CONFINED SPACE ENTRY
Hazards associated with confined
Definition of a Confined Space
A confined space can be defined as any space
of an enclosed nature which;
(1) – The space is large enough and so
configured that an employee can
bodily enter and perform assigned
work
o The employee can fit entirely
inside the space
o The standard is only intended to
apply to spaces large enough
and configured so the entire
body of an employee to enter
(2) – The space has limited or restricted
means for entry or exit
o Does NOT mean “only way in or
out”
o Means “an entrant’s ability to
escape in an emergency would
be hindered”
o Any space where an occupant
must crawl, climb, twist, be
constrained in a narrow
opening, follow a lengthy path
or otherwise exert unusual
effort to enter or leave, or where
the entrance may become
sealed or secured against
opening from inside
(3) – The space is NOT designed for
continuous employee accountancy
Examples of Confined Spaces includes:
 Boiler, Degreaser, Furnace
 Pipeline, Pit, Pumping Station
 Reaction or Process Vessel, Mills
 Septic Tank, Sewage Digestor
 Silo, Storage Tank, Barges
 Sewer, Utility Vault, Manhole
 Trenches, Shafts, Caissons
spaces includes:
Oxygen Deficient
Atmospheres
19.5% - Minimum acceptable
oxygen level.
15 - 19% - Decreased ability to
work strenuously. Impair
coordination. Early symptoms.
12-14% - Respiration increases.
Poor judgment.
10-12% - Respiration increases.
Lips blue.
8-10% - Mental failure. Fainting.
Nausea. Unconsciousness.
Vomiting.
6-8% - 8 minutes - fatal,
6 minutes - 50% fatal 4-5
minutes - possible recovery.
4-6% - Coma in 40 seconds.
Death.
Oxygen Enriched
Atmospheres
• Oxygen level above 21%.
• Causes flammable and
combustible materials to
burn violently when ignited.
• Hair, clothing, materials,
etc.
• Oil soaked clothing and
materials.
• Never use pure oxygen to
ventilate.
• Never store or place
compressed tanks in a
confined space.
 Flammable Atmospheres
• 2 Critical Factors:
 Oxygen content in the air.
 Presence of a flammable gas,
or vapor
 Presence of dust (visibility of 5’
or less)
• Proper air/gas mixture can lead to
explosion
• Typical Ignition Sources:
 Sparking or electric tool.
 Welding / cutting operations.
 Smoking
Toxic Atmospheres
• Product stored in a confined space:
 Gases released when
cleaning.
 Materials absorbed into
walls of confined space.
 Decomposition of
materials in the
confined space.
• Work performed in a confined
space:
 Welding, cutting,
brazing, soldering.
 Painting, scraping,
sanding, degreasing.
 Sealing, bonding,
melting.
• Areas adjacent to a confined
space.
Temperature Extremes
• Extremely hot or cold
temperatures.
• Steam cleaning of confined
spaces.
• Humidity factors.
• Extremely cold liquids.
• Work processes inside the
confined space can increase
temperature extremes.
• Personal protective equipment.
Engulfment Hazards
• Loose, granular materials stored
in bins and hoppers - grain,
sand, coal, etc.
• Crusting and bridging below a
worker.
• Flooding of confined space.
• Water or sewage flow.
Other Hazards
• Noise
 Amplified due to acoustics
within the space.
 Damaged hearing, affect
communication
• Slick/Wet Surfaces
 Slips and Falls
 Increased chance of electric
shock
• Falling objects
 Topside openings expose
workers inside confined space
to falling objects.
Risk Assessment
Measures
Risk assessment is an essential requirement
of the Confined Spaces Regulations and must
be done so that a safe system of work may be
determined.
The risk assessment must be done by a
competent person and will form the basis of a
safe system of work.
In risk assessment, the following should be
complied:
 Determine whether the work can only
Engineering controls
be done in the confined space.
 If the work must be carried out in the
confined space, Hazard Identification
must be carried out prior to the work
commencing. In Hazard Identification,
the following should be examined and
investigated; o any contents and
previous contents in the confined space
o any residues that have been left
in the confined space, for
example sludge, rust or scale,
and details of gases or vapours
which may be generated if
these substances are disturbed
o any contamination which may
arise from adjacent plant,
processes, services, pipes or
surrounding land, soil or strata
o any oxygen
deficiency and
enrichment
o the physical dimensions and
layout of the space since these
can affect air quality
o any sources of ignition for
flammable dusts, gases,
vapours, plastics and the like
o activities outside the confined
space that might pose a risk
during the proposed work
 Assess the risks and determine suitable
controls to address the risks.
Confined Space Hazards Controls
The traditional hazard control methods
found in regular worksites can be
effective in a confined space. These
include engineering controls,
administrative controls and personal
protective equipment. Engineering
controls are designed to remove the
hazard while administrative controls
and personal protective equipment try
to minimize the contact with the hazard.
 Mechanical Ventilation
Ventilation is a way to make
sure employees have access to
enough breathable air.
Mechanical ventilation is
usually used to keep the
concentration of any explosive
or flammable hazardous
substance less than 10% of its
Lower Explosive Limit, and
make sure that the oxygen
content in the confined space is
not enriched. Oxygen content
should be less than 23% but
maintained at levels greater
than 19.5%.
 Illumination
Additional lighting provided in
confined spaces must not
exceed 12 volts in damp
conditions and will be equipped
with a ground fault circuit
interrupter. In hazardous
atmospheres, explosion-proof
lighting will be required.

