space Attendant
 Attendant – An individual stationed OUTSIDE
one or more permit-required confined space
who monitors entrant(s) within those spaces.
 An attendant shall perform all the duties as
assigned in TECO Procedure 400-07P.
 The attendant shall not perform any other
duties that might interfere with the primary
duty of protecting the authorized entrants.

13. Attendant Duties
 Fully understands known hazards that may be
faced during entry.
 Maintains positive control over the confined
space(s) under his cognizance.
• Barricades the worksite and allows authorized
personnel ONLY to enter the work area.
• Maintains a log of all personnel entering and
exiting the confined space.
• Remains at designated workplace during entry
operations until relieved by another attendant.

14. Attendant Duties
 Responsible for ensuring the area inside and
outside the space is always safe. If unauthorized
personnel approach the area:
• Warn all unauthorized persons to remain outside
the area.
• Advise unauthorized persons they must exit
immediately.
• Inform all entrants and entry supervisor if an
authorized person entered the permitted space.

15. Attendant Duties
 Communicates with entrant(s) as necessary to
monitor entrant(s) status.
 Continuously monitors activities inside and
outside the space and sound an evacuation if:
• A prohibited condition is identified.
• A situation that could endanger the entrant(s) exists.
• Behavioral effects of hazard exposure to any entrant
are noticed.
• All required duties cannot be safely and effectively be
performed.
• Directed by the entry supervisor.

16. Attendant Duties
 Maintain appropriate communication device(s)
on hand in the event emergency and rescue
personnel are needed.
• In case of an emergency call the Operations
Control Room at 713-791-6740 or via radio.
• Operations will dispatch required personnel.

17. Attendant Duties
 The attendant may perform NON-ENTRY rescue
actions, as necessary.
 Under no circumstances should the attendant
enter the permitted space to provide rescue
actions, even if the attendant is also the entry
supervisor and/or trained to do so.
 Immediately call for assistance and remain on
station until another qualified attendant arrives or
the space no longer meets permitting
requirements.

18. Confined Space Entrant
 Entrant - An employee who is authorized by the
entry supervisor and is qualified to perform an
entry into a confined space.
 Entry - Occurs when ANY part of a person’s
body breaks the plane of a confined space
opening.

19. Confined Space Entrant
The entrant is expected to be knowledgeable of the
work to be done, the hazards associated with the
work and the confined space, required protective
gear to wear, any evacuation alarms, and normal
and emergency egress routes.
An authorized confined space entrant shall perform
all the duties as assigned in TECO Procedure 400-
07P.

20. Entrant Duties
 Fully understand known hazards that may be
faced during entry.
 Properly utilizes all required protective gear
 Recognizes unsafe conditions which warrant
space evacuation
 Communicate with the confined space attendant
as necessary to maintain the space as safe as
possible.
 Exit the space when required.

21. Entrant Duties
A confined space is required to be exited when:
 An evacuation order is given by an attendant or
entry supervisor
 An entrant recognizes any warning signs of
exposure to a dangerous situation
 An entrant detects a prohibited condition
 An evacuation alarm is activated
Exit the space safely and as quickly as possible.

22. Permit-Required
Confined Spaces
The process to establish and enter a permit
required space is outlined in TECO 400-07P. This
procedure should be referenced for all work within
a permit-required confine space.
 Obtain a confined space entry permit.
 The permit is to be filled out and signed by the
confined space entry supervisor. It is not necessary
that this person is a supervisor by title but must be
qualified as an entry supervisor.
 A second signature is required for a valid permit.

23. Permit-Required
Confined Spaces
 Once a valid entry permit is obtained and any
associated hazards are addressed, the entrance
cover may be removed.
 The entrance must be immediately barricaded to
prevent access.
 The supervisor shall determine what type of barrier
is used to limit unauthorized entry into the confined
space.

24. Permit-Required
Confined Spaces
 Appropriate atmospheric testing shall be conducted
at each entry point. Prior to entry, the following
testing must be conducted in this order:
• Oxygen content,
• Flammable gases and vapors, and
• Potential toxic air contaminants
 All meter readings shall be recorded on the permit
with the date and time they were taken.

25. Permit-Required
Confined Spaces
 If forced air ventilation is necessary to maintain
air quality:
• No one shall enter until the hazardous
atmosphere is eliminated.
• A fresh air supply fan must be used. Air supply
shall be from a clean source and installed at the
lowest manway possible.
• Any exceptions for forced air ventilation shall be
approved by the Vice President.

26. Permit-Required
Confined Spaces
 Atmospheric testing must be conducted and
recorded upon initial entry and at least every 4
hours.
 If the confined space is absent of entrants for 20
minutes or longer, a new test shall be performed
prior to reentry.
 If a hazardous atmospheric condition is detected,
• Evacuate all entrants immediately
• Determine the cause of the atmospheric hazard
• Address the hazard prior to reentry.

27. Permit-Required
Confined Spaces
 If the entry supervisor deems a retrieval system
is necessary, all entrants shall be properly fitted
prior to being able to enter.
 Appropriate rescue equipment shall be stored
within a reasonable distance (no greater than
100 feet) with minimal obstacles in the area.

28. Permit-Required
Confined Spaces
 A permit-required confined space may be
reclassified as a non-permit required space if actual
or potential atmospheric hazards no longer exist.
 Elimination of atmospheric hazards require multiple
layers of protection.
 Any entry made to eliminate a hazard must be done
under the permit-required process.
 The entry supervisor shall document the basis for
reclassification on the original permit.
 A confined space attendant is still required for
any reclassified space that has an entrant.

29. Non-Permit Confined Spaces

30. Non-Permit
Confined Spaces
A non-permit confined space is defined as a
confined space that does not contain – nor have
the potential to contain – any hazard capable of
causing death or serious physical injury.
 Does not require a permit
 Does not require additional steps in the confined
space procedure to be followed
 May be reclassified as permit-required if conditions
change to warrant a reclassification.

31. Non-Permit
Confined Spaces
If hazards arise within a non-permit confined
space, then:
 Everyone must exit the confined space immediately
 The Supervisor shall re-evaluate the classification of
the confined space
 If it is reclassified to a permit-required confined
space, then a permit must be issued, and all
additional permit-required confined space conditions
must be met prior to continuing any work

32. Review
 Define a confined space.
 State the 2 classifications of confined spaces.
 Identify the conditions required for a space to be
considered a permit-required confined space.
 Discuss the roles and responsibilities of a
confined space attendant.
 Discuss the roles and responsibilities for a
confined space authorized entrant.

33. Review
 Describe the process to enter a permit-required
confined space.
 Identify the conditions required for a space to be
considered a non-permit confined space.
 Understand the requirements to reclassify a
permit-required confined space.

34. References
TECO Policies and Procedures
• 400-07 – Confined Space Policy
• 400-07P – Confined Space Procedure
• 400-07P1 – Permit-Required Confined Space Listing
• 400-07P2 – Confined Space Entry Permit
• 400-07P3 – Confined Space Entry Checklist
All references can be found on SharePoint on the
TECO Home Page under “Policies & Procedures”