The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

Overview

A confined space is a space with limited or restricted means of entry or exit, is large enough for a worker to enter and perform assigned work and is not designated for continuous occupancy. A permit-required confined space (permit space) is a confined space that contains health or safety hazards, thereby requiring a permit for entry. OSHA estimates that more than 2 million U.S. workers enter permit spaces annually. Employees who work in confined spaces face increased risk of injury or death from hazards, such as entrapment, engulfment, hazardous atmosphere and working in closer proximity to machinery than normal. OSHA requires employers to evaluate their workplace to determine if any permit-required confined spaces exist. If so, the employer must inform employees of the existence and dangers of these spaces. Where employees are required to enter a permit-required confined space, employers must develop and implement a written permit space program and must train affected employees in its use.

In this course, the student will review OSHA 3138, "Permit-Required Confined Spaces". This publication outlines OSHA's requirements for employers and employees to follow when permit-required confined spaces exist in the workplace. This course is relevant to business owners, engineers, managers, foreman and any other personnel working in industries that contain confined spaces.

The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of ten questions at the end of this course to obtain PDH credits.

Specific Knowledge or Skill Attained

This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

  · The definition of confined spaces and permit-required confined spaces
  · The requirements of employers and employees with regard to confined spaces
  · The requirements for development, implementation and monitoring of a confined space permit program

State Board Acceptance

This course can be used by professional engineers to fulfill PDH requirements mandated by state and provincial licensing boards. Decatur Professional Development is an approved provider of continuing education in all states that pre-approve course providers. In all other states that mandate continuing education for engineers, it is the individual engineer's responsibility to determine the suitability of activities for PDH credit. The state boards typically accept online* courses that cover technical, managerial** or ethical content and which are relevant to the practice of engineering. The course must have a clear purpose or objective with a content that will maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge of the licensee's field of practice. For questions about your mandatory PDH requirements, visit the website of your state licensing board.

*Online courses are accepted by all state licensing boards that mandate continuing education. Other than New York (which limits online courses to 18 PDH) and Iowa (which limits online courses to 6 PDH), there are no limits placed by other states on the number of hours that can be earned through online continuing education. Consult with your state licensing board if you have any questions about the acceptability of online courses.

**The New York State Board of Engineers does not accept general office management courses, but will accept project management courses that are offered by an approved provider and that are technical in nature and contribute to the engineer's professional practice.