Confined Space Overview

Working in confined spaces is high‑risk and requires specialized training. Employers must provide training and procedures to protect workers, as required by federal and provincial legislation.

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What Is a Confined Space?

A confined space is generally defined as a fully or partially enclosed area that:

• Is not primarily designed for continuous human occupancy
• Has limited or restricted entry/exit, or a configuration that can complicate first aid, rescue, evacuation, or other emergency response activities
• Can represent a risk for the health and safety of anyone who enters, due to one or more of the following factors:
  • its design, construction, location or atmosphere
  • the materials or substances in it
  • work activities being carried out in it, or the
  • mechanical, process and safety hazards present

Examples: 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 ovens, furnaces, and storage bins.

Common hazards: poor air quality, any substance/gas or fume that reduces oxygen levels, chemical exposure, fire/explosion risk, extreme temperatures, noise, vibration, lighting, equipment, traffic, collapse, potential floods, electrical hazards, flooding, biological hazards, and limited visibility.

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Roles in Confined Space Work

• Entry Worker: Performs tasks inside the space
• Monitor/Attendant: Stays outside, communicates with workers, controls lifelines, and responds in emergencies
• Rescue Worker: Enters to perform rescue operations
• Supervisor: Oversees the work and ensures safety procedures are followed

To understand and mitigate the potential hazards of working in and confined spaces, a company must have employees trained, have a confined space program, with air testing, have an entry permit and have a rescue plan.

Online confined space entry and monitor training will need to be accompanied by a workplace specific practical assessment of competency. Confined space works in conjunction with Working at Heights training or Fall Protection training and use of PPE.

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Certification & Expiry

• Training certification is required for all entrants, attendants, supervisors, and rescue personnel.
• As per CSA Z1006-16 training should be repeated at least once every 3 years or sooner if deemed appropriate.
• Refresher training is not specifically required in the Confined Spaces Regulation, but for a workplace that is not a project, a review of training is required on an annual basis and whenever there is a change in circumstances.
• Refresher training at intervals determined by the specific conditions of the workplace may be needed.

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FAQs

Do we need a confined space program?
Every jurisdiction has requirements for a confined space program. Some provinces, such as Alberta, require confined space codes of practice, which are essentially the equivalent of a confined space program. 

Employers are to “take every precaution reasonable” as per the legislation, and therefore, procedures for safely working in confined spaces forms part of this requirement.

What is a confined space attendant?
One of the safety measures that most jurisdictions require is the use of a confined space attendant also called a standby person/worker, monitor or sentinel, this worker is assigned to stay outside of the space and monitor the work inside to ensure the safety of the workers in the space. Their responsibility includes:

• Monitoring the work in the confined space.
• Keeping track of and communicating with the workers inside
• Controlling their lifelines; and
• Taking appropriate steps in an emergency.

Is online training enough?
No. Online training must be paired with workplace‑specific practical assessments. Confined Space entrants and attendants should ensure that the entry supervisor monitors authorized entrants to ensure they’re properly applying their training in addition to training them on the company specific confined space program and permit.

Three types of Confined space training are required:

1. Confined space entry and monitor training,
2. Confined Space Rescue training and
3. Company specific confined space training

Are There Special Training Requirements for Workers in Confined Spaces?

All workers who work in confined spaces must get training specific to the hazards, safety measures and other requirements for such work. OHS laws usually require confined space attendants and members of the rescue team to get special confined space training.

1. Workers who are allowed to enter the confined space or “authorized entrants”.
2. Attendants or standby personnel who remain outside the confined space near the entrance and in communication with the workers inside and summon help in case of emergency.
3. Entry supervisors who oversee the entry and ensure that safety measures are carried out; and
4.  Personnel responsible for carrying out emergency response or rescue operations within the space.

Why are there different Confined Space names?
As it is Provincially regulated there are differences between the provinces, which include the definition, and the terminology:

• “Confined space” (Federal, BC, ON, NB, NL, NS, PEI, YK)
• “Hazardous confined space” (MB, SK, NT, NU)
• “Enclosed space” (QC)
• “Restricted space” (Alberta – A restricted space can be thought of as a work area in which the only hazard is the difficulty in getting into and out of the space)

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Employer Responsibilities

Employers must:

• Provide appropriate training before workers enter confined spaces
• Implement a confined space program with hazard assessments, permits, and rescue plans
• Ensure workers are competent in both general and site‑specific procedures
• Take every reasonable precaution to protect worker health and safety

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Legislative Requirements

• Federal (SOR/2021‑143, s. 1):
  • 12(1)The employer must provide every employee who is likely to enter a confined space with instruction and training in
    • (a) the procedures and the emergency procedures established under subsection 11.04(1) and paragraphs 11.06(1)(a) and (b), respectively; and
    • (b) the use of the protection equipment referred to in paragraph 11.03(2)(a).
  • (2) The employer must ensure that no person enters a confined space unless the person is instructed in
    • (a) the procedures and the emergency procedures established under subsection 11.04(1) and paragraphs 11.06(1)(a) and (b), respectively; and
    • (b) the use of the protection equipment referred to in paragraph 11.03(2)(a).
  • (3) The employer must ensure that all persons granted access to a confined space have received instruction and training in accordance with subsection 11.04(1) and paragraph 11.06(1)(a).
• British Columbia (OHS Regulation Part 9):
  • 9.8 Each person who is assigned duties or responsibilities related to entry into a confined space must be adequately instructed and trained in
    • (a) the hazards of the space, and
    • (b) the precautions identified in written procedures to properly perform their duties.
• Alberta (OHS Code Part 5, s. 46):
• 46(1) An employer must ensure that a worker assigned duties related to confined space or restricted space entry is trained by a competent person in
  • (a) recognizing hazards associated with working in confined spaces or restricted spaces,
  • (b) performing the worker’s duties in a safe and healthy manner.
• Ontario (O. Reg. 632/05, s. 8):
• (1) Every worker who enters a confined space or who performs related work shall be given adequate training for safe work practices for working in confined spaces and for performing related work, including training in the recognition of hazards associated with confined spaces.