Confined Spaces

The Cornell University Confined Space Program establishes requirements and procedures to protect employees engaged in alteration, construction, maintenance, repair and inspection activities at locations with one or more confined spaces. This program also establishes requirements and procedures for confined space entry operations.

Examples of locations where confined spaces may occur include, but are not limited to, the following: Attics; bins; boilers; crawl spaces; manholes; tanks; incinerators; scrubbers; concrete pier columns; sewers; transformer vaults; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) ducts; storm drains; water mains; precast concrete and other pre-formed manhole units; drilled shafts; enclosed beams; vessels; digesters; lift stations; cesspools; silos; air receivers; sludge gates; air preheaters; step up transformers; turbines; chillers; bag houses; mixers; reactors and or voids within walls or decking.

All employees who are expected to perform confined space entry or other associated duties are required to complete Confined Space Entry and Meter Training (CU Learn Course 2387) prior to performing any confined space activities. The Confined Space Training course provides employees the knowledge they need to safely perform confined space activities. Contact EHS at askehs@cornell.edu 607-255-8200 for additional information, a survey of your facility's confined spaces or to schedule confined space training.