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Glossary

A worker whose job requires him/her to operate or use machines or equipment on which servicing or maintenance is being performed under lockout or tagout, or whose job requires him/her to work in an area in which such servicing or maintenance is being performed.

An individual stationed outside one or more permit space who monitors the authorized entrants and who performs all attendant’s duties assigned in the employer’s permit space program.

A person who locks or implements a tagout system procedure on machine or equipment to perform the servicing or maintenance on the machine or equipment.

A worker who is authorized by the employer to enter a permit space.

A vapor or gas that can cause unconsciousness or death by suffocation.

The absolute closure of a pipe.

A space large enough for a worker to perform work, with a limited opening for entry or exit, and is not designed for continuous occupancy.

Any occurrence or event internal or external to the permit space that could endanger entrants.

A machine or equipment that is connected to an energy source or which contains stored or residual energy itself.

Any source of electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal or other energy.

A worker authorized by an employer to enter a permit-required confined space.

The action by which a person passes through an opening into a permit-required confined space. Entry is considered to have occurred as soon as any part of the entrant’s body breaks the plane of an opening into the space.

Written or printed document that is provided by the employer to allow and control entry into a permit space.

The person responsible for determining if acceptable entry conditions are present at a permit space where entry is planned, for authorizing entry and overseeing entry operations, and terminating entry.

see Flammable Limit.

The minimum (LEL) and maximum (UEL) concentration of a flammable gas or vapor between which ignition can occur.

The removal of contaminated air and its replacement with clean air.

An atmosphere that may expose workers to the risk of death, incapacitation or impairment of ability to self-rescue.

Any substance or compound that has the capability of producing adverse effects on the health of living beings or the environment.

The written authorization to perform operations (i.e., welding, cutting, burning and heating) capable of providing a source of ignition.

Means any condition that poses an immediate or delayed threat to life or would cause irreversible adverse health effects or that would interfere with an individual’s ability to escape unaided from a permit space.

The placement of a lock, either a key or combination type, to hold an energy isolating device in the safe position to prevent the energizing of a machine or equipment.

A device that utilizes a positive means such as a lock, either a key or combination type, to hold an energy-isolating device in the safe position and prevent the energizing of machine or equipment.

The lowest concentration of gas or vapor that will burn or explode if an ignition source is present.

see Lower Explosive Limit.

Equipment, lighting and tools designed to be used in areas which may have an explosive atmosphere. Intrinsically safe equipment, lighting and tools will not create a source of ignition.

A confined space that does not contain or, with respect to atmospheric hazard, have the potential to contain any hazard capable of causing death or serious physical harm.

An atmosphere containing less than 19.5 perceny oxygen by volume.

An atmosphere containing more than 23.5 percent oxygen by volume.

The concentration in the air of a chemical in the workplace that is allowed by OSHA.

A confined space that has one or more of the following: has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere; a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant; has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to smaller cross-sections; or any other recognized serious safety or health hazard.

The employer’s overall program for controlling, protecting employees from permit space hazards, and for regulating employee entry into permit spaces.

The employer’s written procedure for preparing and issuing permits for entry and for returning the permit space to service following termination of entry.

Devices or clothing worn to help isolate an employee from direct exposure to hazardous materials.

A numeric scale used to measure the degree a substance is either an acid or a base. The pH scale runs from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral.

Any conditions in a permit space that is not allowed by the permit during the period when entry is authorized.

The personnel designated to rescue workers from permit spaces.

The equipment used (retrieval line, full body harness, wristlets) for non-entry rescue of personnel from permit-required spaces.

Supplied-Air Respirator.

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus.

The attachment of a tag on an energy-isolating device to warn workers that the machine or equipment cannot be operated until the tag is removed.

A prominent warning device, such as a tag and a means of attachment, which can securely fastened to an energy-isolating device in accordance with an established procedure.

The process by which the hazards that may confront entrants of a permit space are identified and evaluated. Testing includes specifying the test that are to be performed in the permit space.

The highest concentration of gas or vapor that will burn or explode if an ignition source is present.

see Upper Explosive Limit.

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