Working safely around confined spaces

Your employer should have signs posted around the workplace identifying all confined spaces. These signs are there to stop people from entering confined spaces that may be dangerous because of toxic gases or other hazards.

In many cases, confined spaces will be locked or secured. If you see a fence, barrier, or guardrail, it’s probably there for a reason. If you think you need to enter a secured space, first ask your employer or supervisor if it’s safe.

Do not enter any confined space unless you can say “yes” to all of the following items:

• You have been trained to enter and work in confined spaces.
• Your employer has a confined spaces program and a rescue plan specific to your workplace.
• Equipment is available to safely enter the space and rescue injured workers in an emergency.
• Machinery has been locked out and pipes have been isolated, where necessary.
• The atmosphere in the confined space has been tested to ensure it’s safe to enter.
• The space is properly ventilated.
• A designated standby person is stationed at or near the entrance to the confined space.

Always be sure to tell your employer if you see a possible confined space.

Look out for possible confined spaces in your workplace. There could be confined spaces that your employer or supervisor doesn’t know about.

Don’t ignore a possible confined space. It doesn’t hurt to ask about it. Alerting your employer or supervisor to spaces they may not already know about could save someone’s life.

Some confined spaces require entry for inspection, maintenance, or repairs. If entry is required, list the reasons why on your inventory. Here are some ways to make confined spaces safer:

Find a way to do the work outside the space:

• Use a portable vacuum to remove remaining material from a bin without entering a confined space.
• Consider permanently moving equipment to a new location outside the confined space.
• Consider realigning equipment so it can be removed from the space for repair and then placed back into the space. For example, consider installing a removable agitator system in a manure pond so workers won’t have to enter the pond when repairs are necessary.

Modify the space to make it safer:

• Enlarge the opening
• Install another opening at the bottom, if the space can only be accessed from the top

Before a confined space is ready for entry, you must put together a confined space program that includes safe entry and work procedures. Hiring a qualified contractor is a legitimate and acceptable way to ensure worker safety and to delegate the requirement for specialized training and equipment.

It is your responsibility as the employer to ensure:

• Contractors are competent to enter and work in confined spaces.
• Contractors are following safe work procedures, as prepared by a qualified person.
• That a confined space program and safe entry procedures are in place before work begins in the confined space.