Toolbox Talk - What are the Duties of the Permit-Space Attendant?

The attendant is a trained, designated individual stationed outside one or more permit spaces who
monitors the authorized entrants and who performs all attendant’s duties assigned in the
employer’s permit space program. Among other duties, the attendant is responsible for the health
and safety of the permit space entrant. OSHA’s Permit Required Confined Space regulation,
1910.146, is very specific about the tasks of attendants. They include:

Knowing the hazards that may be faced during entry, including information on the mode, signs or
symptoms, and consequences of the exposure;

Awareness of possible behavioral effects of hazard exposure in authorized entrants;

Continuously maintains an accurate count of authorized entrants in the permit space and ensures
that the means used to identify authorized entrants accurately identifies who is in the permit
space;

Must remain outside the permit space during entry operations until relieved by another attendant;

Must communicate with authorized entrants as necessary to monitor entrant status and to alert
entrants of the need to evacuate the space if necessary;

Monitors activities inside and outside the space to determine if it is safe for entrants to remain
in the space and orders the authorized entrants to evacuate the permit space immediately under any
of the following conditions;

• If the attendant detects a prohibited condition;

• If the attendant detects the behavioral effects of hazard exposure in an authorized entrant;

• If the attendant detects a situation outside the space that could endanger the authorized
entrants; or

• If the attendant cannot effectively and safely perform all of the required duties;

Summons rescue and other emergency services as soon as the attendant determines that authorized
entrants may need assistance to escape from permit space hazards;

Takes the following actions when unauthorized persons approach or enter a permit space
while entry is underway:

• Warn the unauthorized persons that they must stay away from the permit space;

• Advise the unauthorized persons that they must exit immediately if they have entered the permit
space; and

• Inform the authorized entrants and the entry supervisor if unauthorized persons have entered the
permit space;

• Performs non-entry rescues as specified by the employer’s rescue procedure; and

• Performs no duties that might interfere with the attendant’s primary duty to monitor and protect
the authorized entrants.

Remember that the attendant never leaves the area without using a replacement attendant. If a
replacement cannot be found, the attendant stays there regardless of any other demands.

If the attendant absolutely must leave, then the crew must exit the vessel. If tools or equipment
is needed the attendant radios for what’s needed to be brought to the confined space area. No
attendant means no being in the vessel. Waiting around outside the vessel is boring but you are the
entrant’s lifeline.

If you are asked to relieve an attendant, request that a briefing be conducted on what the crew is
doing and how long they’ve been in there. Make sure to review every section of the permit with the
current attendant and ensure that you understand all parts of the document.

When the employer’s permit entry program allows an attendant entry for rescue, attendants may enter
a permit space to attempt a rescue only if they have been trained and equipped for rescue
operations and if they have been relieved by another trained, designated attendant.