In order for something to be defined as a confined space, it must meet all three of the about definitions. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSHA if a space does not meet all three of the above definitions, it is not considered a confined space. Now that you know how to tell if a work area is a confined space or not, let's look at some of the various types of confined spaces you may be required to work around.
Oxygen enrichment may occur from leaking gases, welding equipment, or oxygen lines that have not been blanked. Previous Next. Disclaimer: This web resource has been prepared to assist the workplace parties in understanding some of their obligations under the Occupational Health and Safety Act OHSA and the regulations.
It is not intended to replace the OHSA or the regulations and reference should always be made to the official version of the legislation. It is the responsibility of the workplace parties to ensure compliance with the legislation.
This web resource does not constitute legal advice. If you require assistance with respect to the interpretation of the legislation and its potential application in specific circumstances, please contact your legal counsel.
While this web resource will also be available to Ministry of Labour inspectors, they will apply and enforce the OHSA and its regulations based on the facts as they may find them in the workplace. This web resource does not affect their enforcement discretion in any way. Table of Contents Print This Page 4. Confined Spaces Confined Spaces Guideline. Do I have a confined space in my workplace? To determine whether a "space" meets the definition of a confined space consider the following 3 questions: Is the space fully or partially enclosed?
Is the space not both designed and constructed for continuous human occupancy? Might an atmospheric hazard occur? If you have a fully or partially enclosed space: Is it designed and constructed for continuous human occupancy? Is it a confined space? Does this mean that we have to implement a confined space program for this space? Is there a difference between a "restricted space" and a "confined space"? Does the Confined Spaces Regulation apply to spaces that cannot be entered due to their size?
Human Occupancy To determine if a space is designed and constructed for human occupancy, one must look at the intent and construction of the space - what is the purpose of the space, or in other words, what was it intended for, and to what standards has it been designed and constructed to allow people to occupy it? Some examples of spaces that would not be considered as "both designed and constructed for continuous human occupancy" are: storage tanks, tank cars, process vessels, boilers, pressure vessels, vats, bins, silos, bag-houses and other tank like compartments usually having only a manhole for entry open topped spaces such as pump wells, augured caissons, pits or degreasers pipes, sewers, ducts and similar structures cargo tanks, cellular double bottom tanks, duct keels, ballast and oil tanks and void spaces chutes, mill holes, ore bins, inside of a skip hanging in a shaft, crusher jaws flues, chimneys, ovens or furnaces.
What are examples of spaces that are both designed and constructed for continuous human occupancy? What if I cannot determine if a space is not designed and constructed for human occupancy? What if the space is so small, such as a six inch pipe? In the definition of a confined space, what is meant by "in which atmospheric hazards may occur"? The intent of this wording is to ensure that consideration is given to atmospheric hazards that may exist in the space or that may occur due to the following: The construction of the space The location of the space The contents of the space The work being done in the space.
What are possible sources of atmospheric hazards? Sources of atmospheric hazards may include: Previous contents of the space. More ». Provides references that may aid in recognizing and evaluating hazards and possible solutions related to confined spaces. Safety and Health Topics Confined Spaces.
Confined Spaces. Provides workers and employers guidance on calibrating and testing direct-reading portable gas monitors hereafter, "DRPGMs" or "instruments". Confined spaces can be found in almost any workplace. A confined space, despite its name, is not necessarily small.
Examples of confined spaces include silos, vats, hoppers, utility vaults, tanks, water supply towers, sewers, pipes, access shafts, truck or rail tank cars, aircraft wings, boilers, manholes, pump stations, digesters, manure pits and storage bins.
Ditches and trenches may also be a confined space when access or egress is limited. Barges, shipping containers and fish holds are also considered as possible confined spaces. All hazards found in a regular workspace can also be found in a confined space. However, they can be even more hazardous in a confined space than in a regular worksite.
Many factors need to be evaluated when looking for hazards in a confined space. There is smaller margin for error. An error in identifying or evaluating potential hazards can have more serious consequences. In some cases, the conditions in a confined space are always extremely hazardous. In other cases, conditions are life threatening under an unusual combination of circumstances. This variability and unpredictability is why the process of hazard and risk identification and assessment is extremely important and must be taken very seriously each and every time one is done.
The important thing to remember is that each time a worker plans to enter any work space, the worker should determine if that work space is considered a confined space. Be sure the confined space hazard assessment and control program has been followed. The next question to ask is - Is it absolutely necessary that the work be carried out inside the confined space?
In many cases where there have been deaths in confined spaces, the work could have been done outside the confined space! Before entering any confined space, a trained and experienced person should identify and evaluate all the existing and potential hazards within the confined space.
Evaluate activities both inside and outside the confined space. Air quality testing: The air within the confined space should be tested from outside of the confined space before entry into the confined space. Care should be taken to ensure that air is tested throughout the confined space - side-to-side and top to bottom. Continuous monitoring should be considered in situations where a worker is in a space where atmospheric conditions have the potential to change e. A trained worker using detection equipment which has remote probes and sampling lines should do the air quality testing.
Always ensure the testing equipment is properly calibrated and maintained. The sampling should show that:. The results of the tests for these hazards are to be recorded on the Entry Permit along with the equipment or method s that were used in performing the tests.
Air testing may need to be ongoing depending on the nature of the potential hazards and the nature of the work. Conditions can change while workers are inside the confined space and sometimes a hazardous atmosphere is created by the work activities in the confined space.
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