Alert First Aid

PEI Legislation

Prince Edward Island Confined Space

This material has been extracted from the Acts and Regulations of the Province to help students understand the subject. It is not an official source of information and must not be used  for any other purpose.
The following material is © Government of Prince Edward Island
Cap. O-1.01 Occupational Health and Safety Act21



PART 13

 
CONFINED SPACE

13.1 In this Part, “confined space” means an enclosed or partially
enclosed space
(a) not designed or intended for human occupancy;
(b) with restricted access or exit; and
(c) that is or may become hazardous to a person entering it because
of its design, construction, location, atmosphere or the materials or
substances in it or other conditions,
and includes any bin, tank, tanker, tunnel, silo, sewer, vault, chamber,
pipeline, pit, vessel, vat and flue. (EC180/87; 652/07)

13.2 The employer shall ensure that an employee enters a confined space
only where
(a) there is a safe method of access and egress from all parts of the
confined space;
(b) mechanical equipment in the confined space is
(i) disconnected from its power source, and
(ii) locked out;
(c) prior to entry
(i) piping containing hazardous substances or substances under
pressure or so located as to allow hazardous substances to enter
such space is disconnected, blanked or blinded off, or
(ii) where it is impossible to employ blanks or blinds, as in
welded piping systems, written work procedures are developed in
consultation with (the Division, committee, or representative) and
implemented to ensure equivalent protection to all employees
exposed to the hazard but the closing of a valve on any line is not
an acceptable substitute for blanking or blinding;
(d) the confined space is tested and evaluated by a competent
person, properly equipped with personal protective equipment, who
(i) used an approved calibrated instrument that has been
functionally tested,
(ii) records the results of each test in a permanent record which is
available to an officer,
(iii) certifies in writing in a permanent record that the confined
space is free from hazard, and
(iv) specifies the procedures to be followed to ensure that the
space remains free of hazard;
(e) ground fault circuit interrupters are used for electrical equipment
taken into wet or solidly grounded confined spaces unless battery
operated or safety low voltage equipment is used; and
Defined, “confined
space”
Conditions for entry
of confined space
(f) training in emergency procedures is provided for employees
assigned to a confined space entry job including the employee
stationed outside the confined space. (EC180/87)

13.3 The employer shall ensure that a confined space in which there
exists or is likely to exist
(a) a hazardous accumulation of gas, vapour, dust, mist, smoke or
fumes; or
(b) an oxygen content of less than 19.5% or more than 23% at
atmospheric pressure
is entered only when
(c) the requirements of sections 13.2 and 13.5(a) are complied with;
(d) the space is purged and ventilated to provide a safe atmosphere;
and
(e) provisions for continuous or periodic monitoring have been
established to ensure that the hazardous condition does not recur;
(f) another employee is stationed outside the confined space;
(g) the employee entering the space is using such other equipment as
is necessary to ensure his safety;
(h) suitable arrangements have been made to remove the employee
from the confined space should it be required;
(i) a person adequately trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation is
conveniently available;
(j) the employee entering is using a CSA approved breathing
apparatus;
(k) the employee entering the space is wearing an approved safety
harness with attached life line that will permit that employee to be
removed from the space; if more than one employee is working in
the space, steps have been taken to ensure that the life lines do not
become entangled;
(l) another employee is stationed outside the confined space and in
addition, equipment and persons are available to ensure immediate
removal of employees within the space;
(m) all safety equipment to be used in the confined space has been
inspected by a competent person and is in good working order.
(EC180/87)

13.4 (1) Subject to subsection (2), where the gas or vapour in a confined
space is or is likely to be explosive or flammable, the employer shall
ensure that a confined space is entered only where
(a) the concentration of the gas or vapour in a confined space does
not or is not likely to exceed 50% of the lower explosive limit of the
gas or vapour; and
(b) the only work to be performed is that of cleaning or inspecting
and of such a nature that it does not create any sources of ignition.
Hazardous confined
space, conditions
for entry
Confined space
containing
flammable vapours
(2) Cold work may be performed in a confined space which contains or
is likely to contain an explosive or flammable gas or vapour where the
concentration does not and is not likely to exceed 10% of the lower
explosive limit of the gas or vapour. (EC180/87)

13.5 The employer shall ensure that when an employee enters a confined
space, another employee
(a) remains in attendance outside the space at all times whenever the
space is occupied and visually checks or is in constant voice
communication with the employee in the confined space;
(b) is capable of raising an alarm in order to summon additional
assistance;
(c) does not enter the space unless relieved by another employee;
(d) ensures that appropriate equipment is stationed outside the space
to enable quick and safe entry to the space, should such an entry be
required; and
(e) is knowledgeable in the correct use of the emergency retrieval
system procedures. (EC180/87)

13.6 The employer shall ensure that warning signs and barricades are
installed to protect employees in a confined space where a hazard from
any form of traffic exists. (EC180/87)

13.7 An employee shall not enter a confined space unless the
requirements of this Part have been complied with. (EC180/87)



PART 14
BINS AND HOPPERS

 14.1 Employees shall be provided with and shall wear approved safety
belts with life line attached and properly anchored when working at
elevations greater than 3 m (10 ft.) above grade where adequate working
platforms or stagings are not provided. (EC180/87)

14.2 Employees shall be provided with and shall wear approved safety
harnesses with life line attached and properly anchored when entering
bins, hoppers, chambers or vessels where there is a danger of being
trapped or buried by the movement of material, or where there is a
danger of falling into pits, shafts or moving machinery. (EC180/87)

14.3 The employer shall ensure that wherever possible suitable walks or
working platforms with standard handrails shall be installed for the
protection of employees in or on such bins; and these bins shall be
provided with adequate exits and with practical safety devices which best
fit the different types of bins. (EC180/87)

14.4 When employees are required to work in bins, hoppers, chambers or
vessels where there is danger of being overcome by contaminated air or
lack of oxygen or where there is danger of being buried by movement of
material, an employee shall be stationed in a position where he can
readily effect the rescue of the employee exposed to the hazardous
condition.
— Ropes for life lines shall be as specified in C.S.A. Standard Z259.2.
— Life lines shall be connected for use so that there will be the least
practicable amount of slack line in order to limit the free fall of the
employee.
— No more than one employee shall be attached to one life line.
(EC180/87)

14.5 This Part does not apply when a net or equivalent protection has
been provided for steel erectors or similar tradesmen who are
experienced in working at heights and where the use of a safety belt or
life line may produce an additional hazard. (EC180/87)
 

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