Identifying confined spaces: What you need to know

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January 4, 2023 - Happy New Year, safety family!

Last month in Prioritizing workplace safety: OSHA’s top 10 violations for 2023, I covered how workplace safety isn't just a buzzword but is rather about ensuring that your organization prioritizes safety above all else, and that includes working in all sorts of places. Confined spaces are more prevalent than we might realize, existing across various work environments. Correctly identifying these spaces, their risks—such as hazardous atmospheres or limited entry/exit—and how to identify them is crucial to preventing accidents. And while there have been no updates or changes to confined space regulations, the urgency surrounding identifying such spaces should always remain a priority.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to evaluate the workplace to determine whether any spaces are permit-required confined spaces. Let’s discuss what to look for when identifying confined spaces and the necessary precautions to keep everyone safe.

What is a confined space?

A confined space is a place that meets three criteria:

1. It's large enough for a worker to enter: A person can pass through an opening into the space.
2. It has limited or restricted means of entry and exit: A person is required to crawl, climb, twist, navigate narrow openings, follow a lengthy path, or exert unusual effort when entering or exiting the space. The entrance may also become inadvertently sealed or secured against opening from the inside.
3. It's not designed for continuous occupancy: It is not intended as a place of regular work, nor is it supplied with adequate ventilation and other conditions required to support life.

Common examples of confined spaces include:

• Tanks and silos.
• Sewers, manholes, and storm drains.
• Vats, storage bins, and hoppers.
• Crawl spaces and tunnels.
• Utility vaults and basements.
• Elevator pits and equipment housing.
• Ductwork and pipelines.

What are the risks?

Confined space entry comes with many risks that could result in serious injury, illness, or death.

Size matters

Size plays a fundamental role in detecting confined spaces. If a space is large enough for a worker to comfortably enter and perform tasks but still meets the other criteria, it's considered a confined space. Remember, even spaces that seem roomy can pose significant safety risks.

Restricted entry and exit

Check for spaces where getting in and out isn't straightforward. An area may have limited access points, narrow doorways, or ladders instead of stairs, making it challenging to escape quickly if an emergency occurs.

Limited occupancy

Confined spaces are not meant for long-term occupancy. If a space isn't designed for workers to spend extended periods or shifts inside, it might be a confined space. It's essential to keep the intended use in mind when identifying such spaces.

Identifying confined spaces is the first step in ensuring the safety of workers who may need to enter them. By recognizing spaces that meet the criteria of size, limited entry and exit, and non-occupancy, you can take the necessary compliance precautions to protect everyone involved. Remember, when in doubt, seek expert guidance to ensure the safety of those working in or around confined spaces.

Also read Electrical safety gets a jolt: Diving into NFPA 70E’s latest updates, Unveiling OSHA’s 2024 game changer: Electronic submission for safer workplaces, and Cracking OSHA's warehouse safety code from BSI safety expert Khara Huhta and follow our Compliance Essentials for other regulatory updates.

For more insights on environmental, health, safety and well-being, digital trust, privacy and information security, supply chain, and sustainability topics that should be at the top of your organization's list, visit BSI's Experts Corner.