Administrative Controls
 Confined Space Entry Training
Workers should be trained and
qualified to enter and work in confined
space.
 Entry Permit System
This assures safety during entry in
confined spaces with known hazards or
with unknown or potentially hazardous
atmospheres.
 Confined Space Attendant
An attendant should be stationed
outside to monitor the authorized
entrants, guards the space against
unauthorized entry, warns the entrants
of any unusual conditions and
summons rescue personnel if needed.
 Gas Testing or 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.g., broken or
leaking pipes or vessels, work activities
create a hazardous environment,
isolation of a substance is not possible).
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:
o The oxygen content is within
safe limits - not too little and not
too much.
o A hazardous atmosphere (toxic
gases, flammable atmosphere)
is not present.
o Ventilation equipment is
operating properly.
Air testing is often 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.
 Barricade the area with warning
signs board
Personal Protective Equipment
 Full safety suit - suits are required
when around hazardous materials
and substances such as chemicals,
biological agents, and radioactive
materials.
 Safety helmet - Hard hats will
protect you from physical hazards, such
as falling objects. It’s always important
to find the right fit and to continually
inspect them for damages that can
interfere with protecting your head and
causing head injuries.
 Safety gloves - Workers in confined
spaces and hazardous locations are
always working with their hands. Safety
gloves aren’t universal over every
industry, so knowing the elements of
the atmosphere will help determine
what type of glove is needed.
 Safety shoes - Safety shoes should
never be overlooked. Every
environment is different, but it is
probably safe to say slip-resistant and
steel-toed shoes should be worn at all
times. Depending on the area, heat and
chemical resistant shoes may be
required.

 Earplugs - In many industrial sites, the
noise level can be so over-barring that
it will cause permanent hearing
damage. Wearing ear plugs or ear
muffs can help prevent hearing loss.
 Safety goggles - Safety goggles/
glasses are required in occupations like
manufacturing, construction,
woodworking, laboratories, welding,
auto industry, etc. All these industries
come across molten sparks, chemical
splashes, dust, debris, radiation, and
more. So, choosing the proper material
needs to be considered.
 Safety harness - Many workplaces
require rope to obtain access. And,
having the proper gear essential. Each
workplace is different, but full-body
harness plus another anchor that
serves as a lifeline are required in many
confined spaces.
 Full-face respirator mask - Confined
spaces that are vulnerable to
poisonous gasses or oxygen deficiency
require a face respirator mask. A face
respirator mask can protect workers
from these airborne contaminants that
can potentially cause cancer, lung
impairments, and even death. And,
when working at a hazardous location,
it is important to use a full-face
respirator mask.
 Gas Detector - helps maintain the gas
levels of the atmosphere and will alert
workers when the air is toxic.
Emergency Arrangements
Before people enter a confined space, suitable
and sufficient emergency and rescue
arrangements must be in place.
For the emergency arrangements to be
suitable and sufficient, they must incorporate
the following:
 contingency plans to deal with an
emergency in the confined space. Such
plans must include details of rescue
teams together with individual
responsibilities;
 the contact names and telephone
numbers of the local emergency
services;
 the details of the communication
arrangements from inside the
confined space;
 the provision and maintenance of
the rescue and resuscitation
equipment;
 raising the alarm, alerting the rescue
team and maintaining close
supervision of the workforce inside
the confined space;
 the size of access openings to
permit rescue with full breathing
apparatus, harnesses, fall arrest
gear and lifelines, which is the
normal suitable respiratory
protection and rescue equipment for
confined spaces
Emergency Rescue Equipment
 Stretcher
 Rescue Harness
 Winches or self-retractable
lanyards with a retrieval
mechanism
 Tripods
 First aid kit
Conclusion
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 are 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.

Many workers are injured and killed

each year while working in confined
spaces. An estimated 60% of the
fatalities have been among the would-
be rescuers. A confined space can be
more hazardous than regular
workspaces for many reasons. 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.
Before putting together this program,
make sure to review the specific
regulations that apply to your
workplace.

“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”.

All confined spaces should be

considered hazardous unless a
competent person has determined
otherwise through a risk assessment.