The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a new standard for construction work in confined spaces which will be effective 8/3/2015 and will also eventually apply to the public sector once New York State Department of Labor adopts the regulation. In addition, OSHA added provisions to the new rule that clarifies existing requirements within the general industry standard that we’ve all been working under to this point. Some of the impacts of the new regulation and changes include:
- More detailed provisions for coordination where multiple employers are at a worksite.
- Requirements that employers arrange for responders from local emergency services to give the employer advanced notice if they are unable to respond because they are engaged in another emergency or training activities.
- Requirements for a competent person to evaluate the worksite and identify confined spaces including permit spaces.
The link below has more information about the changes and new standard:
https://www.osha.gov/confinedspaces/index.html
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.