Does your company need a Confined Space Program in Ontario? Check out the article to understand more about what it is and why it’s important.
What is a Confined Space?
As per the official definition from the Canadian Federal Government, A confined space means a space that:
- (a) is enclosed or partially enclosed
- (b) is not designed or intended for continuous human occupancy, and
- (c) has a limited or restricted means of entry or exit or an internal configuration that could complicate provision of first aid, evacuation, rescue or other emergency response
Why Do I Need to Know about Confined Spaces and Confined Space Awareness Training?
Working in confined spaces is a leading cause of death and injuries to many workers each year. An estimated 60% of the fatalities are among the attempted rescuers of a person in distress within a confined space.
Part XI of the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations sets out the definitions and requirements for employers who have confined spaces in their workplace.
What Do I have to do as an Employer?
Before permitting any person to enter a confined space or a hazardous confined space to inspect, clean or carry out maintenance work, employers are required to:
- perform an investigation of the workplace to identify all confined spaces;
- establish and maintain an inventory and record of confined spaces, which would be accessible to anyone entering those spaces;
- appoint a qualified person to determine whether the confined space is a hazardous confined space;
- ensure there is a visible sign at the entrance to each confined space identifying it as a confined space, and informing that it is forbidden to enter without permission from the employer;
- monitor a person entering a hazardous confined space; and
- maintain records of all employees who received instruction and training on emergency procedures and obligations when working in confined spaces
What is a Confined Space Hazard Assessment?
If it is likely that a person will enter a hazardous confined space in order to perform work for an employer, the employer must appoint 1 or more qualified persons to:
- carry out an assessment of the hazards to which the person may to be exposed; and
- specify the test(s) that are necessary to determine whether the person is likely to be exposed to any of the hazards identified.
The employer must ensure that the qualified person or persons record the findings of the assessment in a signed and dated report.
Confined Space Procedures
Every employer must establish procedures that are to be followed by a person entering, exiting, or occupying a confined space or hazardous confined space.
The procedures must take into account the report made by the qualified person, if applicable. The procedures for each confined space must include safe entry and exit procedures, two-way communication and person check systems, and emergency response measures.
In addition to the previous requirements, the procedures for each hazardous confined space must also include all additional risk control measures that would ensure the health and safety of a person in the space, and an entry permit system, if required under the report.
How Long is Confined Space Training Good For?
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 that may affect the safety of a worker who enters a confined space in the workplace, such as a change in process or hazard assessment. A review is not the same as providing annual training.
However, the employer must ensure that the confined space training is adequate. Where the review determines the training not to be adequate, additional training should be provided. Refresher training at intervals determined by the specific conditions of the workplace may be needed.
Conclusion
Get in touch with us to develop a Confined Space Program for your business.
