Lessons Learned in Confined Space Training

Abstract

A concern presently exists in industry regarding weak and inconsistent implementation of confined space programs which do not meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements. To assist those personnel who are required to develop, implement, and evaluate a confined space program to achieve compliance with the regulation, an 8-hour Confined Space Program Management training session was held to present the essentials of the confined space law. Following the session, the 47 participants, ranging from industrial representatives to State of Iowa personnel, were surveyed regarding their perceptions about the importance of the OSHA Permit Required Confined Spaces regulation, as well as other perceptions about implementation of that law. The objective was to determine whether these future program managers with diverse job responsibilities had different perceptions about the importance of the law and the critical items in regard to implementing an acceptable program. Significant differences were found in response to items in three different areas: importance of the regulation; importance to the success of implementing a confined space program; and personal feeling of adequacy in accomplishing that task. The greatest difference was found in perceptions regarding the impact the confined space regulation would have in reducing the cost of lost-time accidents. Participants felt the most important item was identifying, evaluating, and controlling confined space hazards. They felt least adequate in the area of inspecting and maintaining confined space equipment. A unique aspect of this study was that the confined space training session was developed through the combined efforts and resources of three major departments within a major university. This alliance demonstrated how a large institution might use existing equipment and in-house expertise to conduct an effective confined space training program that addresses program management. The majority of the participants indicated that they would recommend this training session to others. Practical lessons learned through this confined space training session indicate that involving participants with diverse backgrounds can be a very effective training technique. Effective training techniques valued by the participants included the use of small-scale models and hands-on activities.