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What is a
confined space?
Legal
definitions have various wordings, but essentially a confined space
is:
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1. |
a fully or partially
enclosed space with restricted access; and |
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2. |
not designed or
constructed for human occupation; and |
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3. |
hazardous because of the
lack of adequate and safe air inside; or |
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4. |
hazardous because of the
work that will be done inside |
Who needs confined space training?
If you have a
confined space on-site, all workers should be trained in the hazards
of confined spaces.
General training will cover the legislation,
recognizing a confined space, recognizing the hazards and how they are
assessed and the contents of an Entry Plan.
Additionally, confined space training should include hands-on
training. This includes training on the safety equipment used such the personal protective
equipment and safety harnesses. For example, workers doing the entry will
require specific entry training and workers with emergency rescue responsibilities will need training related
to the rescue.
How can you comply with
the regulations?
You need
a written confined space program that:
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1. |
Identifies all confined
spaces; |
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2. |
Identifies the hazards in
the confined spaces; and |
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3. |
Controls the hazards
during an entry by having a written Entry Plan, providing adequate
training for the workers and creating a Permit System for the entries. |
The written Hazard Assessment
and Entry Plan, records of the training, and all Entry permits must be
available for inspection by any interested party.
Who is responsible for
ensuring that my employees are adequately trained?
Regardless of the source of training or how it is provided to workers, the
employer has the duty to ensure it is adequate to protect the
health and safety of the workers who work in or around the confined space.
It is up
to the employer, in consultation with the Joint Health and Safety
Committee or health and safety representative(s), to determine the
level and type of training provided, and to ensure it is adequate for the
type of entry being conducted.
How often is confined
space training required?
General
training must be given before anyone works with a confined space.
The training must
be reviewed if there are any changes in the circumstances that may affect
the safety of a worker or when provincial regulations require it. Ontario,
for example, requires an annual review of a company's confined spaces
training program.
Consult with your industry’s provincial safety association or Worker's
Compensation Board for details on when re-certification is required.
Click here
to see a list of all the provincial Confined Space Regulations.
What if we contract
out the confined space work?
If your
employees are not entering the space, the contractor is responsible for
the training required, but you are still responsible for ensuring the
regulations are being met. You must produce an Entry Plan, and ensure the
work is being performed safely according to the Entry Plan. You must have
a Co-ordination Document signed with the contractor that details
everyone’s responsibilities.
What if more than one company is involved in the entry?
If
employees of more than one company are entering the confined space, then
the ‘lead employer’ (the employer contracting for the services of other
employers or independent contractors) must prepare a Co-ordination
Document that details the duties and responsibilities of each worker under
the Entry Plan.
What needs to be included in a confined space training
program?
Both general
and site-specific training are required.
General training covers the legislation, how to recognize confined spaces, potential
hazards and how they are assessed, the contents of an Entry Plan etc.
Practical Entry Plan specific training is also required to cover the
particular equipment used to enter the confined space safely and the
response procedures for any emergency in the confined space.
How is compliance with the Confined Space Regulations
monitored?
Compliance activities relating to confined spaces are conducted by the provincial, territorial and federal agencies responsible
for occupational health and safety (OHS). These OHS agencies conduct compliance programs for confined space training requirements established
under their respective legislations.
Confined spaces are dangerous places to work. Unfortunately, deaths
and accidents happen too often due to lack of training or not working
safely in and around the confined space. The better prepared and
knowledgeable your workers are, the safer they will be.
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