OSHA Confined Space Entry 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the minimum number of employees required on a confined space entry team under OSHA standards?
- One authorized entrant only
- At least one entrant and one attendant (Correct answer)
- Two entrants and one attendant
- One entrant, one attendant, and one entry supervisor on-site
Correct answer: At least one entrant and one attendant
At minimum, OSHA requires at least one authorized entrant inside and one attendant stationed outside; the entry supervisor may be the attendant but must be present.
Question 2: Under what condition may an employer reclassify a permit-required confined space to a non-permit space?
- When the space is less than 10 feet deep
- When all hazards have been eliminated and documented (Correct answer)
- When a safety officer inspects the space annually
- When forced-air ventilation is running continuously
Correct answer: When all hazards have been eliminated and documented
A permit space can be reclassified as non-permit only after the employer can document that all hazards within the space have been eliminated, not merely controlled.
Question 3: What does an entry permit for a confined space NOT need to include?
- The name of the space
- The employee's home address (Correct answer)
- The hazards of the space
- The measures used to isolate the space
Correct answer: The employee's home address
OSHA's permit requirements include space identification, hazards, isolation measures, acceptable entry conditions, and personnel names — but not personal home addresses.
Question 4: If an attendant detects a prohibited condition in a confined space, what is the correct action?
- Warn the entrant verbally and wait for acknowledgment
- Order immediate evacuation of the space (Correct answer)
- Enter the space to evaluate the hazard
- Contact a supervisor and await instructions
Correct answer: Order immediate evacuation of the space
The attendant must order an immediate evacuation of the permit space whenever a prohibited condition is detected, without waiting for supervisor approval.
Question 5: How long must completed confined space entry permits be retained by the employer?
- 30 days
- 1 year (Correct answer)
- 3 years
- 5 years
Correct answer: 1 year
OSHA requires that completed entry permits be retained for at least 1 year to facilitate the annual review of the permit-required confined space program.
Question 6: Which gas is most commonly responsible for fatalities in confined spaces?
- Carbon dioxide
- Hydrogen sulfide
- Nitrogen
- Carbon monoxide (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of confined space fatalities in the US due to its colorless, odorless nature and rapid accumulation from engines and combustion sources.
OSHA Confined Space Entry 2
What is the minimum number of employees required on a confined space entry team under OSHA standards?