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WorkSafeBC

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What is a Confined Space?


Confined spaces have limited openings for entry and exit, such as silos, vats, ship holds, sewers, tunnels, large pipelines, and other such spaces that workers could enter to perform work.

Link to Hazard Alert HA1090
Link to Fatality 03-11

The OHS Regulation defines a confined space as follows:

"confined space", except as otherwise determined by the Board, means an area, other than an underground working, that
(a) is enclosed or partially enclosed,
(b) is not designed or intended for continuous human occupancy,
(c) has limited or restricted means for entry or exit that may complicate the provision of first aid, evacuation, rescue or other emergency response service, and
(d) is large enough and so configured that a worker could enter to perform assigned work;

Resources for Confined Spaces



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