Ontario Confined Space Documentation Requirements
Under Ontario Regulation 632/05 (Confined Spaces), made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, employers must ensure a written hazard assessment, a confined space plan, and a separate entry permit are in place for every confined space entry. This requirement applies to all Ontario workplaces including manufacturing, construction, municipal utilities, food processing, agriculture, and oil and gas.
What Must Be Included
A defensible document set covers the space and access details, the hazards identified by the assessment, the controls applied, the PPE and access and rescue equipment in use, a documented rescue plan, and a record of the entry itself. Each of the 10 sections in this tool corresponds to a required element under O. Reg. 632/05, s. 10 and CSA Z1006.
Acceptable Atmospheric Levels in Ontario
- Oxygen must be at least 19.5% and not more than 23% by volume
- Flammable or explosive gas concentrations must be below 10% of the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL), and 5% LEL is the practical control threshold for hot work
- Carbon monoxide must be below 25 ppm
- Hydrogen sulphide must be below 10 ppm
The Competent Person Requirement
Section 10(3) of O. Reg. 632/05 requires that, before each shift, a competent person verify that the entry permit complies with the relevant confined space plan. A competent person under Ontario law is someone qualified by knowledge, training, and experience to organize the work, familiar with the OHSA and applicable regulations, and with knowledge of any potential or actual danger to health or safety. This verification must be documented.
For practical detail on how often a confined space assessment needs to be updated, and how the program must also satisfy Section 25(2)(h) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, see the related resources below.
Provincial vs Federal
Federally regulated workplaces, including most licensed grain elevators and federally regulated feed mills connected to inter-provincial trade, fall under Part XI of the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. For workplaces uncertain about which framework applies, see provincial vs federal confined space regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this document generator free to use?+
Yes. This tool is provided free by CCL Health and Safety to help Ontario employers and safety professionals generate a combined hazard assessment, plan, and permit document that includes the elements required by O. Reg. 632/05. Your document is emailed to you as a printable file at no cost.
Can I use this document for any type of confined space in Ontario?+
The 10 section structure is designed around the requirements of O. Reg. 632/05 and CSA Z1006, and it covers the most common confined space types found in Ontario workplaces. The adequacy of any document depends on your site-specific hazard assessment. A competent person must verify the document before each entry.
Does this document replace a confined space program?+
No. An entry permit is one element of a complete confined space program required under O. Reg. 632/05. The regulation also requires worker training, on-site rescue procedures, and ongoing program management. CCL Health and Safety can develop a complete confined space program for your workplace.
What is the difference between an attendant and a competent person?+
The attendant is stationed outside the confined space during entry, maintains constant communication with entrants, and is prohibited from entering the space. The competent person is responsible for verifying that the entry permit complies with the relevant plan before each shift. These are distinct roles and one person cannot perform both simultaneously.
How long must I keep confined space entry permits?+
Under s. 21 of O. Reg. 632/05, permits must be retained for at least one year after they are created, or long enough to ensure at least the two most recent records of each kind for each confined space are retained. Construction projects must retain records for at least one year after project completion.
What are the penalties for non-compliance with Ontario confined space regulations?+
Under the OHSA, individuals including workers, supervisors, and directors can face fines of up to $25,000 and 12 months imprisonment per offence. Corporations can face fines of up to $500,000 per offence. Wanton or reckless disregard for worker safety can also trigger criminal prosecution under the Criminal Code of Canada.