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Confined spaces

The Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Regulation defines a confined space as an enclosed or partially enclosed space that, except for the purpose of performing work, is not primarily designed or intended for human occupancy, and has restricted means of access or egress.

A hazardous confined space means a confined space that is or may become hazardous to a worker who enters or is in the space due to the design, construction or atmosphere of the space, the materials or substances in the space, the work activities or processes in the space or any other conditions within or related to the space.

A few examples of confined or hazardous confined spaces are bins, bunkers, crawl spaces or cellars, pipelines, manure storage tanks, ponds, pits, mobile equipment, pump or lift stations, silos, tanks, tunnels, vats and wells.

Confined spaces must be considered immediately dangerous to life and health until a complete hazard and risk assessment has been completed and appropriate control measures have been implemented.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), deaths in confined spaces often occur because the atmosphere is oxygen-deficient or toxic. It is crucial to first recognize and understand what constitutes a confined space, as well as the hazards that may be encountered in them.

All confined spaces should be tested by a qualified person before entry to determine whether the confined space atmosphere is safe for entry. Tests should be made for, but are not limited to, oxygen level, flammability and known or suspected toxic substances such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon monoxide (CO).

The confined space should be continuously monitored to determine whether the atmosphere has changed due to the work being performed. Additionally, there must be a well-designed and properly executed rescue plan in place.

General requirements

As referenced in Part 15 of the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Regulation, an employer must develop and implement safe work procedures for working in confined spaces and hazardous confined spaces. The employer must also train workers who may perform work in confined and hazardous confined spaces and enforce compliance.

The safe work procedures must include the following:

  • procedures for recognizing the risks associated with working in the confined space or hazardous confined space
  • procedures for isolating pipes, lines and sources of energy from a confined space or hazardous confined space
  • safety and personal protective equipment (PPE) to be used
  • procedures for communicating with a standby worker when working in a hazardous confined space
  • an emergency response plan with rescue procedures to be implemented in the event of an incident/emergency in a hazardous confined space
  • information about the entry permit system under section 15.6 for a hazardous confined space

Legislation

Part 15 Confined Spaces of the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Regulation applies to every workplace in which a worker works in a confined space or hazardous confined space.

An employer must do the following before allowing a worker to enter a confined space or a hazardous confined space:

  • Identify and assess the safety and health risks a worker is likely to be exposed to while in the confined space or hazardous confined space, and take measures to reduce, control or eliminate these risks.
  • Identify safety and PPE required to be worn in the confined space or hazardous confined space.
  • Implement an emergency response plan and rescue procedures in the event of an accident or emergency in the hazardous confined space.
  • Establish and implement an entry permit system for a hazardous confined space.
  • Ensure that a copy of the completed and signed entry permit is readily available at the site of the hazardous confined space. In accordance with section 15.6, an entry permit must contain:
    • location of the space
    • name of each worker who will enter the space
    • reason for the worker’s entry
    • date and time during which the permit is valid
    • type of work being done
    • safe work procedures for entering, being in and leaving the space
    • all hazards to the safety and health of a worker identified by the risk assessment

An employer must ensure that a standby worker is designated for every hazardous confined space and that this worker remains present at the entrance to the hazardous confined space at all times while the worker is in the space. The standby worker must be qualified as a first aider, as set out in the Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Regulation Part 5 (First Aid), and trained in hazardous confined space work procedures, entry permit system requirements and emergency and rescue procedures.

Manitoba’s Workplace Safety and Health Act and associated regulations are in place to protect the safety and health of workers in Manitoba. Find the link to the regulation part associated with this safety topic below.

Part 15 Confined Spaces General Requirements Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulation

Related links

Hazards and exposures topic list