When the holiday season comes around, many workplaces slow down. Staff take vacations, supervisors step away, and schedules become lighter. But for some teams, especially in maintenance, utility work, and shutdown projects, holidays can be the busiest, and most dangerous, time of year.
Confined space entries during holidays carry unique risks. Reduced staffing, lack of experienced oversight, and skipped safety steps can easily lead to fatal mistakes. This article offers clear recommendations to help workplaces keep their permit systems and monitoring practices strong, even during holiday staffing gaps.
Why Holidays Are Risky for Confined Space Work
Confined space incidents often happen when people feel rushed or when safety systems break down. Both of these conditions are more likely to occur during holidays and year-end shutdowns.
Common issues during holiday periods:
- Missing key supervisors or safety leads
- Temporary or short-term workers without full training
- Permits rushed or not filled out correctly
- Lack of air monitoring or rescue planning
- Pressure to “get it done” before the break ends
All of these raise the risk of tragedy in a confined space.
What Makes a Confined Space Dangerous?
A confined space is any area that:
- Is large enough for someone to enter,
- Has limited ways in or out,
- Is not meant for regular work.
When such spaces contain hazards, like toxic gases, lack of oxygen, or the chance of engulfment, they are labeled permit-required confined spaces.
OSHA requires a permit system to control who enters, when, and under what conditions. But during holidays, this system can fall apart if people aren’t paying close attention.
Tip #1: Keep the Permit System Active, Even with Fewer People
Never skip the permit just because a supervisor or safety manager is off-duty. A written permit is not optional, it’s the first layer of protection.
What should a valid confined space permit include?
- The name and location of the space
- The reason for entry
- Names of authorized entrants
- Atmospheric test results (oxygen, toxic gases, etc.)
- Names of attendants and supervisors
- Rescue plan and emergency contact info
- Sign-off from a trained supervisor
If no trained person is available to review and sign off, confined space entry must not happen.
Tip #2: Assign a Holiday Safety Backup Team
Create a “holiday shift safety lead” role in advance. This person should:
- Be trained in confined space entry and permit procedures
- Know how to check gas monitoring equipment
- Have authority to stop unsafe work
- Be reachable throughout the shift
Even if the usual safety officer is off-site, this person can act as a reliable backup.
It’s better to rotate trained leads on call than to leave workers guessing who’s in charge.
Tip #3: Use Pre-Holiday Briefings to Reinforce the Rules
Before any long weekend or holiday break, hold a short safety briefing. Go over:
- Which confined spaces may need entry
- Who is authorized to approve permits
- Who is assigned as the on-site safety contact
- What to do in case of a gas alarm or emergency
Clear communication before the holiday starts can prevent panic or confusion when fewer people are around.
Tip #4: Keep Air Monitoring Equipment Charged and Ready
Atmospheric testing is critical for safe entry. But during holidays, monitors may be left uncharged, broken, or not recalibrated.
Assign someone on the holiday shift to:
- Charge all multi-gas monitors
- Perform a fresh bump test each day
- Replace filters or sensors as needed
- Record and log test results before every entry
Even one faulty reading could mean entering a space with no oxygen or a toxic gas buildup. Never guess, always test.
Tip #5: Avoid Last-Minute Entries
Many confined space deaths happen when someone enters quickly to “check something” without following full procedures. This is especially common near the end of a shift or right before a break.
Make it a rule: No confined space entry is allowed within one hour of shift end unless there is an emergency, and even then, only with a full team and fresh permit.
Encourage staff to slow down, think, and get support before entering any dangerous area alone or unprepared.
Tip #6: Review Emergency Plans in Advance
During holidays, emergency response teams may also be short-staffed or delayed. That’s why it’s important to:
- Reconfirm who will act as the confined space rescue team
- Recheck that the rescue gear (tripods, harnesses, winches) is working
- Review the steps to follow if a worker collapses inside a space
- Post emergency numbers clearly and visibly near the work area
If no rescue plan is in place, no entry should happen, no matter how “quick” the task seems.
Tip #7: Train Temporary Workers Before Assigning Confined Space Tasks
Some companies hire short-term workers during end-of-year projects. These workers are often unfamiliar with confined space rules.
Before allowing them near confined spaces, they must be trained on:
- Basic confined space hazards
- What a permit looks like and why it matters
- Who must they notify before entry
- What the alarm sounds mean and how to respond
Give temporary staff a simple one-page checklist and make sure they know who to call for help.
Tip #8: Keep Records and Learn from Near Misses
Use the holiday season as a time to gather insights. If a near miss happens, like someone entering without a permit or missing an alarm, record it and discuss it in January safety meetings.
Learning from these small incidents can stop bigger accidents later.
Holiday Safety Checklist for Confined Space Oversight
Here’s a quick summary you can post in your control room or job board:
The permit system stays active during all shifts
Backup safety lead assigned for holidays
Monitors are fully charged and tested
Emergency rescue plan reviewed
No last-minute entries allowed
Temporary workers trained
All work logged and reviewed
Final Thought: Don’t Let Holidays Lower Your Guard
Everyone deserves a safe holiday season, including workers on duty during shutdowns or late-year projects. Confined space entry can be fatal when taken lightly, especially with fewer people around.
Stick to the basics. Follow the written permit process. Never skip steps just to “wrap up before the break.” And make sure even short-staffed shifts have someone watching out for safety.
It may take a few extra minutes, but it could save a life.
