WorkSafeBC

Skip to content Skip to main navigation

Quick Links

Customer Centres

Home › Publications › OHS Regulation › Part 9 Confined Spaces

Part 9 Confined Spaces

See what's new!

Verification and Testing

9.24 Verifying all precautions

Before a worker enters a confined space, pre-entry testing and inspection must be conducted to verify that the required precautions have been effective at controlling the identified hazards and that it is safe for a worker to enter.

9.25 Testing the atmosphere

(1) Except as stated in subsection (7), before a worker enters a confined space, the employer must ensure that the atmosphere in the confined space is tested.

(2) The pre-entry testing must be

(a) conducted as specified in the written work procedures, and

(b) completed not more than 20 minutes before a worker enters a confined space.

(3) When all workers have vacated the confined space for more than 20 minutes, pre-entry testing, as required by subsection (1), must be repeated.

(4) While a worker is inside a confined space with a moderate or high hazard atmosphere, additional testing must be conducted as necessary to ensure the worker's continuing safety.

(5) Whenever practicable, continuous monitoring of the atmosphere must be done.

(6) If a worker enters a confined space with a moderate or high hazard atmosphere, the employer must continuously monitor the atmosphere if a flammable or explosive atmosphere in excess of 20% of the lower explosive limit could develop.

(7) Pre-entry atmospheric testing is not required in a confined space with a low hazard atmosphere if

(a) the location and control of the space ensures that a more hazardous atmosphere could not inadvertently develop,

(b) such testing is not required to verify the effectiveness of an isolation or other pre-entry control,

(c) prior representative sampling has demonstrated that the atmosphere within the space or group of similar spaces meets the low hazard atmosphere definition, and

(d) the written entry procedures do not require such testing.

9.26 Procedures and equipment

(1) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 312/2003, effective October 29, 2003.]

(2) Each confined space test must be carried out by an adequately trained worker.

(3) The test record must show the date and time of the test, the initials of the tester and the levels or condition found.

(4) Test results, other than continuous monitoring results, must be posted without delay at all points of entry to the confined space.

[Amended by B.C. Reg. 312/2003, effective October 29, 2003.]

* See also sections 4.3, 9.4, 9.5, and 9.7 of the OHS Regulation.

You can return to the Top of this page

Disclaimer: WorkSafeBC ("Workers' Compensation Board of B.C.") publishes the online version Occupational Health and Safety Regulation ("OHS Regulation") in accordance with its mandate under the Workers Compensation Act to provide information and promote public awareness of occupational health and safety matters. The online OHS Regulation is not the official version of the OHS Regulation, which may be purchased from Crown Publications.

WorkSafeBC endeavours to update the online OHS Regulation as soon as possible following any legislative amendments. However, WorkSafeBC does not warrant the accuracy or the completeness of the online OHS Regulation, and neither WorkSafeBC nor its board of directors, employees or agents shall be liable to any person for any loss or damage of any nature, whether arising out of negligence or otherwise, arising from the use of the online OHS Regulation.

Employers are legally obligated to make a copy of the Workers' Compensation Act and the OHS Regulation readily available for review by workers. The circumstances under which WorkSafeBC may consider an employer's providing access to electronic versions of the Act and OHS Regulation to have satisfied this obligation are described in Guideline G-D3-115(2)(f).