"Authorized entrant" means an employee who is authorized by the employer to enter a permit space.
- Authorized entrants are required to:
- Know space hazards, including information on the means of exposure such as inhalation or dermal absorption, signs of symptoms and consequences of the exposure.
- Use appropriate personal protective equipment properly.
- Maintain communication with attendants as necessary to enable them to monitor the entrant's status and alert the entrant to evacuate when necessary.
- Exit from the permit space as soon as possible when.
- Ordered by the authorized person.
- He or she recognizes the warning signs or symptoms of exposure.
- A prohibited condition exists.
- An automatic alarm is activated.
- Alert the attendant when a prohibited condition exists or when warning signs or symptoms of exposure exist.
Employers must inform any contractors whom they hire to enter permit spaces about:
- The permit spaces and permit space entry requirements.
- Any identified hazards.
- The employer's experience with the space, such as knowledge of hazardous conditions.
- Precautions or procedures to be followed when in or near permit spaces.
When employees of more than one employer are conducting entry operations, the affected employers must coordinate entry operations to ensure that affected employees are appropriately protected from permit space hazards. The employer also must give contractors any other pertinent information regarding hazards and operations in permit spaces and be debriefed at the conclusion of entry operations.
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