
A confined space, despite its name, is not necessarily small. Confined spaces can be below or above ground. the mechanical, process and safety hazards presentĬonfined spaces can be found in almost any workplace.work activities being carried out in it, or.its design, construction, location or atmosphere.can represent a risk for the health and safety of anyone who enters, due to one or more of the following factors:.
has limited or restricted entrance or exit, or a configuration that can complicate first aid, rescue, evacuation, or other emergency response activities. is not primarily designed or intended for continuous human occupancy. Generally speaking, a confined space is a fully or partially enclosed space that: All confined spaces should be considered hazardous unless a competent person has determined otherwise through a risk assessment. If the confined space cannot be made safe for the worker by taking precautions then workers should NOT enter the confined space until it is made safe to enter by additional means. More information about the confined space control program is located in the OSH Answers document Confined Space - Program and Confined Space - Atmospheric Testing. A contact list for the jurisdictions is available in the OSH Answers document Canadian Government Departments Responsible for OH&S. The regulations can vary slightly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. All jurisdictions within Canada have regulations dealing with confined space entry.
Before putting together this program, make sure to review the specific regulations that apply to your workplace. To effectively control the risks associated with working in a confined space, a confined space hazard assessment and control program should be implemented for your workplace. A confined space can be more hazardous than regular workspaces for many reasons.
An estimated 60% of the fatalities have been among the would-be rescuers. Many workers are injured and killed each year while working in confined spaces. Is working in a confined space hazardous? Back to top You are here: Confined Space - Introduction